In this week’s edition of What’s Going On, we’ve got the latest from the diva herself Diana Ross, electronic duo Bob Moses, and jack of all trades CimplyDan. And that’s not all, because November is upon us, we’ve got two great new Christmas songs courtesy of Canadian rock superstars Arkells and British boyband The Wanted. As always, if you dig what you’re hearing, be sure to stream and follow these artists.
Diana Ross – Legendary singer Diana Ross is out now with Thank You, her first studio album since 2006’s I Love You and her first of original material since Every Day Is a New Day in 1999. Thank You sees Ms. Ross working with Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff on production. It’s safe to say Antonoff is one of the superstar producers of the moment due to his work with Lorde, Taylor Swift, Lana Del Ray, St. Vincent, and more. A love letter to the fans and a moment of self-reflection, “All Is Well” stands out as the best example of how Antonoff was able to capture the classic Diana Ross vibe while still having one foot rooted in modern pop.
Listen to Diana Ross’ new single “All Is Well” below.
Arkells – Canadian rockers Arkells are out with their new holiday track “The Last Christmas (We Ever Spend Apart).” It’s not their first time releasing a holiday song as they dropped “Pub Crawl” last December, but this one decidedly has more of an overt-Christmas feel. Upbeat, witty, and joyous, “The Last Christmas (We Ever Spend Apart)” is sure to become a CanCon festive classic. Why was now the right time for the band to get into Christmas songs? Arkells’ frontman Max Kerman says: “Up until recently, we had little interest in Christmas songs, let alone writing them, but after the pandemic and the social isolation that came with it, we think about the holidays in a different and more significant way.”
Listen to Arkells’ new single “The Last Christmas (We Ever Spend Apart)” below.
CimplyDan – Florida-based rapper, vocalist, and songwriter CimplyDan is back with “Wild Side”, another surefire banger. As you can probably tell from the song’s title, “Wild Side” is a fun track about letting your inhibitions go. While CimplyDan can get a bit deep, this one is strictly a party jam that serves to show just how versatile he gets. Despite the track’s lighthearted nature, the all-around performer still manages to get off his rapid-fire raps and intricate wordplay. Speaking on his mindset on “Wild Side”, CimplyDan says: “I am just catching vibes and putting negativity behind me.”
The Wanted – Pop pin-ups The Wanted are keeping their return rolling with a new cover of East 17’s UK Christmas classic “Stay Another Day.” Tom, Max, Siva, Nathan and Jay are still riding high off the success of their comeback single and fresh off the back of a spectacular performance on Good Morning America, the next logical step is for the boys to spread some holiday cheer. The original East 17 version topped the UK singles chart in 1994 and went on to become a festive staple. Here’s hoping that The Wanted’s pretty faithful rendition will replicate the same success.
Bob Moses – Canadian electronic duo Bob Moses is back on the scene with “Time and Time Again”, their hot new single. Now signed to Astralwerks and with a 2022 tour on the horizon, “Time and Time Again” is the perfect track to usher in this new era for the duo consisting of Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance. Hypnotic and propulsive, it’s designed to get you up and moving. Explaining their excitement for the new single, Bob Moses says: “It’s a big week for us: a new tour for 2022 and now our first new music in a while. We spent most of the last year in the studio, and this track feels like the perfect first taste of what we’ve been working on. It’s a celebration of the return of dancing with friends after almost two years spent inside.”
Listen to Bob Moses’ new single “Time and Time Again” below.
