Dany Horovitz recaps on a truly memorable year

Dany Horovitz

Singer-songwriter Dany Horovitz is back for what has become a yearly check-in and man, there is a lot to talk about. 

Over the last 12 months, he’s released tons of music and we go into the songs and the stories behind them. Dany also talks about how he puts himself into his songs. We also give some previews of what he has planned for the rest of this year and into the next.

The last year has also seen a lot of memorable appearances, such as at the recent North by Northeast Festival and as a judge for the Juno Awards. Dany, Max and Curtis talk about what that was like and Dany’s experience getting to choose his picks for the Adult Contemporary Category.

Dany also shares some of the many artists he’s collaborated with and the amazing results of these musical partnerships. We talk a little business as Curtis asks about the stunning social media presence that Dany’s built since he started this journey just a couple of years ago.

Opening this interview is an excerpt from “Until the Seas Run Dry,” Dany’s newest single and bringing things to a close is “Roads and Roses,” one of our personal favorites.

Citywide Bytes: Hayley Verrall shares an upbeat tale with “Peach Iced Tea”

Hayley Verrall

On our latest episode of Citywide Bytes, singer-songwriter Haley Verrall joins me to share the story behind her latest single, “Peach Iced Tea.” 

It’s an upbeat tale and a shift from some of her past work. We talk about this and some of the different sounds she’s tried out since she began releasing music.

We also talk about some her past music, including “Late Bloomer,” which was part of a past edition of the Blackout Collection.

Since college, Haley has run Singing for Smiles, performing for senior citizens. This came about from when she sang for her grandmother and we go into what she’s done over the years.

Opening the episode is an excerpt from “Late Bloomer” and closing things out is “Peach Iced Tea.”

“The Thing in the Wind” takes readers on a walk through a haunted woods

With his new book, Bill Mullen is making the pivot from thriller to horror. “The Thing in the Wind” goes on a dark journey through the Canadian wilderness, but there’s a lot more to it. The book is now available through Crystal Lake Entertainment, here’s a look at the story:

A search party stumbles upon an unspeakable horror that threatens both their lives and sanity.

In the heart of the Canadian wilderness, a harrowing tale of survival and psychological horror unfolds in this gripping novel. Amidst the vast, unforgiving landscape, a woman’s world is shattered by the mysterious disappearance of her mother in the remote reaches of northern Saskatchewan. Along with her father and a small, determined search party, she embarks on a desperate quest for answers, only to encounter an unspeakable terror lurking in the shadows of the ancient forests.

As the group navigates the treacherous wilderness, their journey becomes a chilling fight for survival against not only the harsh elements but also a malevolent force that defies explanation. Haunted by eerie premonitions and the feeling of being stalked by an unseen entity, they begin to realize that they are facing a horror far beyond their wildest imaginations.

Bill, Curtis and Max talk about the origins of the book and the work that went into it from a research and story building perspective. Bill shares his love of horror and how it went going from his thriller “Red Nocturne,” to a much darker tale. He also goes into the location for the book and how this shapes the story to come.

 

Jonathan Panetta talks mental health and music

As it says in his bio, Jonathan Panetta is “trying to heal the world with a hard rock brain and a punk rock heart.”

In this episode, we talk about how songs like “Inner Demons” deal with mental health and what he hopes people take from listening to them. Jonathan shares the creation process behind his new EP and the different avenues he goes down when it comes to sound and style.

Jonathan’s done some collaborating, particularly with friend of the show Dany Horovitz on the single “Make Use of Your Time,” which was inspired by the “Life is Strange” video game series. We talk about working with Dany, how this happened, and other artists he’s worked with. Jonathan and I do a little nerding out over the game, the amazing soundtrack and some of the takeaways from the story.

“Inner Demons” also has its own music video, and Panetta worked with Nesskaf Productions and we look at the planning process and cool visuals seen throughout.

Opening this episode is an excerpt from “Make Use of Your Time” and closing things out is the full track, “Inner Demons.”

It’s a musical playground with The Humble Cartel and Typical Light

Joining me for this double-header are the bands The Humble Cartel and Typical Light. The guys from HC— brothers Kye (vocals) and Jesse (guitar) Mykietiak, Andrew Logsdail (guitar and keys), Dylan Cave (drums) and Pierre Konan (bass)–are up first, and the band is described as genre defying with a sound that spans the musical spectrum….and you know what? That’s very true. 

We talk about their unique style and how it’s evolved since the band formed. We talk about their recent release “Dance with You” and the new paths it goes down from previous singles.

