Carrie Horachek 
Who: Carrie Horachek
What: Percussive acoustic pop with style
Where: Saskatoon, SK
To Contact: Greenduplex Productions, (306) 374-6062, , www.carriehorachek.com.

Like a collection of snapshots taken from some cross-country journey, Carrie Horachek's aptly named debut solo effort, Out The Car Window, is an assemblage of tunes that illustrates the Saskatoon songstress' ability to weave folk-pop with her funky roots. A talented lyricist, Horachek's simple songs are peppered with unique imagery that keeps the disc fresh and interesting. Lines like 'I come home to find my guitar on my bed/as if it made love to every word I left there,' from the CD's opener "Branded" take the songs out of the background and give the listener a reason to lend an ear. Cutting her teeth fronting folk/funk/rock band Leonard, Horachek took the group's recent hiatus to explore her solo career. Teaming with producer Brock Skywalker (Captain Tractor) and relying on some well-got advice from fellow Canadian's Emm Gryner, Ember Swift and Danny Michel, she journeyed back and forth between neighbouring Alberta, recording the album in a variety of Edmonton locales. With beautiful vocals and comfortably catchy tunes, there's little doubt this prairie pixie is on a road trip to stardom.

James Secord 
Who: James Secord
What: Experimental melodic pop (containing C chords)
Where: Grimsby, ON
To Contact: , www.jamessecord.com.

No CD, no press kit, no fancy bio. He barely has a band and is still working out the details of his live show. One might wonder how Grimsby, ON's Barn managed to enter the pages of Canadian Musician - in a word: he's f'ing fantastic and I was lucky enough to be handed a copy of his basement demo - really just a collection of self-recorded songs done à la Sonic Foundry's Vegas Pro software - and it hasn't left my stereo. With vocals that confidently span his range and go from sounding Lennon-esque to being reminiscent of the late Shannon Hoon, Barn is sure to make the industry look his way. The multi-instrumentalist only recently decided to formally assemble a band. "A kid down the street named James Secord suggested that I start one," he explained. "I agreed on the condition that he'd be in it and the band be named James Secord. Secord - C chord; too perfect." Citing influences from the Beatles to the likes of Elliot Smith and Radiohead, he relayed that his music is designed to be "pop" sounding, and perhaps one day will earn the label. With T-shirts made, a "crappy basement demo" burned and shows being lined up, a debut album and much notice can be expected next summer.

Amer Diab 
Who: Amer Diab
What: Unguarded, guitar-driven adult alternative
Where: Toronto, ON
To Contact: (416) 588-2561, , www.amerdiab.ca.

The admittedly contradictory album, The Year Of The Apology, was Toronto-based Amer Diab's first opportunity to have full creative-control, but ironically it became a lesson in delegation. Having held his place in a fair share of bands through high school and college, Diab became frustrated with making compromises and having to pull together rehearsals. Taking a three-year furlough from the creative process, he refocused on what he loved about music, and armed with the ammo that only failed relationships can give, he returned with his first solo album. A collection of songs that sway from country twang to straight-ahead rock, Diab explains, "[It] is a coming of age album in the sense that it's the most honest document of my life I could have written. There's no artifice here - just little songs about big feelings. Simple truths, expressed simply." The disc was produced by Michael Johnson and engineered by Lurch at Broadcast Lane and includes the sonic treat of Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning (bass, organ) and Andrew Whiteman (lead guitar, tres. organ) as well as Emm Gryner's "favourite drummer," Dean Stone all lending Diab their abilities. Honest lyrics set to a moody, yet melodic backdrop, make The Year Of The Apology a pleasure to repeatedly spin - certainly not something to apologize for.

Credit: Ryan McLaughlin is Assistant Editor for Canadian Musician.

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