canadian content

Anyone who knows music well, can immediately dicfer Canadian music - especially Canadian Hip Hop and R&B. The beat, the sound, sometimes it might even play into how its recorded all helps me immediately recognize that the radio station I'm listening to is playing it's mandatory Canadian content.

This was the case for when I first heard Canadian artist Ivana Santilli a few years back. Now, don't get me wrong just because Canadian Hip Hop and R&B sounds so distinctive does not mean that I don't like it. Her stuff was good, very smooth and reminded me of some old school R&B which I love. It sounds like some of the classic stuff. She's been around for a while but is finally getting radio play with her new album TONY.

She's up for a JUNO this year for her new single "Your Girl Tonight" - This particular release is a little more poppy.

Tracks from her album you might recognize are probably "Been Thru This" or "Whateva U Want"

Interesting Fact: Her 2008 album TONY was titled based on her living arrangements. Originally from Toronto, for a year or so she's been living in New York. She credits the "new guts and songwriting" in her album from living in NYC. So TONY - is a compliation of both TOronto and New York city. i thought this was really cute how she combined her fav cities. Santilli states that, "TONY is my love song to old-school pop writing." It is easy to hear.

She's definitely one to look out for, maybe the next Nelly Furtado in terms of represenation for Canada.

Keeping it Canadian,

Lesley