Canadian Musician - May / June 2020 | Page 78

SHOW CASE If you are an unsigned Canadian artist and would like to be featured in Showcase, visit www.applyforshowcase.com. Submissions are free - all you need is a Reverbnation account with a high-res photo. You can check out tracks from our Showcase artists at www.canadianmusician.com/showcase. By Andrew King M.M CRONE What: Indie Synthpop Where: Montreal, QC Visit: mmcrone.bandcamp.com The sounds themselves are a blast from the past, yet the way they’re manipulated and mutated in M.M. Crone’s output is decidedly modern and innovative. The result is a fresh-but- familiar take on synthpop (emphasis on the “synth”) that will simultaneously appease fans of pioneers like Pet Shop Boys and OMD along with those of more recent innovators like Grimes, Hot Chip, and Chromeo. There’s also something very Stars-esque about the vocal interplay between Philippe Petit and Margauz Tabary, and that’s a good thing. What’s particularly impressive, though, is that the Montreal-based duo has established such a well-defined signature sound despite only having an EP and a few singles to their name thus far. And regardless of whether it’s delivered from the stereo or stage, that sound will get people dancing. If you’re after a dose of dreamy synthpop with cryptic lyrics and an undefinable swagger that would feel right at home in a hyper- stylish car caper flick, give M.M. Crone a try. Ontario-based troubadour Ed Roman kicked off 2020 on an optimistic note with his inspiring and empowering anthem “Stronger” – a hooky dose of folk rock with uplifting lyrics and an instantly-memorable vocal melody. Think early Buffett crossed with current Barenaked Ladies – bouncy, buoyant, and bright. “Stronger” comes from Roman’s upcoming release A Recipe for Perpetual Spring, which has the award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, and multi-instrumentalist poised to widen his already- dedicated fanbase. He’s been featured in Billboard, added to rotation on hundreds of stations in North America and around the world, and racked up an impressive pile of award wins and nominations thus far, but if “Stronger” is any indication, Ed Roman is still on an upward trajectory with new heights ahead of him. ROSE CORA PERRY & THE TRUTH UNTOLD What: Alt Rock Where: London, ON Visit: www.rosecoraperry.com 78 C A N A D I A N M U S I C I A N ED ROMAN What: Folk Rock Where: Orangeville, ON Visit: www.edroman.net Obviously, the market for hooky, hard-hitting, ‘90s-inspired alt rock is still strong as hell, since Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold have been all over the place in recent years. They’ve shared stages with everyone from Atlas Genius to Smash Mouth to Platinum Blonde. They were hand-picked by founder Kevin Lyman to perform the last Canadian stop on the venerable Vans Warped Tour. They’ve even turned the heads of jaded music industry veterans at the NAMM Show – North America’s largest annual gathering of professionals from the musical products industry. And that’s just scratching the surface. Perry herself has been a staple of the scene in and around London, ON, for some time, though with the addition of drummer Tyler Randall and bassist Kait Howard, the newly- cemented lineup has proven greater than the sum of its parts. Now, Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold can see to it that fans of their particular brand of rock have their thirst quenched by something real and substantial for the foreseeable future.