Friday, July 25, 2025
JP LeBlanc Taps Grammy-Winning Producer Colin Linden for Bilingual Roots-Blues Album ‘All In My Blood,’ Out This Summer
Friday, July 18, 2025
Calgary’s Ollee Owens Wins First Place in the Women’s Freedom Song Contest for Lyrics/Poetry with 'Still in Pieces'
The results are in, and Ollee Owens has taken home First Place in the Lyrics/Poetry category at the Women’s Freedom Song Contest for her powerful piece, “Still in Pieces.”
The Women’s Freedom Song Contest is an annual celebration of music and poetry that amplifies female voices and stories. With a mission to find the next great “female anthem,” the contest seeks works that inspire, empower, and speak to the heart of the female experience. Open to songwriters, poets, and video creators worldwide, the competition attracts artists from diverse backgrounds who have something meaningful to say.
Ollee Owens' “Still in Pieces” stood out among the competition for its raw emotion, poignant storytelling, and evocative lyrical depth. Her winning piece resonated with the esteemed panel of judges, which includes industry veterans such as Brent Backhus (engineer for John Lee Hooker, Solomon Burke), Ruth McCartney (media entrepreneur), Karen Bliss (Billboard journalist), David Eaton (Polyphonic Spree producer), and Diana Williamson (Billboard-charting songwriter).
With the album, Nowhere to Hide, spending 13 consecutive weeks in the Roots Music Report’s Canadian Top 10 and her previous video, “Shivers and Butterflies,” racking up nearly 800,000 views in just one month, Owens is proving that blues still has a powerful story to tell.
With this latest recognition, Owens continues to cement her reputation as a formidable artist whose work transcends genres and touches hearts. “Still in Pieces” is a testament to resilience, personal struggle, and the strength that emerges from vulnerability—making it a deserving winner in a competition designed to highlight impactful storytelling.
Friday, July 11, 2025
Canadian Soul/Blues Dynamo Ollee Owens Unveils Powerful New Music Video for “Nowhere to Hide"
Ollee Owens isn’t just singing the blues—she’s living and breathing them with a conviction that cuts deep. The Calgary-based blues and Americana artist unveils a stunning new music video for her latest single, “Nowhere to Hide”, an anthem of resilience that perfectly encapsulates the raw emotion and defiant hope that define her sound. With the album, Nowhere to Hide, spending 13 consecutive weeks in the Roots Music Report’s Canadian Top 10 and her previous video, “Shivers and Butterflies,” racking up nearly 800,000 views in just one month, Owens is proving that blues still has a powerful story to tell.
A fearless performer with a voice that commands attention, Owens brings her signature blend of blues, soul, and folk into sharp cinematic focus with “Nowhere to Hide.” Shot in a cavernous warehouse with a massive projection screen behind her, the video juxtaposes historic and contemporary struggles, reminding us that the battles of the past still echo loudly today. “I wanted to create a visual bridge between history and the challenges we face now,” Owens explains. “The troubles we sense, see, and experience may change shape, but the fight remains.”
Draped in bold red to symbolize courage, with white at her core to represent unwavering integrity, Owens stands defiant in the face of fear, delivering a searing performance with the urgency of a woman who has walked through fire and come out stronger. “You can make it through—we will make it through. There is hope—there is always hope because there ‘ain’t no trouble gonna bring us down!’” she proclaims.
“Nowhere to Hide” was recorded at Nashville’s Sweetbriar Studio with producer Bobby Blazier bringing together an all-star lineup featuring guitarist Chris Rodriguez, bassist Tommy Sims and keyboardist De Marco Johnson. The album has been turning heads across the blues world, climbing the charts and earning praise from outlets like Blues Matters, Blues Music Magazine, and Americana Highways, which hailed it as "one of the strongest surprises of 2024."
Owens’ journey from a small farming community in Manitoba to the world stage is nothing short of extraordinary. Inspired by blues legends and gospel greats, she started writing songs at eight, picked up the guitar at 12, and then put it all on pause to raise her three daughters. But the music never left her soul, and in 2022, she roared back with Cannot Be Unheard, proving that her voice was not just meant to be heard, but felt. Since then, she’s shared festival stages with blues heavyweights like Dawn Tyler Watson and Matt Andersen and made her mark at the iconic B.B. King’s Blues Club in Memphis.
With “Nowhere to Hide”, Ollee Owens issued a rallying cry. The blues has always been about finding strength in the struggle, and Owens embodies that spirit in every note she sings. As this powerful new video makes its way into the world, one thing is clear—there’s no stopping her now.
Friday, July 4, 2025
Danny Marks Returns With Soul-Stirring New Single ‘I’m Ready’
"It’s been a long time, and I want you to know that I’m ready..."
The opening line of I'm Ready” says it all. Marks delivers this song with the wisdom of a road-worn storyteller, channeling a lifetime of experiences into a track that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. The song’s lyrics capture the passage of time, the frustration of waiting, and the unwavering belief that no matter how long it takes, your moment will come—as long as you’re ready to take it.
"Then you’re ready, you can come go with me / We can make it, oh yes we can..."
The slow groove and soulful delivery recall the greats—Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Bobby "Blue" Bland—while Marks’ signature guitar work glows like embers in a midnight fire, warm, rich, and full of lived-in soul.
Danny Marks is no stranger to reinvention. Signed to Capitol Records at just 18 with Edward Bear, he quickly made his mark before stepping into a career that saw him work with legends like Bo Diddley, Rita Coolidge, and The Drifters. He built his reputation on the Toronto club scene, became a familiar voice on CBC Radio, and spent the past 25 years hosting BLUZ FM on JAZZ FM91—educating, entertaining, and keeping the blues flame alive.
Marks has seen the music industry change, but the soul of the blues remains the same. In “I'm Ready,” he adds another timeless entry to his catalog—one that nods to the past but walks boldly into the future.
With “I'm Ready,” Danny Marks extends an invitation. It’s not just about his own journey—it’s about all of us. Whether you’ve been waiting on a dream, a breakthrough, or just a sign that it’s time to move forward, Marks offers a musical hand to hold.
"Are you with me now? Do you feel like I do? Then you’re ready… you’re ready too."