Following this it’s the synth-pop duo of Typical Light— Hélène (vocals, synthesizer) and Hakim (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer). They formed in 2020 and have since released a debut EP, “Sweet,” and a single, “Imaginary Ride,” off their soon-to-be-released album through H1Massive. 

I have been loving the music and we look at how these two came together and the unique sound that they’ve created. While Hakim has been making music for years, Hélène is very new and we look at how she’s learned along the way.

To close things out, give a listen to “Imaginary Ride,” with much more to come.

Generations share a diverse musical background with a common goal

Generations may be a relatively new band, buts its members have a wide array of past experience. In this episode, the guys join me for a look at where they all came from and how the band came to be.

We look at how the past projects they’ve been involved with influenced the sound of their debut single, “Dreambound,” and what we can expect in their upcoming album release. Plus, they talk about the music scene in their area and one very interesting sound guy.

After this, kick back and enjoy “Dreambound,” which has a great intensity and a very cool sound.

A very funky discussion with Carter & the Capitals

With a high-energy, upbeat style, the funk band Carter & the Capitals bring a sound that you can’t help but dance to. This five-piece from Edmonton, Alberta released their self-titled debut album in 2019 and since then have played some amazing shows.


Frontman Lindon Carter joins me to talk about how the band got its start and their early years on stage and on the road. We go into how things changed when COVID hit, and what it’s been like being back in the groove. Recently, they released “Lovely Lovely Lovely,” their first new music in three years. We go into how the band has evolved over that time and the new sound that comes through in the single.


Following this, enjoy the funk/pop sounds of “Lovely Lovely Lovely,” a preview of sorts of the band’s future releases.

 

Senseless Optimism and Selfish Bodies talk new music and stage experiences

It’s an all-music episode! Senseless Optimism of Boston joins me to catch up on all that’s happened since we last spoke, and believe me, a lot has happened! The singer-songwriter released the new single "Done" on Oct. 7 with a brilliant music video shortly afterward. 

She’s also been nominated in the Boston Music Awards and New England Music Awards, taking home multiple titles in the latter. We talk about the new sound and what went into it as well as her planning for the music video.

After this, enjoy the new single, which incorporates music of her West African roots, most notably elements of Soukous and Makossa.

Following that, Canada-based band Selfish Bodies and I dive into their origin in early 2018 and how their style changed as the lineup shifted. We talk about their plans as a band and how those had to change when COVID hit, and how they’ve gotten back into the flow as things reopened.

To close things out, we’ve got their recent release, “Bambi Legs.”

Linda Marks and Sarah Tolle talk uplifting messages and signature sounds

Linda Marks (left) and Sarah Tolle

This episode is a double musical header! Up first is Boston-area singer-songwriter Linda Marks, a longtime friend of the show. We talk about the new music released this year, some of which found its origins in violent shootings and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Linda and I discuss the messages shared in the music and how she maintains a positive mindset after the last few years.

Following this, here is Linda's recent release, “Our Children's Prayer,” written after the Uvalde shooting from the children's point of view.

Our next guest is Vancouver-based singer-songwriter and actress Sarah Tolle. Like Linda, Sarah shares some uplifting themes in her work, such as body positivity and loving yourself. Sarah talks about what inspired her to publish her music beginning in 2021 and her goals as an artist. We've heard a lot on this show about the music scene in Canada and Sarah provides first-hand perspective of what it has to offer. We also dive into Sarah's film career and the roles she'd like to pursue.

To close out this episode, enjoy “Game We Play,” by Sarah Tolle which looks at the funny things we're told to do with our lives.

Dany Horovitz shares stories of love, loss, and life in “Free Times”

BONUS TRACK: Leezy talks about her battle with addiction and how it inspired “Sierra”

Singer-songwriter Dany Horovitz is back, and he has some big news to share. His debut album “Free Times” is now available! Dany joined me last fall to talk about his singles “Seasons Change” and “Moving On,” and along with these two songs, the album features another eight with an array of sounds and tales.

Dany and I talk about the response the album has seen from fans and music journalists in Canada, where he lives. He shares his poetry and how it ties into his music as well as the real-life connection behind the songs. Dany worked with some amazing people in bringing this album to life and he talked about the process. In addition to the album, a music video release for his song “Scar” was released and we go into how the two mesh.

Following our discussion, enjoy “Scar,” one of my favorite tracks from the album.


And in the second interview, Chicago-based artist Leezy dives into “Sierra,” a new single that takes us through her battle with addiction when she was 18. Leezy talks about how it all began and the work she put in to become sober a year later. Leezy's mother inspired the song, and was a pillar for the young artist as she sought treatment, and even had a brief role in the music video for “Sierra.”

