New Music You May Have Missed from February 2021

February 27, 2021 No Comments

Best New Music from January 2021 blog post

Every New Music Friday, I’m reminded of how much new music is out there — especially from artists I’ve yet to discover! Join me as I broaden my horizons and my music library with monthly playlists capturing new releases from every genre.

February is the month of love… and there’s no denying that I’m in love with the fab new singles recently released by the likes of Jessie Ware, Martin Garrix and Tove Lo, Dua Lipa and Nick Jonas. Check out more than four hours of the best new music you might have missed on the Spotify playlist below, then scroll down to hear a selection of my most played faves.

* Remember Where You Are (Single Edit) by Jessie Ware *

Why release a music video when you can release a short film for your new single? The closing track off her career-changing album ‘What’s Your Pleasure?,’ Jessie Ware’s “Remember Where You Are” is a gorgeous tribute to finding comfort in the little things and hanging on to hope despite living in some of the most hopeless times. It’s a warm hug in the form of a song.

* Pressure by Martin Garrix feat. Tove Lo *

If clubs were open, this edgy new Martin Garrix x Tove Lo collaboration would be an absolute smash. You should know it by now, but wear your mask(s), wash your hands and social distance… PLEASE!!!

* Happy Hour by Felix Cartal feat. Kiiara *

Vancouver-born DJ/producer Felix Cartal recruited longtime fan and friend Kiiara for his latest star collab, a “melodramatic emo anthem” (Kiiara’s words!) about feeling a little (or a lot) out of control and treating every hour just like it’s happy hour. Honestly, we can toast to that—it’s been a hard year, but just know that we’ll all get through this. Think of the many actual Happy Hours we’ll soon be able to enjoy!

https://twitter.com/felixcartal/status/1365087200937869313

* We’re Good by Dua Lipa *

The newest addition to your ~thank u, next~ playlist, Dua Lipa’s latest single is full of clever references (“We not meant to be like sleeping and cocaine,” for one) all making it clear that the relationship is over, so it’s time to end things amicably. If not? Boy, bye!

* Caution by KAYTRANADA *

Haitian-Canadian DJ/producer KAYTRANADA surprise released an upbeat new single (“just a beat,” he humbly writes), and it’s our first sampling of fresh, original music since the star’s mega-successful 2019 sophomore LP ‘BUBBA.’ KAYTRANADA is heading into the month of March at an all-time career high—he’s up for Best New Artist at the GRAMMY Awards, airing Mar. 14, and I’m rooting for a local victory!

* Spaceman by Nick Jonas *

Everything we’ve experienced in the past year since the start of the pandemic has certainly felt otherworldly. Nick Jonas captures that sensation perfectly in his new solo single, “Spaceman,” the title track off his upcoming album due out Mar. 12. You can’t help but agree when Nick sings, “Mask off minute I get home / All safe now that I’m alone / Almost like a spaceman.” I definitely never thought of our reality that way! 👨‍🚀

P.S. If you’re a fellow Jonas Brothers superfan, don’t fret — the guys have reassured us they “all have a ton of exciting stuff coming (together and apart 😉).” Well, boys, don’t hold back… tell us everything!

* Last Love by Sinéad Harnett *

I shouted out Sinéad Harnett as an Artist to Watch in 2021 back in January around the time she was finishing work on her eagerly-awaited sophomore album. I’m happy to report back that we officially have a date for when we can expect so many new jams! ‘Ready is Always Too Late’ is set to drop May 21, and we have our first taste of the new record now thanks to lead single “Last Love.” In her own words, “Last Love” is about the “1 step forward, 2 steps back” emotional rollercoaster of feeling single and liberated yet still being hung up on the memory of your ex. We’ve all been there (even if you didn’t actually date them!).

ICYMI: Check out four other artists to watch in 2021!

Album of the Month: Life Support by Madison Beer

Madison Beer’s debut album has been years in the making. Her first and only EP, ‘As She Pleases,’ dropped in 2018, following her debut single in 2013. But ‘Life Support,’ the end result of that extended tease, is a meticulously well-crafted and generous 17-track pop album showcasing the L.A-based artist’s confidence in her sound and story. Highlights include “Effortlessly,” which highlights Madison’s breathy, and well, effortless, vocals, as well as hit single “BOYSHIT.”

