Chris Cornell’s Final Recordings

 
In dispute are Chris Cornell’s last 7 recordings composed and completed from 2015-2017 before his death. It began when Thayil spoke for the band to the media about the ownership of these recordings and suggested this was the reason for the delay of their new album. Then in November, Vicky received a letter from Soundgarden’s lawyers claiming that the recordings belonged solely to the band and made requests for her to hand them over.  

Thayil, Cameron, Shepherd, and Venerus claim that these recordings were done in collaboration with e-mails that addressed audio files and lyrics shared between Thayil and Cornell referring to past public interviews. However, according to Vicky, there had been no explicit statement that the recordings were meant exclusively for Soundgarden and making Cornell the sole owner.

The recordings have yet to be released, which is why the members claim that none of them are receiving royalties. In addition, expenses must be accounted for first before any amount of money is divided amongst the members. Vicky’s lawsuit against them came without any notice and was filed in Florida creating even more legal confusion around jurisdiction with the band’s origin in Washington. 
 

Soundgarden v. V. Cornell

 
After Cornell’s death, the band approached Vicky about the unreleased recordings, which Vicky agreed to share with them under the circumstances that they use a “trusted producer” and kept her in the loop about future potential album marketing. According to the lawsuit, the band refused Vicky’s requests wanting to use their own producer and musicians and did not want to commit to an approval process. 

The band has had no partnership agreements with Cornell’s estate drawn, according to the suit, which also refers to an e-mail from 2013 to the band in which Cornell explicitly refused to sign any agreements saying that he no longer wanted the other members to disproportionately benefit from his creative work. The suit concludes that Soundgarden has made no negotiation attempts and instead using tactics that involve pressure, harassment, extortion and illegal management of royalties. 
 

Soundgarden’s Response to the Lawsuit

 
An attorney for the band shared that from the band’s perspective, the recordings were created in collaboration and members felt positive about their rekindled artistic creativity. Soundgarden claims that music content made by any and all members, including solo Chris Cornell’s solo recordings, is rightfully under the band’s ownership. Three of the songs in question had Cameron, Thayil, and Shepherd listed as co-writers. 
 

Chris Cornell’s Legacy

 
Vicky Cornell expressed her frustrations discussing how people exploit a widow’s vulnerability on social media, posing the deeper issue of the lawsuit.

Self-care has become an umbrella term that covers a broad range of different activities that are linked to wellness, relaxation, and improving mental health. But while it has become a ubiquitous term used to describe everything from eating out to getting manicure, the main thing that separates self-care activities from leisure is the intentionality people bring to them.

A good self-care practice isn’t just fun, or restful — it also has the capacity to renew, to help you return to work a more balanced and capable person. Which is why a growing number of people have started to see music lessons as a vital form of self-care.
 

Recharging Through Creativity

One of the hardest things about modern life is the fact that it never seems to stop — our phones are bombarded by notifications and news alerts at all hours of the day and night, and truly getting out of your own head can be a major challenge. Drawing a warm bath and anointing yourself with essential oils won’t help you unwind if you still spend the evening scrolling through Instagram.

Perhaps counter-intuitively, one of the most appealing things about music lessons, from a self-care perspective, is the fact that they demand a certain amount of discipline and focus. When you sign up for piano lessons Toronto at a school like Toronto Arts Academy one of the things you are getting is a controlled space in which you can’t constantly check your phone.

This controlled space, and the mental and physical challenge of playing an instrument as difficult as the piano, creates the ideal conditions for entering into a state of flow that is not the same as rest, exactly, but which can play a huge role in taking you outside of yourself and boosting your mental health.
 

How to Make the Most of Music as Self-Care

If you want to make music lessons part of your own self-care routine, however, there are a few things you should keep in mind. It isn’t always easy to find schools that will be a good fit for the adult learner who wants to pursue music for purposes of personal wellbeing, and when it comes to piano lessons Toronto adults can enjoy, it is important to be judicious about which schools and instructors you consider.

