SWOMP

Taylor-Rae & Antonio Larosa on new heartfelt duet 'Hearts Don’t Break'

Canadian country artists Antonio Larosa and Taylor-Rae have joined forces on a soaring new duet, Hearts Don’t Break, released on October 10, 2025.
The emotional track, co-written with award-winning songwriter David Borys, captures the fragile moment between love fading and letting go — a theme both singers say hit close to home.
In an interview with SWOMP, the pair discuss the new track.
“I’ve always admired Taylor-Rae’s voice because it has the kind of power and emotion that makes a ballad soar,” Larosa said. “The song is about two people who both know the love is gone but they are still hanging on, stuck in something that is no longer real love. It captures that painful space between holding on and letting go. When we played it live on tour, the reaction was incredible, so we knew we had to record it.”
Built around aching guitar lines and dynamic vocal interplay, Hearts Don’t Break unfolds like a cinematic slow burn. The production mirrors the emotional unraveling at its core — two voices circling each other in harmony and heartbreak.
Taylor-Rae said the song came together naturally in the writing room with Larosa and Borys. “Hearts Don’t Break is a song that digs into wanting to make a relationship work and hanging onto it, to the point where you're just hurting each other,” she said. “Sometimes something isn't the right fit, even though you might wish it was. I was so excited to team up with Antonio on this track because of how incredible of a vocalist and storyteller he is. This song came together really organically and I feel super lucky to be a part of it.”
The single bridges the grit of classic country and the polish of modern Nashville, blending Larosa’s soulful edge with Taylor-Rae’s powerhouse range.
Together, they deliver a duet that feels both timeless and contemporary — the kind of heartbreak song that lingers long after the last note fades.
Larosa, a Vancouver-born country rock artist, has built a reputation on the road with raw, blues-infused performances and introspective songwriting. Twice named Roots Artist of the Year by the BC Country Music Association, he’s become one of the most distinctive voices in Canada’s independent country scene.
Taylor-Rae, originally from Alberta, has carved her own path with a string of streaming successes and editorial playlist features. Her breakout single Are You Still Up has surpassed 1.5 million streams, while her latest track I Can’t landed her the cover of Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Country playlist.
Follow Larosa at https://www.antoniolarosamusic.com/.
Follow Taylor-Rae at https://taylorraeofficial.com/.

Hunter Brothers on 'Homegrown Nights' tour coming to the Kiwanis Theatre in Chatham on Nov. 7

Multi-award-winning country group Hunter Brothers will bring their signature harmonies and high-energy performance to Chatham next month as part of the second leg of their 'Homegrown Nights 2025 Tour'.
The band will take the stage at the Kiwanis Theatre on Nov. 7 with special guest Dayna Reid.
SWOMP caught up with Ty Hunter to discuss the show, the overall tour and the career of the band.
The tour expansion coincides with the release of the group’s new single 'All Kinds of Country', featuring Lathan Warlick, out now via Open Road Recordings. The track serves as the title song from their upcoming six-track EP, All Kinds of Country, arriving the same day as the Chatham show.
Anchored in soaring harmonies and modern production, All Kinds of Country celebrates the wide range of people and sounds that make up the genre. “There seems to be a big debate these days about what defines country,” said Ty Hunter. “At the end of the day, it should be something that brings us together. It’s not just about the music—it’s about a way of life, everyone being welcome at the table.”
The collaboration with genre-blending artist Lathan Warlick underscores that message, combining the brothers’ vocal chemistry with Warlick’s soulful, rhythmic delivery. The song is both a reflection of inclusivity and a showcase of the group’s evolving sound.
The forthcoming EP, recorded during a recent creative trip to Nashville, balances the band’s roots with fresh directions, featuring collaborations with artists like Shantaia and weaving in their Scottish heritage on 'Keep on Truckin'. “These songs are meant to lift your spirits and keep your day moving forward,” Ty added.
Known for their engaging stage presence and down-to-earth storytelling, the five brothers—J.J., Dusty, Luke, Brock, and Ty—have built a loyal fan base across Canada. Hailing from a farm in southern Saskatchewan, the Hunter Brothers have earned over 90 million streams and multiple chart-topping singles, combining music, family, and faith into every performance.
Tickets for the Chatham show are available through www.cktickets.com.
For more information on Hunter Brothers, their music, and full tour dates, visit www.hunterbrothers.com.