New Artist of the Month: Sam Fischer

Days before his new collaboration with Demi Lovato was announced, Australian artist Sam Fischer was still relatively unknown to the mainstream masses. His 2019 single “This City” is what initially catapulted him to TikTok fame (plus remixes with Nico Santos, Anne-Marie and Kane Brown, among others), and landed the singer, who says at the time he felt “defeated” by L.A., a sweet contract with RCA Records. Defeated no more!

Sam and Demi have since joined forces to take Sam’s sound and their new single “What Other People Say” to the next level, most recently appearing together on The Ellen Show. The beautifully-written song describes the downfalls of losing yourself due to societal pressures and the desire to “fit in” and “be liked.” Sam puts it beautifully in this Genius annotation:

if I could talk to kid Sam Fischer i’d tell him to keep being his beautiful, flamboyant, talented, confident self and not listen when he was shamed and bullied for just being himself. I felt like it was my fault that I was the way I was, like the way I was living wasn’t right and I was a really angry and sad kid behind closed doors. i’m in therapy now and i’m so grateful for that because i’m able to unravel so much of the pain and embarrassment I felt for just being myself. working on my happiness and loving myself every day now!

Sam is evidently here to stay and I can’t wait to hear what’s next!

Interviews, Take 5

Take 5 with Entertainment Publicist Amira de Vera

February 26, 2021 No Comments

Amira de Vera Interview blog post cover designed by Angela McLean

With over 10 years of experience in the media industry, Toronto-based publicist Amira de Vera has worked behind the scenes building buzz around some of Canada’s top talents with career highlights in music, movies and TV. But four years ago this February, Amira set her sights on her biggest and most personal publicity campaign to date — the launch of her boutique entertainment PR and management firm, Project Four Public Relations.

In this edition of Take 5, get to know Amira and her inspiring journey from employee to entrepreneur, as well as her take on why publicity should be choreographed like a slow dance.

This month, you celebrated Project Four PR’s fourth anniversary. What pushed you to take that leap of faith and become an entrepreneur?

The leap of faith came from a place of rock bottom. After leaving the small agency I worked for, I decided to try my hand at corporate PR and ended up hating it. I was also in a very toxic environment at the time. Looking back, I am so grateful for that dark period because it is what pushed me to start my own company. One freelance client turned to two, which turned to five, then at one point I was taking on over 10 clients at a time. My mom basically gave me the nudge and told me to start my own PR company. I always said that I was a great employee, but I didn’t think I had it in me to be a boss. But with the full support of my parents as well as the confidence I got from my clients, I created Project Four PR four years ago and haven’t looked back. I pinch myself every day!

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What is one common misconception you see about publicity and PR, and can you set the record straight?

That results will come easy and you can expect to see them overnight. It’s such an unrealistic expectation. PR and publicity is all about reputation building. You can’t build someone’s reputation overnight. You have to lay the foundation and slowly place the bricks on top of that. Your client needs to earn the public and the media’s trust, and to do that it’s a slow dance — but a very effective one.

Every PR pro’s daily routine is vastly different, but what are a few things you make time for in your day to help you stay sane and on schedule — particularly since the start of the pandemic?

I didn’t really learn this until I entered my 30s, but my self-care routines are non-negotiable. When I was in my 20s, I had the mentality of “I will rest the day I die.” It’s such an unhealthy way of looking at your work and career. As a society, we are so conditioned to believe that if we aren’t hustling, then we are not being productive. I experienced major burnout in my late 20s and it was the most unproductive I had ever been. Yes, I was doing a lot and going, going, going, but my mental and physical health suffered as a result. Now, I set timeframes for myself. As any business owner or entrepreneur will tell you, the clock doesn’t stop unless you set those boundaries. I don’t answer any emails or calls after 6:00 PM and before 8:00 AM. I also make time to work out, meditate, go for walks and journal.

Early in your career, you took on a number of volunteer opportunities and internships. What did you do to make yourself stand out in those competitive environments?

Funny enough, the only reason I even entered the world of PR was because I met a PR professional through a volunteer opportunity, who at the time happened to be looking for an intern. She said I stood out because I went out of my way to help her out. That really is the only secret to standing out. Go the extra mile and I promise it won’t go unnoticed. Don’t be afraid to take risks and ask for more tasks and more responsibilities. Have the confidence to share your own ideas. Instead of fulfilling the minimum requirements, always strive to do more.