As the episode comes to a close, check out “Sierra,” which shifts from a mellow tune to a rock-themed sound, matching the artist's battle.

Debut artists share their journeys in the music world

Dany Horovitz

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Dany Horovitz joins me to discuss his recently-released singles, “Seasons Change” and “Moving On.” Both deal with the concept of moving forward from tough times, and Dany and I talk about the real-life experiences that influenced them. Dany launched his music career just a year ago and we look at what inspired him to take the tunes he'd been working on for years and share them with the world.

After this, kick back and enjoy these two singles. Both have a different sound, and have a strong message to share.

LA artist XOHA is up next, and we dive deep into her debut single, “Outsider.” The track is honest and heartfelt, describing the often undiscussed inequalities in America. XOHA and I talk about what she's seen of these inequalities and how she crafted the lyrics. We also look at her unique musical style and the different influences throughout her life.

To close things out, enjoy XOHA's new single, “Outsider,” a standout song both for its music and the story.

 

4 Minutes Later talk about the Tweet that launched their career

It all started with a Tweet that read “Music Coming Soon.” Those three words kicked off a flurry of guesses as to who 4 Minutes Later really were and what they were all about. After three years, Junyor and Moon got to unveil this new project, a blend of styles called Alien Pop.

In this interview, we talk about the group's origins, what it was like to keep a secret for three long years, and how it felt to finally tell the world. Junyor and Moon explain to me what Alien Pop is and how past projects influenced their current style.

I'm not that familiar with the music scene in Canada, and Junyor and Moon walk me through it, introducing artists that they've worked with and others that I'm dying to check out.

Following this, kick back and relax with the group's new single “In My Head.” It's the first song of theirs that I heard and led me to checking out their entire discography.

Arielle Perez talks about life and loss in debut EP, plus Natalie Joly shares tales behind new music video

In this episode, I talk with Ontario-based musician Arielle Perez, who recently released her debut EP, “Fourteen.” This five-track album looks at the themes of bullying, loss of a loved one, and finding your way through life, and we talk about how real life inspired her music. Her songs all have music videos to go with them, and she walks us through the planning process and the folks that she worked with.

Arielle is also a model, having been on the cover of CAN Kids Magazine in 2020 and we look at the role that modeling plays in her life and the common ground between it and music.

After this, enjoy two tracks from her EP, “Find the Way” followed by “Without You.”




But wait, there's more! Wakefield-based artist Natalie Joly joins me for a new segment, where we check in with past guests to see what's new in their world. Natalie just finished a new single, “Yours To Stay,” and the music video, which she filmed in an abandoned mansion. Following the interview, kick back and enjoy the new tune, which will be available on all streaming services on Feb. 26.

Unique pop-punk and revolutionary rock

In this episode, Melbourne, Australia-based pop-punk artist Hated Names shares his debut single, “Anthem for the Atheist.” Naturally, religion and taking on this subject comes up, but we also learn about his origin as a musician, work as a producer, and the music scene in Australia. Following this interview, enjoy this great musical debut. 

Lyric Dubee, of Ontario, has accomplished a lot by age 21—five albums, international tours, and much more. He tells us all about his journey to making music a full-time job, some interesting tour stories, and what he has in planned for 2020. After this, enjoy Lyric's tune, “Soundscape City.”

Award-winning comic Upgrade Soul takes on a new form

Ezra Daniels, creator of the popular “Upgrade Soul” comic, joins me to talk about the new digital app and soundtrack that were recently released. We also take a look at the work that went into these creations and how the app stands apart from others that are available. Ezra and I also look at the increased presence that indie comics has these days and how this has led to all kinds of new stories.

Following this, enjoy two new songs from Ashley Leblanc, “Everything Takes Time” and “I Didn't Change.” She's a singer/songwriter from Ontario, Canada, and recently released her new album, “The Luckiest Girl in the World.”

Ghostly Beard talks new music and the ins and outs of audio engineering

Montreal-based singer-songwriter Ghostly Beard and I have been talking for months about new music, so this one seems long overdue. We nerd out about audio recording gear, so for you tech heads, there's likely a few things to learn in this discussion. He also talks about the recent shift in his career, going from releasing albums and music videos to a more mellow pace, but beginning to review the work of other musicians and doing interviews. 

After this, enjoy the newest song from Ghostly Beard, “Its a Hurt,” which touches on how love can be both wonderful and painful at the same time.