Canadian songwriter Eddie Schwartz on stepping back into the spotlight with new album 'Film School'

Canadian songwriter, producer and performer Eddie Schwartz — best known for penning Pat Benatar’s 1980 hit 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' — is stepping out from behind the scenes with his own full-length studio release Film School, arriving November 12, 2025.
SWOMP caught up with Schwartz to discuss the project and his career.
Schwartz, whose songs have been recorded by artists including Carly Simon, Joe Cocker, America, Donna Summer and Rascal Flatts, says the project marks both a creative renewal and a personal reckoning.
“It’s a difficult time right now and I freely admit to struggling with how to cope with the daily insanity,” Schwartz said of the current climate that inspired his new material. “The moment of writing ‘We Win’ was profound for me because I found a way to a more hopeful place that helped with anger, sadness and bewilderment at how we got here.”
After years of burnout from Nashville’s rigorous co-writing culture, Schwartz said writing We Win broke a long creative drought. “The blank page stayed blank for a long time,” he said. “My struggle to process the world at this moment in time and muster some resolve was what propelled me back in the writing mindset.”
The track features slide guitar by Roger Moutenot and backing vocals by country music legend Robert Ellis Orrall. Critics have praised its optimism and emotional depth, with Cashbox calling it “one of those songs that makes me remember why I got into the music industry in the first place.”
Film School features six songs that Schwartz describes as “short stories or films” connected by themes of perseverance and humanity. From the introspective Outbound Train to the reflective Special Girl and the waltzing You Don’t Belong, the album blends craftsmanship and storytelling in the tradition of his earlier work.
“For me, the people in the songs face challenges and find ways to deal with those challenges and move forward with their lives,” he said. “I hadn’t written a song in quite a few years before Film School, so I had to relearn how to do it – I was back in school in a way.”
A Member of the Order of Canada and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Schwartz has also been a tireless advocate for creators’ rights, serving as president of the International Council of Music Creators from 2017 to 2023.
“For the vast majority of individual artists and songwriters, the business is much, much harder than it was in the day of vinyl, CDs and even downloads,” he said. “Millions and millions of streams do not support a career, and that’s tragic.”
With Film School, Schwartz finds new footing as both storyteller and survivor — a veteran artist proving that, even decades after writing one of rock’s most enduring anthems, he still has plenty left to say.
Film School will be released independently on CD November 12, 2025.
Follow Eddie at https://www.eddieschwartzmusic.com/.

Sloan's Patrick Pentland on their 14th studio album 'Based on the Best Seller' + cross-Canada tour

Canadian rock band Sloan have released their fourteenth studio album, Based on the Best Seller, available now via murderecords / Known Accomplice.
The JUNO Award-winning quartet continues its tradition of creative equality and timeless power-pop craftsmanship with a collection that blends diverse songwriting voices into one unmistakably Sloan sound.
SWOMP caught up with guitarist Patrick Pentland to discuss the album.
“It's not a challenge to make a 14th album, but sometimes it's a challenge to think of a new overarching theme or a way to present a 14th album,” said Jay Ferguson. “Our band has the capability to perform different styles within the rock-pop sphere, but it's often hard to harness the group to adhere to one particular style or theme. That's okay though. With four songwriters, we tend to make music that perhaps doesn't always naturally hang together under one (opened) umbrella but that's our style, and that style is continued on Based on the Best Seller.”
The record was previewed earlier this year with the melodic single “Live Forever,” co-produced by the band and long-time collaborator Ryan Haslett. The harmony-rich track explores the humorous and bittersweet sides of immortality through Sloan’s signature pop sensibility.
The follow-up single “Dream Destroyer,” now at radio, features fuzzed-out guitars and infectious hooks. “Combining my/our love of glam, shoegaze, and power pop, the song is an ode to lost love, past mistakes, and the recklessness that has been the blueprint of my life, for better or worse,” Pentland said. “Worse in terms of relationships, better in terms of fodder for hit songs. A door slams shut, a window smashes open.”
Last month’s release, “No Damn Fears,” brings a different energy. Sung by Andrew Scott, the track fuses garage grit with poetic surrealism and protest spirit.
More than three decades into their career, Sloan remain one of Canada’s most influential and enduring bands. Known for their democratic approach—with each member contributing as singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist—the Halifax-born group continues to evolve while staying true to their roots.
Sloan will support the album with their cross-country “Tour de Force” which began October 16 in Sudbury, with stops across Ontario, the Maritimes, Western Canada and Quebec through spring 2026.
For more information, visit www.sloanmusic.com.
Photo credit: Calm Elliott-Armstrong

Newfoundland artist Rachel Cousins on her new album 'What Hasn’t Killed Me'