Can you share a piece of advice you’ve received that you wish you knew when you were starting out?

There is no such thing as a marketing emergency. My dear friend told me this once and it changed the way I handled the stress that comes along with this job. When things didn’t go right or a client was particularly unhappy, I would internalize it and take it extremely personally. When she said that phrase, it changed the way I looked at things. It wasn’t about not caring and letting the problem slip off of your shoulder. It was about realizing that this wasn’t the end of the world, and whatever challenges came up, they could be solved. It was a great shift in perspective that I wish I had adapted earlier on. It would have helped with all those sleepless nights in my early 20s!

General, Giveaways

Our Best Christmas Gift is the End of 2020

December 25, 2020 2 Comments

Merry Christmas blog post header for Angela McLean

It feels so good to come on here and officially say Merry Christmas. Christmas has always been my favourite holiday — a time to unplug from work, connect with family and friends, squeeze in a trip, and celebrate life and all those we love. Despite the very unexpected circumstances, I hope you’re doing as well as you can and you’re able to take time this holiday season to relax and recharge.

If you had asked me before March what I was looking forward to this year, I can guarantee it wasn’t planning to spend Christmas (and every other holiday) meeting with family 6+ feet apart, working from home full-time, limiting almost all of my social contacts, or stacking up concert refunds and flight credits. But 2020 — the long-awaited start of a new decade — decided it really wanted to make some noise and throw us all a curveball. We definitely heard you, 2020 — but I, for one, am very much ready for another fresh start.

Thankfully, we only have to live through one more week of “unprecedented-ness” before we can welcome in 2021, equipped with an agile mindset, pandemic-proof skill set and realistic resolutions. Here’s a preview of what I’ll be up to until then…

Writing, writing and more writing!

I plan to take full advantage of the holiday lockdown to draft up new content for the blog, including:

A wrap-up of one of my favourite — and only — trips from the year (The Great Mini-Canadian Road Trip),
An exposé of my Spotify Wrapped playlist to determine, once and for all, my favourite music releases of 2020, and
An inside look at my best (and worst?) celeb encounters of the year, both virtually and in person (remember those days?!)

Planning exciting features

The planner in me truly thrives every December as I whip out my pen and paper and strategize for the new year.

I loved starting my Take 5 interview series this year and publishing conversations with uber-talented musicians Reuben James and Michelle Treacy. With the goal of introducing (at least!) one influential and incredible human to you each month, I’m happy to tease that I already have several great names lined up for 2021. Get ready to do plenty of reflection, learning, listening and more. 😊

Know an inspiring or up-and-coming individual I should Take 5 with? Let me know in the comments below — or tweet me @angelamcleanx!

I will also be continuing my follower-favourite #NewMusicFriday shares every Friday at 12AM EST on my Instagram Stories (see my NMF highlights)! One of my proudest moments of 2020 was opening so many of you up to new artists and songs each week. Feel free to slide into my DMs with your most anticipated new releases so I can bump them to the top of my listening queue.

An additional teaser: I highly suggest you follow @vitaminwanderlust on Instagram. Fun things will be flying to your feed soon… ✈️

Giving back (to you!)

In case you missed it, I’m currently running a worldwide giveaway on Instagram for a sweet prize that is sure to help you through your toughest, longest days. I’m talking Starbucks coffee (my not-so-guilty pleasure!).

Head over to my Instagram by today (Dec. 25) for your final chance at a $20 CAD gift card! BONUS: As a thank you for reading my blog, comment your Instagram username below after you’ve entered on Instagram for an additional entry!

Looking forward to doing more contests and surprise giveaways in 2021. Be sure to have my notifications on!

Thank you for all of your support and readership this year! I seriously couldn’t do this without each one of you.

If you ever have any content ideas or suggestions, send me a note.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays xx

Fashion, Favourites, Playlists

November Favourites

November 30, 2020 No Comments

Before this blog goes in full blown Christmas mode, indulge in my November favourites for trendy fall/winter fashion finds, cozy home decor for the holidays, new music you need to hear and two juicy shows that will have you hooked from the first episode!