For example, when trying to find a piano teacher Toronto has plenty of options, but many of them are specialized toward children or advanced students. Instead, you should look for instructors who:

• Have the pedagogical experience to help you develop your skills
• Can provide you with concrete goals to work toward
• Are a good match for your own learning style and approach
• Know how to make you feel comfortable and relaxed

For those who achieve a basic level of proficiency, playing music can be a major stress reliever. And unlike other self-care activities, which can simply fall into empty consumption, learning piano is an actual talent that can help you feel more confident and accomplished.

If you want a self-care activity that will really help you feel better about yourself, look for a school where you can start your piano lessons Toronto this month!

The band is made up of Jack Stratton, who plays keyboards, drums and guitars, and does management and production, Joe Dart on the bass guitar that is essential to funk, Theo Katzman does guitar, drums and vocals and Woody Goss plays keyboards.

They are still going strong, with their latest album being released in December, 2019 called Live at Madison Square Garden.

Besides offering up excellent funk sound, there are other things that make this band unique.

They didn’t follow the usual rules, and still managed to sell out Madison Square Gardens!  Here’s how:
 

1. They Didn’t Have a Regular Kind of Manager

 
Their manager was band member Jack Stratton. His philosophy was not the same as other managers’ might have been, and his focus was different. What he cared about was getting the musicians paid as much as possible. Anything that didn’t meet that condition could be dropped.
 

2. They Didn’t Have a Label

 
Vulfpeck didn’t let having no label hold them back. Though a label can really help a band with marketing, they can also restrict what the band can do. Jack Stratton was astute about using the internet for marketing.
 

3. Their Approach Isn’t for Everyone

 
Make no mistake – it is not easy for bands to find success without a manager or label. But it is more likely than ever, thanks to technology that allows bands to produce their own music without needing a studio, and an internet to market their music without huge cost and advertising.

Also, musicians have more control over their music “product” than ever before.
 

4. Vulfpeck Knows How to Brand

 
If you look at their official website, you might think you’ve hit the wrong place. They’ve broken all the rules about how to set up a user friendly, eye catching website. But that doesn’t matter to a fan.

Another thing they did to establish their branding was to set up their album on Spotify, and many of the tracks were silent.
 

5. They Have Staunch Supporters

 
Whatever they did, they did it right. They used the internet to their advantage, and now have 265,000 followers on Instagram and 509, 225 on their Facebook page.

When you have that kind of following, you can fill the seats of Madison Square Garden.

It was the internet that provided the supporters for the band, so Vulfpeck had furniture from their native Ann Arbor driven to Madison Square Garden to be reassembled on stage, so the fans could see the furniture they saw on the YouTube videos that the band put out, that they recorded in their friend’s living room.

In addition, it was a place of comfort for the band.

Vulfpeck has done everything right and provided funky music to the fans that love it.

“Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X

 
In truly 2019 fashion, Lil Nas X put in the work to get his song heard online through TikTok and spreading memes all over social until suddenly you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing the four-note intro of “Old Town Road” and the sultry tones of Billy Ray Cyrus. Featuring the country star on his remix launched him into country music territory, transcending genres. After its ubiquity, Lil Nas X surprised listeners with a remix with RM of BTS, the Kpop band that took over the world with its music.
 

“Boy With Luv” by BTS Feat. Halsey

 
Speaking of BTS and taking over the world, anyone who wasn’t ARMY (BTS fans) didn’t know what to do with themselves with a catchy Korean pop song that played everywhere. Debuting in 2013, BTS was on America’s radar starting in 2016 when the band appeared at the annual Billboard Music Awards. After some fumbling interactions with the 7 successful men, American media finally saw what powered the band’s global popularity – their dedicated global fanbase. Since then, more KPop songs have entered North American charts opening the door for more non-Western talent.
 

“Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa

 
Dua Lupa’s powerful song is both a pleasure for the ears and a celebration for independence. A direct response to her other single, “New Rules,” Dua Lupa used her talented voice and artistry to give listeners a new sound and attitude for 2019.
 

“Senorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello

 
If you didn’t know that Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello were kind of a “thing,” where have you been? Internet buzz around the couple got louder as their single debuted in the charts and when the music video was released. The intensity and Latin influence fueled the rumor fire especially with all the intimate dancing between the two. After fans tried sleuthing through social media activity to determine their relationship status, the couple went public to the pleasure of shippers and the eyerolls of others.

influence fueled the rumor fire especially with all the intimate dancing between the two.
 

“Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee

 
Mr. Post Malone was a busy bee in 2019 with all of the music he released as well as features on other artists’ tracks. His album, “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” is filled with tracks that describe the Post Malone life – drugs, alcohols, parties, and heartbreak. The soothing song, “Sunflower,” was the exception to the rule with its connection to the movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse.
 

“Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish

 
Did you know that Billie Eilish just turned 18 and that she doesn’t know the members of Van Halen? The older population of the Internet thought this was perposturous because of Van Halen’s influence on the rock scene in the 70s. But the jokes on them because Billie Eilish is just 18, but rocked the charts with her creative alt music.

He wrote stories as a child, and then went on to put music to the lyrics he wrote about the rough streets he grew up on in Compton.

He rapped under the name of K-Dot, and released mixed tapes, which became popular enough to catch the attention of hip-hop producer Dr. Dre. His first major label recording was “good kid, m.A.A.d City”, which established him as a strong up and comer.

At the Grammy Awards in 2018 he was up for an album of the year award.

It was the third straight time that one of his albums had been nominated. Previously, he had been nominated for album of the year with “good kid, m.A.A.d City” and “To Pimp a Butterfly”. This time, it was “Damn.”
 

And the Album of the Year Award Goes To…

 
The album of the year went to Bruno Mars, for his album “24K Magic”, which was a shock to many. Lamar’s “Damn.” was acclaimed and acknowledged as brilliant.
 

Hip-Hop Overlooked

 
Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” was popular but not particularly outstanding. It wasn’t the first time that hip-hop wasn’t selected for album of the year.

In a year which featured both Lamar and Jay-Z, there was no hip-hop win for album of the year, or any of the four categories that include acts and songs from different genres.

Other hip-hop artists who have lost out are Eminem to Arcade Fire, Lamar and Herbie Hancock to Daft Punk and Kanye West to U2, just to name a few.

A hip-hop artist has never won a Grammy in the category of song of the year or record of the year (the difference between song of the year and record of the year is that the record of the year category not only recognizes the artist’s performance, but also the overall contributions of the producer(s), recording engineer(s) and/or mixer(s) if other than the performer artist).
 

The Last Time Hip-Hop Had a Win

 
The last time hip-hop produced an album that won the album of the year, it was 2004, and the album was “SpeakerBoxxx/The Love Below” by OutKast.
 

Lamar Wins the Pulitzer Prize

 
Winning a Grammy Award is like achieving the highest prize in popular music, and Lamar was probably disappointed that he didn’t win. But his LP “Damn.” ended up winning the Pulitzer Prize!

Lamar was the first nonclassical or jazz musician to receive the prize since it branched out to a music category in 1943.
 

Hip-Hop Recognized with Respect

 
The Pulitzer Prize website describes Lamar’s “Damn.” album as a “virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life”.

Thanks to Lamar, hip-hop was recognized as the vibrant art form that it is, representing a culture that is active and creative, and deserving of the kind of respect it will get from winning a Pulitzer Prize.

No matter what genre you’re into—or if you prefer listening to an eclectic mix of musical genres, these are some of the biggest songs released this summer you need to add to your summer playlist.

