Advice proffered by newsroom staff

Rewritten:

Cancionera, Natalia Lafourcade

We had a chance to witness Natalia Lafourcade live in Montreal, donning a remarkable black gown that beautifully echoed the melancholia of some of her songs. Starting June 26 and 27 at the Place des Arts, the Mexican singer will grace the stage once more, thanks to the Montreal Jazz Festival's invitation. With a new collection of tunes, Lafourcade will travel through the folklore of her homeland using her guitar, playfully dabbling with a blue piano, and developing artistic partnerships with great talents like Israel Fernández, El David Aguilar, and Hermanos Gutiérrez. Get ready for an extraordinary performance.

This listing comprises a snippet of the album.

Folk Latin

Cancionera

Natalia Lafourcade

Sony Music Mexico

Philippe Beauchemin's Choice

Magical Powers, Erika Hagen

French Canadian musician Erika Hagen debuts with a slacker rock album that stands toe-to-toe with the genre titans - Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile - in this gallant attempt. Hearty guitar riffs, courtesy of Dany Placard, complement words that can be straightforward, even biting, with elements of dark humor ("I dream to be the Karate Kid, fighting the monsters that leave holes in my stomach") and a search for - or the lack of - love ("I float in my bathtub, thinking of you, and I'm so dang happy you're not here"). The album Magical Powers seems primed to secure the title of your spring rock masterpiece.

This is a sneak peek at the album.

Rock

Magical Powers

Erika Hagen

Self-Production

Josee Lapointe's Pick

Anarchist, Jerome 50

Recorded as a celebration of beer and the disruption of the status quo, Jerome 50's third album Anarchist finds the Quebec artist delving wholeheartedly into punk-rock, embracing the rebellious spirit of his youth. Although there are nuances toward neo-trad, the Quebec party animal unleashes a lively party atmosphere, uncensored, lewd when discussing politics, offering a "take-it-or-leave-it" attitude. When a track is titled "F*ck you, my asshole," there's little room for doubt! We can't help but appreciate Jerome 50's raw and honest writing, even its crass tone, brimming with an authentic urgency. We hope to hear more introspective tracks like the title track in the future.

This listing includes a sample of the album.

Punk-rock

Anarchist

Jerome 50

Bravo Musique

Pascal LeBlanc's Choice

Good Music Entrances, Jimmie D and Nicholas Craven

With a commanding low voice and precise articulation, Jimmie D captures your attention. As he settles onto Nicholas Craven's emotionally charged beats, their collaboration results in magnetic music. From Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood, Jimmie co-founded the Real Big Records label in the mid-2000s. He met his go-to producer on a later occasion and has been working together since. This collaboration brings together friends Pay$o, fellow Montrealer Raz Fresco, and prolific Tha God Fahim, with the latter recently completing a track for Lloyd Banks and Ghostface Killah. Jimmie and Nicholas are preparing the release of their third collaboration, scheduled for July 11.

This listing highlights some album tracks.

Rap

Good Music Entrances

Jimmie D and Nicholas Craven

Independent

Emmanuel Bernier's Choice

J.S. Bach, Mass in B minor, Pygmalion and Raphaël Pichon

Bach's Mass in B minor is music's version of the Sistine Chapel. After an impressive series of choral recordings, including a riveting St. Matthew Passion in 2022, Raphaël Pichon and his ensemble Pygmalion approach this monumental work, initially intended as a job application to Dresden's court. The conductor's passion and instrumentation colors reveal a striking feel, while the choir and quintet of soloists produce a performance of high quality, which may be included among the best recordings of the Mass in B minor alongside those of John Eliot Gardiner and Frans Brüggen.

This listing showcases a brief glimpse of the specific track mentioned.

Classical

J.S. Bach, Mass in B minor

Pygmalion and Raphaël Pichon

Harmonia Mundi

Additional Details:

Natalia Lafourcade

Hailing from Mexico City, Natalia Lafourcade has emerged as a beloved figure in Latin music for her unique fusion of tradition and innovation. Her albums Temporal (2015) and Musas (2018) garnered acclaim, with the latter spawning the Billboard Latin Music Awards' Album of the Year in 2019[4]. Cancionera is her seventh studio album, released on March 12, 2021. The disc reflects an exploration of female empowerment, as found in certain pieces like the controversial "Me Niego" ("I Refuse"), which touches upon the often precarious lives of women in Mexican society[1][4].

Erika Hagen

Erika Hagen, born in Montreal, embraces a slacker rock style in her debut album, Magical Powers, which took 5 years to complete[2]. Prior to this release, Erika worked with local bands like the Rascalции and Feist[2]. In addition to Hagen (guitar, vocals) list of collaborators on the album are Pierre Saurel (drums), Sylvio Lemay (bass), and Joseph Mele (guitar)[2]. The record highlights Erika's emotional storytelling accompanied by engaging guitar melodies[2][3].

Anarchist

Jerome 50's Anarchist, with its 12 culturally driven tracks, centers on themes such as alcohol, rebellion, and politics[7]. The album features a punk-rock sound, crafted by musicians like Jean-Sebastien Francoeur (drums) and Jaques Dubois (lead guitar)[7]. Over time, Jerome 50 has built a reputation as an authentic and bawdy singer, breaking taboos with his raw lyrics and unapologetic attitude[7].

The Rewritten article mentions that the Montreal Jazz Festival invited Natalia Lafourcade to perform arts, specifically music, at Place des Arts.
Erika Hagen's debut album, Magical Powers, is mentioned in the same article, showcasing her foray into the entertainment industry with a slacker rock album.