Photo by Brad Ardley

Family first for Murda Beatz

Story by Howard Druckman | Wednesday October 26th, 2022

Murda Beatz (born Shane Lindstrom) grew up in the small town of Fort Erie, ON, started making beats when he was 17, and achieved his first placement in only three months (with Soulja Boy). Since then, with Boi-1da as his mentor, he’s earned credits on music by Drake, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Migos, Polo G, 6ix9ine, and more, and has his own record label, via Interscope. Since he became a massive success as a young adult, we talked to both Murda Beatz and his mom about familial support in the early steps of his career.

Click the image to watch the interview with Murda Beatz

Click the image to play the interview with Murda Beatz

Photo by Dave Palangio

Offenbach’s John McGale passes away

Story by Eric Parazelli | Monday October 31st, 2022

It’s with deep sadness that SOCAN has learned of the death of John McGale, guitarist, songwriter, and icon of legendary Québec band Offenbach. He died in a car accident in the early hours of Oct. 30, 2022, in Lacolle, Montérégie, on his 66th birthday.

McGale was Offenbach’s guitarist since 1978. Having reached guitar hero status in Québec, he also co-wrote some of Offenbach’s most famous songs, including “Deux autres bières,” “J’ai l’rock’n’roll pis toé,” “Seulement qu’une aventure,” and “Rock de v’lours.”

As a songwriter and producer, he’d collaborated with Gerry Boulet, Breen LeBoeuf, Céline Dion, Éric Lapointe, Nanette Workman, Dan Bigras, Julie Masse, Natasha St-Pier, Mixmania, Toyo, Shawn Philips, and Martin Deschamps.

SOCAN extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends and many musical collaborators.

Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard

Video: The Pros – The perfect live show, according to Felix of Choses Sauvages

Story by Eric Parazelli | Tuesday October 25th, 2022

The Pros video series introduces you to leading musicians, who share some of the experience they’ve acquired throughout their careers.

After releasing their album Choses Sauvages II in October of 2021; playing just about every festival stage in Québec during the summer of 2022; and selling out MTELUS in Montréal in September of 2022, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Choses Sauvages are a live act that can always be counted on to put on a spectacular show.

We met with their singer and bassist Félix Bélisle during the band’s remarkable appearance at the 2022 Festival de musique émergente (FME) in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, to get his advice on how to put on the perfect show.

Click the image to watch the interview with Choses Sauvages

Click the image to watch the interview with Choses Sauvages