“I Don’t Care”

Released on May 10 by Ed Sheeran featuring Justin Bieber, “I Don’t Care” is part of Sheeran’s fourth studio album No. 6 Collaborations Project. “I Don’t Care” is the fourth collaboration between Sheeran and Bieber.

Produced by Max Martin, Shellback, and Fred Gibson, “I Don’t Care” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“No Guidance”

Released on June 8 by Chris Brown featuring Drake, “No Guidance” is the fourth single from Brown’s 2019 album Indigo.

Produced by Vinylz, J-Louis, 40, and Teddy Walton, the track made it to the top 10 of the charts in five countries, and it peaked at number nine of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“You Need to Calm Down”

Released on June 14 by Taylor Swift, “You Need to Calm Down” is the second single from her 2019 album Lover.

Produced by Joel Little, and Swift, the song addresses both homophobia in general, as well as Swift’s critics, and it reached the top five in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, and made it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Beautiful People”

Released on June 28 by Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid, “Beautiful People” is the third single from Sheeran’s 2019 Album No.6 Collaborations Project.

Produced by Sheeran, Fred Gibson, Max Martin, Shellback, and Alex Gibson, the song made it all the way to number one on the UK Singles Chart, as well as making it to the top five in 15 countries. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

“Goodbyes”

Released on July 5 by Post Malone featuring Young Thug, “Goodbyes” was written by Austin Post, Jeffery Williams, Brian Lee, Louis Bell, Billy Walsh, Val Blavatnik, and Jessie Foutz, and produced by Bell and Lee.

The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, while also reaching the top five in 12 other countries including making it to the number one song in Finland.

“Old Town Road”

Released on December 3 by a then unsigned Lil Nas X, “Old Town Road” has become so popular it has resulted in a record deal for Lil Nas X with Columbia Records, as well as four of remixes by Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, Young Thug, Mason Ramsey and RM.

Produced by YoungKio, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross, “Old Town Road” has reigned as king of the musical charts for a whopping 17 weeks—a new record, defeating the 1995 Mariah Carey/Boyz II Men collaboration “One Sweet Day.”

It’s also made it to the top five on the charts in 24 countries, and it’s been number one in 19 of them.

Kiss’s Alive!, The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Prince and the Revolution’s Purple Rain were all released in the summer, and this year several more albums will undoubtedly join the list of “best summer albums of all time.”

Below are the most anticipated albums dropping this summer.

No.6 Collaborations Project

The latest album coming from Ed Sheeran, this will be his fourth studio album, and every track on it will include a featured artist. His two singles, “I Don’t Care,” featuring Justin Bieber, and “Cross Me,” featuring Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock will be on it, along with 13 other tracks for a total of 15.

No.6 Collaborations Project is a follow up to an EP Sheeran released in 2011, entitled: No.5 Collaborations Project, and according to Sheeran, he began working on this new album while touring. It’s scheduled for release on July 12.

Fever Dream

The third studio album from the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men, “Fever Dream” will include their latest single Alligator, and several limited-edition vinyl copies will be available for purchase through their website.

Fever Dream is scheduled for release July 26.

Ascend

The third studio album from EDM artist, Illenium, Ascend will be the culmination of the artist’s trilogy of albums exploring overcoming adversity, the first two of which were LP’s Ashes and Awake.

Scheduled for release August 16, the release of Ascend will be accompanied with a North American tour for Illenium, which will take place over four months from September to December.

Lover

The seventh studio album from T-Swift, Lover will stray slightly from the themes of her previous albums. After gaining notoriety for writing songs about her relationships—specifically the endings of her relationships—Swift has said her latest album will focus on romance.

However, she has indicated you can find romance in loneliness or sadness, which hints at a potential to still find a song or two on the album about heartbreak.

Lover will feature he latest singles “Me” and  “You Need to Calm Down,” and is scheduled for release on August 23.

