Photo by Brad Ardley

Video: Tyler Shaw tells the story of “Love You Still (A B C D E F U Romantic Version)”

Story by Howard Druckman | Tuesday November 8th, 2022

Tyler Shaw is a two-time SOCAN Award winner and two-time JUNO Award nominee, and his debut single, “Kiss Goodnight” (in 2012) was certified Platinum, and his 2019 release “With You” was been certified Gold, and has now been viewed on YouTube more than 38 million times. Here, he tells the story of “Love You Still,” from the initial idea to billions of views.

Tyler Shaw video thumbnail

Click the image to play the Tyler Shaw interview.

Photo by Feng Jiang

SOCAN to help showcase Magi Merlin in Los Angeles

Story by Howard Druckman with files from / avec la participation de Racquel Villagante | Tuesday November 8th, 2022

Magi Merlin is the latest Montréal-based Anglophone SOCAN member scheduled for a showcase performance – on Dec. 9, 2022, at Gold Diggers in Los Angeles – as part of a monthly series co-curated by Pop Montréal’s Evan Dubinsky and SOCAN Creative Executives Sara Dendane (Montréal) and Racquel Villagante (Los Angeles). The Canadian Consulate in L.A. will, as usual, cover travel expenses, and Magi Merlin will enjoy free accommodations at the SOCAN House in L.A. during the week of her performance.

SOCAN members Aiza, Clerel, Kallitechnis, and 2022 Polaris Music Prize winner Pierre Kwenders have already benefitted from the program – enjoying the opportunity to both present their music, and network with key music ecosystem personnel, in Los Angeles. Read more about the SOCAN/Pop Montréal program in L.A. for Anglophone Montrealers here.

On Nov. 8, 2022, Magi Merlin released “DOLLA BILL,” her first collaboration with Fernie. In May of 2022, she released Gone Girl, an EP that draws on influences from ‘90s house, drum-and-bass, Motown, and acid-flecked hip-hop. Gone Girl attracted the attention of Complex, Bandcamp Daily, CBC Music, and Nylon. In the past few months, the artist has performed at The Montreal International Jazz Fest, Festival d’ Été du Québec, & the Festival du Musique Émergente; toured Europe; and played a captivating show at the Fairmount Theatre as part of POP Montréal.

Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard. Marc Ouellette, left/à gauche, President of the SOCAN Board of Directors/président du conseil d’administration de la SOCAN; Jean-Christian Céré, right/à droite; SOCAN Chief Membership Office/chef des services aux membres; avec Hubert Lenoir, centre, winner of the International Outreach Award, presented by SOCAN/récipiendaire du Félix du Rayonnement international, présenté par la SOCAN.

ADISQ 2022 : The Consecration of Hubert Lenoir

Story by Éric Parazelli | Monday November 7th, 2022

On Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, at the ADISQ televised gala in Montréal, SOCAN member Hubert Lenoir continued his winning streak by being awarded the prestigious Songwriter of the Year trophy, as well as the Félix for Male Performer of the Year, and the International Outreach Award, presented by SOCAN. These trophies topped up the other four he received during the Premier Gala and industry gala for a total of seven this year.

As for the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category, the competition was intense, but in the end Ariane Roy walked away with the trophy. We met her as she left the stage to get her first impressions, and to talk about Québec City’s effervescent music scene. 

Ariane Roy video thumbnail

Click on the image to play the interview with Ariane Roy

The Song of the Year Félix went to FouKi and Jay Scøtt for “Copilote” (co-written by Pier-Luc Papineau, Léo Fougères, Adel Kazi Aoual, Clément Langlois-Légaré & Tom St-Laurent, and published by Disques 7ième Ciel). The Group or Duo of the Year Award went to Salebarbes, who faced competition from big names such as Les Trois Accords, Les Cowboys Fringants, Bon Enfant, and 2 Frères. Cowboys Fringants weren’t to be outdone, as they won in the category Album of the Year — Popular Success with the original soundtrack of the movie L’Amérique pleure.

As for Klô Plegag, a regular at the ADISQ Gala, her show Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs was awarded the Félix for Show of the Year, while Roxane Bruneau continued her momentum, as she was crowned Female Performer for the second year in a row.

Finally, Atikamekw artist Laura Niquay won the Indigenous Artist of the Year Félix, after winning the SOCAN Foundation TD Indigenous Songwriter Award last July. 

The evening also featured several superb performances from SOCAN members Cœur de pirate, Patrice Michaud, and Quatuor esca; Bruno Pelletier and Mario Pelchat, performing as a duo for the first time, to celebrate their 40-year career; the nominees in the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category — Étienne Coppée, Natasha Kanapé, La Zarra, Ariane Roy, and Jay Scøtt ; Lisa LeBlanc and Édith Butler; Naya Ali and Sarahmée; Corneille; Émile Bilodeau, Samian, Laura Niquay & Claude McKenzie; and to finish the evening, a flamboyant performance by Hubert Lenoir. 

For a complete list of winners, visit the ADISQ website.  

Stay tuned for our backstage interviews from the First Gala and the ADISQ Gala in the coming days.