One of my favourite things about Canadian Music Week is getting to explore intimate venues in Toronto. On June 4th I attended a showcase at Painted Lady; a bar with a beautiful outdoor patio. There were a variety of artists who performed. Here are my top three highlights!
The showcase kicked off with singer-songwriter Chloe Caroline. Her voice reminds me a lot of Alessia Cara and Jessie Reyez. Caroline performed originals such as “94” and “Manifest.” I enjoyed how she shared the inspiration behind each song she performed. Caroline’s EP, When We Were Older, is out now. I definitely recommend listening to it as there are songs for every mood.
Another memorable artist was Josh Bogert. Bogert is a singer-songwriter and producer from Vancouver. He is also a multi-instrumentalist with his first instrument being the violin which he learned to play at age four. His live set was unique because it was more indie rock, compared to his recorded music which is more pop. I also enjoyed his cover of “Unholy” by Sam Smith featuring Kim Petras. During my interview with Bogert, he reflected on how music helps him understand the world. “I always experience everything through music, and that’s what I hope to give to people when I am making music as well.”
A final highlight was Steven Ryan’s set. His music is emotional and personal. One of my favourites is his song “Confidence” as it touches on inner strength and beauty. Ryan’s album Life, Love and Everything After reflects on many different themes including mental health and relationships. The diverse subject matter in this album is important to Ryan as he hopes that anyone who listens will find something to take away from his music. “I just wanted there to be something for everybody that listened. With the ‘life’ tracks being about mental health, the ‘love’ tracks being about relationships, and the ‘everything after’ being the unknown as well as the loss we all experience when we lose a loved one.”
I would rate this show 10/10 as each artist was passionate about their craft and was open about sharing their personal experiences. I loved the variety of stripped-down acoustic sets and full bands.