III

The third album from the American folk-rock band Lumineers comes out at the tail end of the summer and will be broken down into three chapters, each detailing the life and events of a fictional family from the Sparks family.

Jeremiah Fraites, co-founder of Lumineers, said of the album: “This collection of songs worked out in a beautiful way, and I feel with this album we’ve really hit our stride.”

III will include 10 tracks and three bonus tracks for a total of 13, and it is scheduled for release on September 13.

It’s never been easier to learn this popular instrument, as online guitar lessons make it possible to learn right from the comfort of your own home. Here’s more about how it works.

Teachers Everywhere to Choose From

When you’re learning guitar it’s very important that the teacher’s approach to music aligns with your learning needs. Their musical tastes should overlap with yours, and their personality should also gel.

Playing music is fun, but it also requires practicing things like scales and chords. If you’re just starting, you need a teacher who can keep you motivated through the early stages of playing guitar, when the fingers aren’t used to being contorted into such strange shapes and the calluses haven’t fully developed.

When you take online guitar lessons, you have the widest pool of teachers possible. The local teacher plastering posters on the telephone poles may not be a perfect match. Get connected with the teacher who is.

All Levels of Learning and Styles of Music

Online lessons also make it easy to find instruction for your specific area of focus, no matter what the level of expertise. Every guitar teacher knows how to play G-C-D songs, but music is vast and complex.

You may want a teacher who is an expert in electric Chicago-style blues, Delta finger-picking, or bossa nova. You may be far beyond Old MacDonald, and you need a teacher who can play Bach. Teachers should be familiar with the context of the music you want to play, as well as proficient in technique.

Similarly, you may want to learn music theory concepts, such as harmony or counterpoint. You can take online guitar lessons with a world-class teacher who has specific expertise in what you want to play when you sign up for online lessons.

Unmatched Convenience

The natural benefit of learning from home is you don’t need to waste time commuting to lessons. If your lesson is only half an hour long and it takes 30 minutes or more to get to and from it, this is time wasted that could be better spent practicing! Many people work at home online all day, so taking guitar lessons online is an extension of what many people do already.

Modern life is busy, and while it is especially good to practice immediately before and after lessons when the lesson is still fresh, we all have personal and professional obligations we could be fulfilling. The last thing anybody needs is more time commuting.

Music is an impossibly powerful thing — just hearing it can put us in a trance, but playing it is an indescribable joy. Music is a mysterious force that can make us dance and fill us with euphoria. Learn how to produce the music you love by taking online guitar lessons today.

Happiness Begins—Jonas Brothers

Their first album since their famous breakup in 2013, Happiness Begins will be the groups’ first album since Live in 2013, and their first studio album since 2009. It will include their comeback single “Sucker,” and it is scheduled for release on June 7.

Madame X—Madonna

In January, 2018, Madonna announced that she was working on a new project: Madame X, which will be her fourteenth studio album, and her first since 2015. Madame X will include the Queen of Pop’s latest singles “Medellin” and “Crave,” and is scheduled for release June 14.

Doom Days—Bastille

Doom Days will be the British Indie pop band’s third studio album. It has been described as a concept album about “the importance of escapism, hope and the preciousness of close friendships.” The album will include their three latest singles: “Quarter Past Midnight,” “Doom Days,” and “Joy,” and it’s scheduled for release on June 14.

Indigo—Chris Brown

The controversial singer announced he will be releasing his ninth studio Album this summer at his birthday party. Indigo is expected to feature collaborations with Drake and Justin Bieber among others. According to “Breezy,” the album is scheduled to be released June 21st. However, he has admitted there could be a delay that would push the album’s release to the 28th of June.

Let’s Rock—The Black Keys

Let’s Rock will be the duo’s ninth studio album. It’s been described as “an homage to electric guitar,” and it will include their latest three singles: “Lo/Hi,” “Eagle Birds,” and “Go;” it’s scheduled for release June 28.

