Artists
With Violet
East Coast alt-pop band, WITH VIOLET, is an eclectic musical experience. Based out of St. John’s, Newfoundland, the group has wowed audiences since their formation in 2018. In the years since, WITH VIOLET has become a popular growing name around Newfoundland, receiving 5 MusicNL nominations, performing on festival stages [IceBerg Alley, Campilfy, and Best Kind Barbecue], and getting airtime on multiple radio stations across the province.
Together, Sarah Newell [Vocals & Saxophone], Pete [Vocals & Keyboards], Matthew Cadigan [Guitar], Spencer FitzGerald [Bass], and Hunter Madden [Drums] create a radio pop rock sound you can lose yourself in musically. Their catchy hooks, cohesive musicality, nuanced song writing, and sheer energy has been a driving force in the group’s success, helping them to receive nominations for CBC’s Searchlight in 2022.
In 2021, the band released their debut EP, “Long Story Short”. A high energy pop/rock record funded partly by MusicNL. The EP has seen great success with thousands of streams on Spotify, four MusicNL nominations, a debut on the top 30 wall at Fred’s Records, and regular spins at the ECHL games in the Mary Browns Centre. Their Holiday Special, featuring two brand new Christmas singles, “Countdown (The New Years Song)” and “December Parade (Bow On Top)” is a new winter tradition for many, having playtime around the family tree and on local Newfoundland radio stations.
BARAKA
From his home base of St. John’s, NL, Baraka is a soulful singer/songwriter whose sound and spirit are sure to tug on the heartstrings of everyone who hears him sing. Originally hailing from the coastal city of Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, Baraka has been performing and writing music since he was 14 years old. Drawing influences from artists such as Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, and Tracy Chapman, he has a natural talent for writing clever lyrics and infectious melodies.
Having already made several notable appearances on media networks at provincial and national level such as the EastLink Community TV, Rogers Out of The Fog, CBC NL, and CBC Radio One; together with opening for some of the province’s premier musicians in Janet Cull and Kellie Loder, Baraka’s magnetic presence and energy has seen him gain popularity and recognition in the community as a world class act. Baraka is currently putting the final touches on his debut 5-Track EP with producer Matt Dines. Funded by MusicNL, the EP is set to release this spring and is the first step in setting up Baraka as one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most promising emerging talents.
Stay in the loop by following Baraka at @BRKWAV on Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok, or catch him performing at one of his residency stages in St. John’s at venues such as Sláinte, The Black Sheep, The Salt House, Greensleeves, TJ’s Patio, and the Rec Room
rosemary lawton
A decorated artist with MusicNL wins and ECMA nominations to her credit, Rosemary Lawton is no stranger to crafting an emotionally beautiful and soul-stirring tune. A classically trained violinist, with her roots firmly set in Newfoundland soil, Rosemary’s determination to learn and grow in her traditional heritage has taken her on a unique journey that has shaped her as a violinist, singer, songwriter, and storyteller.
Her latest album “Canvas” is Rosemary’s first complete album of original music. The songs cover topics of love, loss, empowerment, and positivity. In previous projects, her music has been a hybrid of both classical and traditional genres. Recently, Rosemary was able to contribute to Tony Award Winning Broadway Musical "Come From Away's" latest album "Covers From Away," in which, she had the opportunity to work with the writers of the musical to arrange a new version of the song "I am Here" for the album. In her albums “Untamed,” “Fierce,” and her song book “Resilience,” Rosemary explores traditional Newfoundland and Labrador songs that focus on tales of empowering women. Through these projects, Rosemary’s research is helping to bring female empowerment to the forefront of Newfoundland tradition.
Rosemary Lawton is a music educator, and focuses on bringing traditional music into schools, and advocating for marginalized groups through her work. Through her creativity, and positivity, Rosemary is helping to enrich her community, and help make the world a better place one song at a time.
Jing Xia
Jing Xia is an award winning guzheng artist and ethnomusicologist based in Newfoundland, Canada. Born and raised in Hunan, China, Xia started to study the guzheng at six years old and has degrees in music performance (B.A.), arts management (M.A.), and ethnomusicology (Ph.D.). Xia is the winner of the 2022 MusicNL award “Rising Star of the Year,” the 2022 Artist in Residence at Lawnya Vawnya, and a recent nominee for two 2023 ECMA Awards (Global Recording of the Year; Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year).
As a performer of all styles, her musical journey on the guzheng has encompassed Chinese traditional and folk music to intercultural ensembles, improvisational music, and beyond. Her 2022 guzheng CD “The Numinous Journey” shows her diverse musical pathways and presents the guzheng in a wide range of musical genres. Xia has played with various musicians and musical groups, including guzheng virtuoso Mei Han, Newfoundland trad-rock band Shanneyganock, and Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra. In 2018, she performed the world premiere of “The Congruent Place” in collaboration with the Regina-based composer Clinton Ackerman at the St. John’s Sound Symposium XIX. In January 2023, Xia world premiered Jubilant Entanglements, a guzheng concerto by well-known composer Andrew Staniland with Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. Xia has been active in the music scenes in North America and performed in diverse musical events, including Newfoundland Folk Festival, Nashville Chinese New Year Festival, and Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Moving her tradition into the future, Xia funded the Light Wind Ensemble, the first Chinese ensemble in Newfoundland, and XIA-III, a fusion intercultural band, with a repertoire ranging from Chinese classics to free improv and post-rock music.
NERVE SHACK
The members of Nerve Shack are cut from the same tie-dyed cloth; they take inspiration from a myriad of scenes and styles but stitch them together into a very fresh, but somehow familiar sound that leaves the listener wanting more. Between Ryan's love for 90’s grunge and 2000's pop rock, Oliver's affinity for obscure, niche artists that never found their deserved fame, and Aiden's adoration of hard rock, electronic, ambient, and experimental music, Nerve Shack is inspired by a wealth of musical influences.
The group continue to meld these influences into one distinct sound as they work hard to establish their brand in 2023 and beyond. They have released three singles so far in 2023 “Yellow Teeth”, “Forever In Your Lie”, and “Ash ft Madeline Carter”, with producer/audio engineer Matt Dines (Baraka/With Violet/Txs Red) and mastering engineer Rob Kleiner (Avatar 2 Soundtrack/Sia/The Weeknd).