St. John's, Newfoundland artist Rachel Cousins has released her third studio album, What Hasn’t Killed Me, out October 10, 2025.
SWOMP caught up with Cousins on release day to discuss the record.
Known for her soaring vocals and polished pop sound, the Newfoundland-born singer-songwriter takes a bold new turn with this project, stepping away from pop precision to embrace the more fluid and reflective territory of Adult Contemporary. The nine-track album explores the turbulence and grace of growing into adulthood, weaving together elements of folk intimacy, alternative grit, and pop sensibility.
A six-time MusicNL winner with two East Coast Music Award nominations, Cousins has become one of Atlantic Canada’s most promising voices. Her songs have been streamed more than 600,000 times and featured in television series including Wynonna Earp, Hudson & Rex, and The Wedding Planners. She has also shared the stage with artists such as Alan Doyle, Serena Ryder, the Beaches, and GRAMMY winner K’NAAN.
Beyond her musical success, Cousins has earned respect for her openness about mental health and recovery, speaking candidly about her experiences both in her music and in community settings.
Created in partnership with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Greg Wells, whose credits include Taylor Swift and John Legend, What Hasn’t Killed Me marks a creative breakthrough. “Songs started pouring out of me. What used to take days came in under an hour. For the first time in years, I felt free. Greg saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself,” Cousins said.
The album’s focus track, “Little Help,” co-written with musician Darcy Scott, captures the courage it takes to ask for support when struggling. Built around guitar and raw vocals, the track explores the tension between appearing composed and feeling lost inside.
Previous singles, including “Nora,” “To Fail,” “As A Girl,” and “Standing Still,” reveal the album’s emotional range — from the comfort of lasting friendship to the fear of failure and the strength found in womanhood and self-acceptance.
Cousins will celebrate the release of What Hasn’t Killed Me with a hometown show at The Ship in St. John’s on October 17, following a performance during Music Day in Canada on September 27. She will also appear at the Come Together Showcase in Toronto on November 25 and 26.
Follow Rachel at https://www.rachelcousinsmusic.com/.
Photo Credit: Hilda Cousins

Suzie Ungerleider on her 11th studio album 'Among the Evergreens' + her fall tour

Acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Suzie Ungerleider is taking her latest album, Among the Evergreens, on the road this fall with performances across Ontario and Quebec.
Released June 6, 2025, via MVKA, the album has earned international praise for its lyrical depth and emotional honesty, marking a powerful chapter in Ungerleider’s evolution as an artist and storyteller.
SWOMP caught up with Ungerleider for an interview. 
With Among the Evergreens now resonating with listeners around the world, Ungerleider says she’s eager to reconnect through live performance. “There is nothing like experiencing the energy of the people in the room all listening and feeling together,” she said. “It is that musical communion that really makes songs complete.”
The tour includes stops at London’s Aeolian Hall on October 22 with Abigail Lapell, and Toronto’s Hugh’s Room on October 26.
Adding to her growing momentum, Ungerleider has been named an official showcase artist at the 2025 Folk Music Ontario Conference. She also plans to expand her tour into 2026, with shows slated for Alberta and Europe.
Full tour details are available at www.suzieungerleider.com.
Photo credit: Trevor Cornish

Triumph’s Rik Emmett on Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame induction

Nearly five decades after emerging from Mississauga’s rock scene, Triumph will be honoured at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Legends gala on Oct. 17 at Toronto’s Meridian Arts Centre.
The hard rock trio — guitarist Rik Emmett, bassist Mike Levine and drummer Gil Moore — will be inducted by fellow Canadian rocker Tom Cochrane, recognizing a career that carried arena-sized ambition and melodic songwriting to international stages.
SWOMP caught up with Emmett for an interview. 
For Emmett, the honour reflects the band’s belief that powerful music could also be positive and purposeful.
Triumph’s catalogue — from Lay It on the Line and Magic Power to Fight the Good Fight and Follow Your Heart — combined virtuosic musicianship with lyrics about perseverance and hope.
Formed in 1975, Triumph rose from Toronto-area clubs to headlining arenas across North America. Their blend of precision playing and theatrical stagecraft helped define Canadian arena rock through the late 1970s and ’80s.
At the height of their fame, the band performed before half a million fans at California’s 1983 US Festival, cementing their place among rock’s elite.
The Hall of Fame recognition comes after a renewed wave of interest in Triumph’s legacy. The 2021 Banger Films documentary Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine introduced their story to a new generation, while a surprise reunion performance at the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals in Edmonton marked the group’s first public show in 17 years.
Emmett will perform at the gala with guitarist Phil X, who joined the band in its later years, linking Triumph’s past with the musicians they continue to inspire.
Triumph joins a select list of Canadian artists to be honoured for their songwriting contributions. The gala will also see k.d. lang induct Jane Siberry, Murray McLauchlan induct Ian Thomas, and Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene honour Andy Kim.
More details can be found at https://www.cshf.ca/.

