Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Cold Specks, Patrick Watson, Desiree Doiron, Ruby Singh, Movieland, Preeper Rhaye MacKay, Flara K, and Bad Tractor

By Will McGuirk

“I used to be really precious about holding on to as much song writing as possible but then I remembered James Carr did not write ‘The Dark End of the Street’.” - Al Spx, aka Cold Specks

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"’Remember Your Name” is a reminder to find that inner strength that you’ve always had inside. No matter how difficult things get, you have the strength and endurance from your past, and the generations that came before you." - Desiree Dorion

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“It’s an upbeat celebration of a Scorpio’s passion, mystery, undeniable charm, and the sometimes emotional rollercoaster of falling for someone who knows how to keep you on your toes,” - Flara K.

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Hannah Georgas, Debby Friday, Abigail Lapell, Rachel Hickey, Leanne Hoffman, Isabel LaRosa, and Mad Ones

By Will McGuirk

“I have a lot of internal pep talks, as a way to quiet my own doubts and insecurities. This song is a reflection of that, and a reminder to go a little bit easier on myself.” - Hannah Georgas

“I have always looked up to women who were willing to be ‘bad’ in the name of living thoroughly.” - Debby Friday

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Andy Shauf, Sammy Volkov, Goodnight Sunrise, Reeny Smith, Shira, Mod Sun, and Pop Evil,

By Will McGuirk

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Ben Caplan and Terra Spencer, Brava Kilo and Annie Sumi, Alok, Sigala, and Ellie Goulding, Barbra Lica, and Abigail Lapell

By Will McGuirk

"All too often, talking about your feelings is like sharing YouTube videos: everyone's smiling and nodding and waiting for their turn to take over, The lyrics to this song are the words I'd love to hear more in hard times, and the words I endeavour to practise myself. Empathy is too rare and extremely beautiful." - Barbra Lica

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Zoon, Amanda Sum, Super Duty Tough Work, Dan Mangan, Dan Pallotta, Noah Derksen, TFD, NGHTMRE, and Jamie,

By Will McGuirk

“As a young person I’d find ways to escape my reality, sometimes I’d lay in a field and watch the clouds shape shift in the sky, just like wasakeechuk, an old mythical creature that lived with the first indigenous people of Turtle Island.” - Zoon

“Being a Gen Zer feels shameful and comedic. It’s important to laugh at that, I think. This music video will investigate the complex feelings that come with dancing through life as a member of the Gen Z club.” - Amanda Sum

“Art happens to be our discipline so we always attempt to use it to further our cause, and create the world that we would like to see, in this case, a world where "justice" is actually served.” - Brendan Grey, Super Duty Tough Work

“This song is about being emancipated by the beautiful humility of littleness." - Dan Mangan

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TFD · Him

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Adrian Sutherland, The Trade-Offs, Evan Redsky, Terez, Julia Wolf, Jesse Roper, Handsome Jack, and Arctic Monkeys

By Will McGuirk

“"I teach at an elementary school in Beachburg, Ontario. My grades 6/7 and 7/8 classes are looking for ways to continue with ideas from the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We heard the song Walk With Me by Adrian Sutherland and decided to reach out," wrote Steve Pritchard.”

“Throughout the 20th century many Inuit families recall the Royal Canadian Mounted Police deliberately killing sled dogs to force Inuit into government run settlements, ‘Put ‘Em Down’ is about this sad story and about the effort to put us as a people down and erase our culture. A truth many do not know a lot about because it has been kept so quiet” - Josh Qaumariaq, the Trade-Offs

“It's a reflection of not just myself, but of an entire community of young people who lack access to mental health resources, cultural resources, and positive role models - where young First Nations folks just want to escape their realities in exchange for Oblivion.” - Evan Redsky

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Jason Collett, Margo Price, Boy Golden, Golden Feather, Emi Jeen, Amanda Sum, White Lung, and Speaker Wars,

By Will McGuirk

"In absorbing the tumult of the times, there's a lot of shit to write through, that Bruce Cockburn line comes to mind, ‘you've got to kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight’, and the challenge is to get to the other side with something positive to contribute," - Jason Collett

“You get stuck in the same patterns of thinking, the same loops of addiction. But there comes a point where you just have to say, ‘I'm going to be here, I'm going to enjoy it, and I'm not going to put so much stock into checking the boxes for everyone else.’ “ Margo Price

“You can put a lot of energy and discipline into a project while leaving room for spontaneity, fun, and authentic creativity. In the end, why are we so serious about life?’’ - Emi Jeen

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Sonic Unyon Records · Golden Feather "You've Been On My Mind"

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Adam Baldwin, Julian Taylor, Ouri, Ariel Posen, Living Hour, Jerry Sereda, Song Sparrow Research, and Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors

By Will McGuirk

“It's my love letter to all of us who defy convention, whether by choice or necessity. It's my plea to everyone to follow your heart. You never know what other underdog you'll inspire to be heroic.” - Adam Baldwin

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Nation of Language, Kaia Kater, D.W. Waterson, Cherry Blaster, The Davenports, The Gertrudes, Francois Klark, and Jeremy Dion,

By Will McGuirk

“As I was working on the lyrics I had a kind of fixation on terrible tax policies, our cultural addiction to meaningless consumption, and it all got swept together into this punchy, kind of fun track.” - Ian Devaney, Nation of Language

“It’s about ripping out harmful beliefs that have grown and taken root inside many of us like weeds. I wanted to create a sense of sonic chaos—as if anything could happen—because mine and my friends’ experiences in the last few years have been to show up and care for each other amidst the chaos of job loss, financial instability, mental health crises, environmental disasters and more.” - Kaia Kater

“Within hetero society, it’s typical to hate your exes, but in the queer community, exes are viewed differently. When collaborating on the track, Casey and I had the inherent understanding of having queer exes; who frequently run into each other, can end up as close friends and will always be within the same circles as one another. That’s where All The Girls With The Boys Names came to be; a dedication to our former lovers, but still appreciating where we landed." - D.W. Waterson

“Despite the luxury of time to 'breathe in the terpenes', the song also describes our ongoing and underlying levels of anxiety about not having enough time to help make the changes needed in our community and world.” - Greg Tilson, The Gertrudes

“Music is a chance to tell stories of pain and beauty. I want my songs to make people feel something unexpected.” - Jeremy Dion

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Kacey Musgraves, Mimi Webb, Sam Weber, Alex Cuba, Samantha Fish, Mastiff, Terouz, Handsome Jack, Matthew E. White, and Flossing

By Will McGuirk

“Through confronting my deepest, heaviest truths through these songs I am able to see the world in a new way. 'Here's To The Future’ was that song for me, but also a toast and a prayer to the better and brighter days ahead.” - Sam Weber

“When I began to imagine this album, I knew I didn’t want it to be small in any way. Neither did I want it to be known forever as the album that was born out of the pandemic. I was convinced that it definitely was the moment to aim at creating something very special, unique and vibrant, fuelled by the very deep emotions that this time has brought out of all of us.” - Alex Cuba

“If you need cheering up, this may not be the best place to start. Unless, of course, the sound of the world consuming itself from the inside out and spitting in the face of humanity is your idea of a good time” - Mastiff

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