IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: RACHEL & AYDEN This month the spotlight is on Rachel & Ayden!   Rachel & Ayden are a power-duo established in February of 2022, located in the Greater Toronto Area, consisting of artists Rachel Jeans and Ayden Jacobs. Both experiencing a similar upraising, growing up playing music publicly from a young age, they instantly bonded over their love for music and shared background. Rachel competed and won both Toronto’s Rising Star and Open Mic Canada, granting her the opportunity to record her original music in studio at the age of 16. Ayden won the position of lead guitarist in The “Kid” Mitchell Band, which led to the opportunity of recording in studio, playing live on radio & a documentary […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: JADE HILTON My guest for this month’s column is Jade Hilton! I’ve been fortunate enough to have Jade perform at several of my writers rounds. She’s a dynamic entertainer & solid songwriter currently working on her debut country album with producer Doug Romanow. Jade performed during the CMAOntario Festival & Awards weekend in 2024, NXNE 2024, at the Underdog in Nashville, was the official anthem singer and a live performer at the National Bank Open in Toronto the past three years, and performed at Hotel X Toronto, Muskoka Music Festival, Sofar Sounds Toronto as well as multiple other venues in the city in the past year. Last year, she was named Songwriter Of The Year at the Mississauga Music […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: DANI My guest for this month’s column is DANI! DANI is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter whose music is deeply rooted in her rich cultural heritage. She was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and raised in Mississauga. Music has been a central part of her life from an early age – starting with guitar lessons in church as a teenager and later performing with her high school a cappella group. Their success, winning first place at the Dufferin Peel Annual Music Week and advancing to regional competition finals, helped her develop an early passion for performance and songwriting. DANI’s musical journey took a pivotal turn while studying at the University of Edinburgh, where she rediscovered her love for storytelling through song. In […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: Paige Rutledge   My guest for this month’s column is Paige Rutledge! From her first single “Take Me Back To Tiki” in 2020 to the recent release of her debut EP Break Up Rules, Paige Rutledge has steadily made a name for herself on the country music scene in Ontario and beyond. Whether it’s playing full band shows at venues like the Stampede Ranch in Guelph and Big Texas in Niagara Falls – or country music festivals – or songwriter rounds, Paige shines with a genuine star quality and a love for what she’s doing. And in case you didn’t know, her sparkly guitar – which she designed herself – is named Dolly. One of Paige’s favourite songs to […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: RYAN LANGDON   Niagara Falls, Ontario country artist Ryan Langdon recently released his new single “Whiskey Bottle” via Hidden Pony Records/Slaight Music. Ryan is known for his energetic anthems like “Lit In The Sticks” and “Crossfaded” and showcases another side of his musical and personal artistry with his new single “Whiskey Bottle”. Co-written with Jim Witter and Andrew Martino (Down with Webster), this emotional ballad diverges from your typical “sad country song” that romanticizes the effects and abuse of alcohol. While creating this single, Ryan and his co-writers strived for an honest approach that sheds light on the harsh reality that drowning your sorrow in liquor only intensifies heartbreak and causes more problems. Ryan scored his first Top 30 […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: ANGELICA APPELMAN    Dave Woods chats with Kitchener, Ontario’s Angelica Appelman for the July 2024 CMAOntario In The Spotlight feature. Songwriting became a part of Angelica’s life when she was 13. It was her way of expressing her emotions. She calls this period in her life “Taylor Swift-ing” her way through high school. Angelica made a great first impression on the Canadian country music scene with the release of her debut single “Happy Place” in January 2022. “My single “Happy Place” is a song that means so much to me, because it was my debut single, all about cherishing the simple times and the simple things with the ones you love and who love you.” shares Angelica. “I was […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: SULLY BURROWS      My guest for this month’s column is Sully Burrows!   Still in his teens, Northern Ontario country artist Sully Burrows has already made a name for himself on the country music scene through his live performances. His strength is in storytelling with his songs. And you can hear more country than pop in his voice. Now, with his debut EP released, expect to hear much more from – and about – this talented young artist. He’s even co-written with the one & only Owen Riegling. Big things are in store in Sully’s future! Welcome to the “Spotlight” Sully and congrats on your debut EP Youth! How does it feel to have it out for everyone […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: AMANDA JORDAN   My guest for this month’s column is Amanda Jordan!   Amanda’s Bio:   Originally from Smiths Falls, Ontario – just outside of Ottawa – Amanda fell in love with country music in Canada before heading to Nashville, where she’s since transformed her passion for singing and songwriting into a series of exciting career breakthroughs. 2021 was a breakout year for Amanda. Two singles, “Pretty Girl” & “Love You To Pieces”, amassed over half a million streams collectively, while receiving editorial support from Apple Music and Spotify on playlists like “All About Country”, “Next from Nashville” and “Country Lovin”. She also earned video support from CMT and the cover spot of Spotify’s Live Country playlist in August […]