What: Hip-Hop/Rap
Where: Edmonton, AB
CM Issue: March – April 2013
Visit: www.thisisrellik.com

Edmonton’s Rellik is a genre-bending hip-hop group fronted by group namesake Billy “Rellik” Leblanc alongside R&B vocalist Andrew Decorby and DJ Sean Joyner. The eclectic project is sometimes joined live onstage by four-piece backing band 3 Days Per Diem.

Mixing live instruments with classic hip-hop turntablism, crew vocals, and inclusive lyrics, Rellik summons the best parts of ‘90s revivalists Jurassic 5 or Talib Kweli, and has performed alongside the latter. The group’s lyrics also highlight the adversity experienced by Leblanc while growing up native in low income housing and going through a custody battle for his two sons; however, Rellik attempts to be inclusive in his music, saying, “While still in touch with our aboriginal roots, I feel the need to write material that all hip-hop listeners can relate to, regardless of their ethnic background or experiences.”

Rellik released their first album, Mighty Mouth, in 2011 as well as a remix of the album in early 2013 with contributing producers from across Canada. Despite having just one album under their collective belt, Rellik has played hundreds of shows in the Edmonton area and abroad. The upcoming release of Cut From a Different Cloth, the band’s sophomore LP due in late spring 2013, should ensure that the number of pins on the map continues to grow.

What: Avante-Garde Rock
Where: Calgary, AB
CM Issue: March – April 2013
Visit: www.jungpeople.bandcamp.com 

Calgary’s Jung People (that’s “Young People” for those not in the know) are an instrumental rock group that formed just over two years ago. Featuring just two members (Bryan “Octobuss” Buss on synth, lap steel, effects, and eight-string guitar and Giordano W. Bassi on drums, keys, samples, and more), the band crafts deeply textured walls of noise that blur the lines between progressive/indie/post-rock and even metal, folk, jazz, and punk.

However, it’s not all pedal mashing and knob turning, as both Bassi and Octobuss attended Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. They released their debut EP, Tenterhooks, in December 2011. They dedicated that album to all domestic animals hurt by or lost to “the human path” and have dedicated all future album proceeds to humanitarian causes. But that’s not to say they’re not fun to listen to! While they might be easier to get into for fans of acts such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor, King Crimson, or Explosions in the Sky, they feature some of the musical elements that make such popular acts as Radiohead and Mogwai so beloved.

What: Pop/Singer-Songwriter
Where: Vancouver, BC
CM Issue: March – April 2013
Visit: www.alexandriamaillot.com

Alexandria Maillot may only be 20 years old, but this Vancouver-based indie pop artist has a stunning voice, a resume that would make many a seasoned performer envious, and the potential every young musician strives for.

By the time Maillot was 16 she had been featured on MTV, had played Canada’s largest Canada Day celebration, had her music pumped through to 500,000 ears on American Airlines flights, played throughout Six Flags parks in the United States, and appeared on Oprah’s website. Not bad!

While Maillot’s songs have the charm we’d expect of a Canadian indie-pop project, she has also demonstrated an international demand for her music. She’s performed in Egypt and Romania, winning numerous competitions, caught the attention of impresario David Foster, and earned a spot onstage with famed singer Jann Arden during a televised concert in Toronto. She also inked a songwriting deal with Universal Music Group in Europe and has contributed songs to gold-certified recording artists.

For a taste of the artist in her element, check out 2012’s Just Another Girl and hear why she’s been dubbed “Canada’s answer to Adele.”

What: Hip-Hop/Pop
Where: Burnaby, BC
CM Issue: January – February 2013
Visit: www.daydreamermusic.com
Vancouver’s Daydreamer is an eclectic and lyrically-focused hip-hop project from the Russian-born artist whose mother calls him Boriz. His latest album, P3, is a six-song EP that’s as substantive as it is catchy. The album’s pretty heavy on the crossover (both electronic and rock) but hip-hop fans who aren’t scared by a little bit of musical exploration should have a fine time with it.

Daydreamer exercises a wide range of flow on the album, which can serve as more of an interruption than anything else on such a short collection of songs. That said, they all stand out on their own, making them perfect fodder for a mixtape – or, as the technologically savvy like to say, a playlist.

What: Country/Folk
Where: Milo, AB
CM Issue: January – February 2013
Visit: www.larryvannatta.com
Two-time Juno nominee Larry Vannatta blends traditional country and bluegrass with gospel and folk ballads to create a brand of country that’s easy to digest for nearly any fan of the sound. His working-class country anthems have earned him many accolades, including the European Country Music Association’s Songwriter of the Year distinction.

Vannatta has been releasing music since his debut, Second to None, came out in 1990. His most recent collection is 2012’s Working Class Man. The title is an accurate nod to his songwriting style, often singing about traditional country topics but managing to do it in an entertaining and fresh way. With smooth vocals and plenty of steel guitar, the songs are tastefully arranged and very pleasing. Listeners shouldn’t be surprised to find themselves singing along when one of his choruses repeats.

Not everyone loves country, but those who do should give the experienced and polished Vannatta a listen. You won’t be disappointed.