Chiara Savasta brings introspective pop shimmer to Sommo 2025

Montreal singer-songwriter Chiara Savasta brought her dreamy, reflective pop sound to the Colliding Tides Main Stage on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, closing out the final day of Sommo Festival in Cavendish.
Savasta, who grew up in the suburbs of Montreal, has built a reputation for her emotionally resonant songwriting and unfiltered portrayal of early adulthood. Her lyrics often explore the tension between anxiety and hope — a theme rooted in her own experience of navigating a generation marked by uncertainty.
Following her set, Savasta sat down with SWOMP for an interview to talk about her music and evolution as an artist.
Her first project, Summerhood, released in 2022, served as her take on the coming-of-age experience — a reflection of youth, longing and the early steps into adulthood.
Her latest project, brand new girl, brand new machine, captures the universal feeling of experiencing everything all at once in our early twenties. The record reveals a more grounded and mature artist, gradually finding her footing in the world.
Through those ups and downs — always chasing the next dream — Savasta has emerged as a distinct voice in the Canadian indie pop scene, offering songs that resonate with anyone learning to navigate change. Her closing performance at Sommo Festival felt like the culmination of that journey: honest, emotional, and alive with possibility.
Follow her online, here.

Brooks & Bowskill bring heart and harmony to Sommo Festival

Canadian duo Brooks & Bowskill took the Colliding Tides Main Stage on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, closing out the final day of Sommo Festival with a warm, roots-infused performance that blended folk, country and rock and roll.
The Cobourg, Ont. pair — made up of husband-and-wife musicians Brittany Brooks and Jimmy Bowskill — sat down with SWOMP after their set to talk about life, love and the music that binds it all together.
It was their first time performing on Prince Edward Island, and the duo said the East Coast experience was nothing short of memorable.
Brooks & Bowskill formed after years of collaborating musically and personally.
Since releasing their debut album Too Many Roads in 2023, the couple has earned widespread acclaim for their evocative songwriting and seamless musicianship.
Bowskill, a veteran of the Canadian music scene, is known as the multi-instrumentalist for Blue Rodeo and spent seven years as lead guitarist for The Sheepdogs. Brooks, a prolific songwriter and vocalist, has drawn comparisons to folk icons like Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris. In addition to her solo work, she has lent her voice to Blue Rodeo recordings and live performances.
Together, they’ve built a creative home both literally and musically. The pair moved their recording space, Ganaraska Recording Co., from an industrial building in Cobourg to a nearly 200-year-old farmhouse in the Northumberland Hills.
Follow them at https://www.brooksandbowskill.com/.

Charlie Houston performs at Sommo 2025, talks with SWOMP before set

Toronto singer-songwriter Charlie Houston performed on the Sandbar Stage on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, closing out the final day of Sommo Festival in Cavendish.
Before her set, Houston sat down with SWOMP to discuss Big After I Die, her debut full-length album released earlier this year through Arts & Crafts. The nine-track record is an exploration of transition, self-discovery and the anxieties of learning to live independently after relationships and major life changes.
Houston, the youngest of four siblings, grew up around Toronto and was introduced to music by her father, a former garage punk musician. She began writing original material at eight years old after receiving her first guitar and later taught herself production on GarageBand.
Her path to releasing Big After I Die was shaped by both setbacks and breakthroughs. After a short stint at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, she returned to Ontario and rebuilt her creative voice, eventually releasing her first EP I Hate Spring in 2021. That release led to a collaboration with electronic duo ODESZA on their Grammy-nominated album The Last Goodbye and a spot on their North American stadium tour.
Houston followed with the EP Bad Posture in 2022, joined Charlotte Cardin as a tour opener, and by 2023 had gained millions of streams, a Spotify billboard in Times Square, and praise from industry tastemakers including Zane Lowe.
With Big After I Die, Houston leaned into more guitar-driven songwriting and lyrical honesty, documenting her struggles with codependency, mental health and identity while experimenting sonically with playful textures. Songs like “Lighter,” “Lewps” and “Pink Cheetah Print Slip” showcase her blend of vulnerability and indie-pop edge.
Reflecting on the album, Houston said the title is less about death itself than about transformation. “It’s this desire that I feel to keep developing and growing after the ending,” she said, noting how the project emerged from both a difficult breakup and her evolving sense of self.
Follow Charlie at https://www.charliehouston.com/.
Featured Photo Credit: Peyton Mott