No.6 Collaborations Project—Ed Sheeran

Announced in late May, No.6 Collaborations Project will be Sheeran’s fourth studio album. Part of the appeal of the forthcoming album is the fact that every track (there will be 15) will feature another artist performing with Sheeran. Singles “I Don’t Care” featuring Justin Bieber and “Cross Me” featuring Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock will be on the album, which is scheduled for release on July 12.

Yandhi—Kanye West

Originally announced in September 2018, Yandhi will be West’s ninth studio album. Part of the reason for the anticipation for this album is the fact that it was supposed to drop over a year ago, but it has been delayed twice. According to West, the first delay was due to his desire to seek inspiration from Africa, while the second delay was due to his revelation that it simply wasn’t ready. While there is no official release date yet, it’s expected to come out in 2019.

So, whether you are into country, rock, EDM or jazz, here is the list of the best music festivals for the true music fan out there — and worth travelling any distance to attend.

QUEBEC CITY SUMMER FESTIVAL

When: JULY 4-14,2019

Where: Quebec City

Tickets: An all-inclusive pass for 11 days is 105$. Book here!

Are you ready for Canada’s largest outdoor music festival? It has a stellar line-up this year, with over 100 acts playing both in indoor and outdoor venues.

The giant festival happening at the Plains of Abraham battlefield also features street performances, bar kiosks, food trucks and street acts for all ages. It’s the perfect setting for an 11-day summer vacation with your partner or friends.

Artists to look out for: Alt-J, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Twenty One Pilots, Slipknot, Éric Lapointe, Kygo/Diplo and many more.

VELD MUSIC FESTIVAL

When: August 3-4, 2019

Where: Downsview Park, Toronto, Ontario.

Tickets: Two-day general admission pass, starting at $150; and VIP pass, starting at 190$. See more options here.

Get ready to dance your way through this two day music festival, which brings an impressive line-up that would please the electronic music fan in anyone.

Artists to look out for: Cardi B, Kygo, Tiesto, Major Lazer, Mark Knight and several others who will be bumping the heavy hitting EDM and sweet sounds of the night.

OSHEAGA FESTIVAL

When: August 2-3-4, 2019

Where: Parc Jean- Drapeau, Montreal, Quebec

Tickets: Weekend passes, starting at $325; and single day passes, starting at 125$. See more details here.

The 14th annual Osheaga music and arts festival will take place in the breath-taking landscapes of Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau. The Chemical Brothers will be returning to Montreal after 17 years to headline along with Childish Gambino and The Lumineers. So go ahead and book your passes for Montreal’s biggest music festival.

Artists to look out for: Logic, Flume, Interpol, City and Colour, Janelle Monáe, Hozier, Kaytranda and more will play.

CHASING SUMMER

When: August 3-4, 2019

Where: Calgary, Alberta

Tickets: Two-day general admission passes, at $169; and VIP pass, at 209$. Learn more on how to get tickets for this hot event.

The largest EDM outdoor dance music festival in Western Canada returns to Calgary for its 2019 season. This time it’s bigger and better. If you are an EDM fan then its time to get excited about this festival. The two-day festival will spread across three stages, so get ready to groove, jump and shake.

Artists to look out for: The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, W&W, Slushii, Infected, and many more.

VANCOUVER JAZZ FEST

When: June 21-July 1

Where: Vancouver, BC

Tickets: Various artists at various venues. Tickets can be purchased here.

If you have a love for jazz, then head this West Coast festival is absolutely worth travelling for.

Get ready for a varied, deep, and harmonic experience at this international music festival.  It will surely transport you to a different time and place.

Artists to look out for: Houston, TX-based band The Suffers, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, Grammy award-winning group The Roots, and many more.

If you’re a true music fan, follow out guide to the best Canadian music festivals — the ones that actually care about the music. Fantastic weather, great entertainment and the best beats — what more could the real music fans out there ask for?