Christo Graham, Toninato & Thiessen, Private Lives, and future star

Written By Jeff MacCallum

Christo Graham - Good Covers

Christo Graham continues to wow us here at Cups N Cakes to the point where we are kept wondering, “where the hell is everyone else?” He delivers so much power through simple composition. Good Covers veers between country finger pickers, to perfect pop gems that are McCartney personified, to 60s psych-folk tunes that could have found their way into the Forest Gump soundtrack without being out of place. Graham is insanely gifted in the art of songcraft and should be getting fly-in offers from every Folk Fest in Canada, it’s time for “everyone” to take notice.

Toninato & Thiessen - Dream of Heat

Dream of Heat was written by Ida Toninato and Jennifer Thiessen for their live show “Winter[City]Speaks”. It is an album that requires deep headphone listening to appreciate. Highly experimental, these compositions utilize baritone saxophone, viola, and synthesizers to create vivid imagery and intense moods. Top it all off with haunting vocals and you have a true achievement in musical artistry. Next time you’re staying in for the evening, pour yourself a glass of wine, hit play with headphones and give Toninato & Thiessen 40 minutes of your night.

Private Lives - Think I'm Coming Around

This incredible Montreal band exploded into the scene in 2022 and was the talk of the town across Canada. Since then, they’ve become a waaaaay better band but I see less buzz surrounding them. This needs to change. They totally rip and the little two-songer has been blaring out of my crummy car speakers as I drive home from work. Scrappy garage-punk collides head-on with power-pop and it’s all fireworks, not carnage.

future star - Star of the Show

I’m not 100% sure but I think this may be the last release from future star which is really too bad because this Vancouver quirky alt-pop act has been beloved at Cups N Cakes for some time now. Jaunty keyboard and frolicking percussion move these tracks forward with a hop, skip, and a bounce. The music lends itself perfectly to the vocals. This little EP is uplifting and catchy even when some of the content is sad, I like this, let’s stay positive and optimistic in these tumultuous times.

Jeff MacCallum

Jeff MacCallum is our founder. He created Cups N Cakes simply because he had a love of local music. Soon the platform grew beyond the confines of his scene in Edmonton to include all of Canada.

"I did it all very DIY. Everything you see was me learning on the fly. I'm a carpenter not a musician, or a journalist, or a publicist... I'm a carpenter and a weird crazy music fan that thought he could do something fun that might benefit something I care about"

Over the years, MacCallum's commitment to elevating Canadian music earned him a spot as a Polaris Prize Juror, a WCMA Juror, a consultant for music festival curation, and a dear friend to independent music in Canada.

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João Leão, Lammping, Cold Camp, and DOUR