Fashion

Let’s start this off with two fashion must-haves for your late fall/early winter wardrobe!

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* Shackets *

EXACT: Check Shacket, Boohoo, $52.80 // SIMILAR: Keelee Jacket Blue, Princess Polly, $114; Houston Shacket in Khaki Camo, Garage, $54.95

Shackets (“shirt jackets”) are the new it jacket and they’re the perfect solution for wanting to wear a flannel in the colder months while keeping yourself warm and cozy. To get multiple outfits out of one jacket, I recommend wearing it undone with a thermal long-sleeve underneath, or pairing it with your fave plain-coloured sweater as temperatures start to drop.

Girl wearing UGG Winter Boots — (Photo courtesy of tradesy.com)

* UGG Boots *

Adirondack III Boot, UGG, $295 // Yose Fluff, UGG, $195

You’ve likely seen UGG slippers taking over your Instagram feed since the start of stay-at-home orders. In addition to their classic styles, you may be surprised to know UGG also sells a wide selection of traditional winter boots — a wise pick for our unpredictable Canadian winters! The Adirondack boot pictured above is a top seller, temperature rated to -32˚C, while the Yose Fluff (my fave!) keeps your feet toasty — and gives you the on-trend look — for less. 💸

Home Decor

Why wait until December to make your space as festive as possible?!

* Small Tree with Jute Base *

Available from Indigo for $34.50

Decked out with stunningly realistic flocked branches, this 24″ tree is perfect for a table centrepiece or small space in your room. Stay tuned to my Instagram to see how I decorate mine!

* Hockey Moose Ornament *

Available from Indigo for $14.50

I already know this will be the best ornament on my tree. It doesn’t get much cuter, or more Canadian, than a stuffed moose with a hockey stick! He just needs a double double from Tim Hortons to cement his citizenship. 🇨🇦

* Wool-Sock Stripe Throw *

Available from Simons for $45

Once your tree is up, maximize the Christmas vibes with an oversized blanket for your bed or couch — perfect for nights in watching holiday movies. As you can imagine, it was love at first sight with this wool-sock printed throw from Simons. Grab a pair of equally-cozy striped wool socks to complete the best matching set you could possibly own!

Music

Ahead of having your Christmas playlist on repeat 24/7, press play on my picks for the best new music of the month!

* Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus (Album) *

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve heard a record with no skips, but Miss Miley brought all the heat for her new ’70s and ’80s pop-rock inspired album, Plastic Hearts. Announced in August alongside the release of lead single “Midnight Sky,” this long-awaited album is Miley’s first full-length release since 2017 and follows 2019’s She Is Coming, which ended up being a stand-alone EP from the scrapped She Is Miley Cyrus project. I’m holding out hope we can see some of these tracks performed live in 2021, especially the powerhouse collab with Dua Lipa, “Prisoner.” (P.S. If 2020 has brought us anything positive, it’s been the amount and quality of these catchy female collabs — from Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B, to Dua and Miley, to Bebe Rexha and Doja Cat. Give it to me, ladies! 🔥)

Must-listen tracks: “Plastic Hearts” (a solid title track!), “Night Crawling” featuring Billy Idol (this was made for being in the pit at a concert jamming out), and “Prisoner” with Dua Lipa (watch the music video above!)

Favourites, Playlists

Playlist: Black Excellence

June 10, 2020 No Comments

In place of June’s Favourites list, I will be sharing multiple posts spotlighting Black creators + businesses. Today and every day, Black Lives Matter.

There’s a conversation going on right now that we all need to be part of and it covers racism, discrimination, equality and basic human rights. Why, in 2020, are Black men, women and non-binary people still being treated as “less than”? Why must they live with a weight on their shoulders simply because of the colour of their skin? We need to say their names, know their stories and uplift their legacies: George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin… and we need to recognize that there are far too many stories.

Change starts with each and every one of us. Over the past two weeks, the #BlackLivesMatter movement has spread internationally as people make their voice heard any way they can — through protests, signing petitions, educating themselves and their peers, lobbying government officials, and uplifting the voices at the heart of this movement. I want to do my part on this blog by amplifying my favourite Black creators and brands.

You may have heard several of these artists on previous playlists, but here’s your chance to get to know them better! Press play, check out the full tracklist and read more about three of my favourites below.