Music
Gerald & The Doonesbury Band Release “People Of The Ukraine”
Canadian blues producer Gerald Shaffer brings His fusion blues recipe to the forefront with the new single in support of Ukraine.
“ Raising money and awareness of the atrocities of this Russian invasion and giving (the Ukrainians) a song that inspires strength and unity is how we felt we could best help.” — Gerald Shaffer
“People of the Ukraine” is a song dedicated by Gerald & the Doonesbury band to the People of the Ukraine. “Raising money and awareness of the atrocities of this Russian invasion and giving them (The Ukrainians) a song that inspires strength and unity is how we felt we could best help,” said Gerald Shaffer. “All the money, all of it, will go to the Red Cross and their ongoing services to humankind. The song is anthem-themed with a strong orchestra background and a military-style drum beat. The song ends in a tribute to those already fallen and a powerful outro. Worth the wait.
https://geraldandthedoonesburyband.bandcamp.com/track/people-of-the-ukraine
“People of the Ukraine” is the first fundraising song the band has published. . This single is available now on all DSP’s with a video dropping next month. The song is currently making its way around the global radio stations and building quick momentum.
“I loved making this song,” said Gerald in a private interview in his Roberts Creek home. “We had the passion to write something pretty dramatic and heart-wrenching like this situation in the Ukraine deserves, so we pulled out all the stops. The strings and organ were pivotal in providing that sound we wanted.”
About the ending. “The outro was inspired by a military-style moment for the departed. We all felt it when we listened back to what we created; a pretty proud moment”
A scheduled tour is in the works, while the band’s original tour dates were paused by Covid. A Canadian tour from Vancouver to Newfoundland will stop at all the venues possible, focusing on smaller more intimate spaces with a good acoustic sound.
“Bringing the Rhodes piano out of its box and onto the road will be such an amazing event, I can’t wait.”
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“Hell has frozen over” finds Sarina choosing peace over being understood
Sarina’s new track, “Hell has frozen over,” explores the less dramatic, more complicated moment of reaching the end of the road, being gaslit, ignored, rejected, and painfully lonely. It translates the emotional burnout into a rock-pop context that’s easy to understand.
“Hell has frozen over” focuses on the decision to step away, instead of explaining, defending, or seeking understanding from people who refuse to listen. The rock foundation gives it the right weight, the pop influence makes it accessible, and the focus stays on the emotional message.
Sarina’s art is the struggle of loss and being strong in yourself. It’s about understanding that protecting your peace is more important than being understood. And that’s the emotional balance that gives the release its character so that the subject matter has relevance beyond a particular circumstance.
“Hell has frozen over“ is a relief from the burden of carrying on a debate that will never be resolved. Sarina turns an experience of isolation into a statement about boundaries, resilience, and the choice not to get caught in the same cycle. The result is a record that’s at its best when it’s being true to what it feels like to finally be free from whatever has been holding you down.
Photo Credit: Andrea Hunter
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Singer-songwriter Natalie Holmes has a tender personality and fronts the slow-burning “Lemon Aid.” The production supports that softness, keeping the song’s gentle mood and intimate direction front and center. Beneath the comfort is a thoughtful examination of pressure, transition, and the need to pause.
The song’s link to the streets of Stroud offers yet another layer of art to the work. Familiar places can mean something when life feels uncertain, and the emotional scene involves storefronts, parks, cafes, and leafy, winding streets. “Lemon Aid“ searches for beauty in everyday places and rituals, finding still moments that mean something without getting carried away.
The track is the first release of Girlhood’s forthcoming album, “This Will Make Sense In The End,” a more reflective chapter with hope at its heart. “Lemon Aid” is about softness, conjuring a space where dancing, wandering, and just existing can feel like a cure. It’s an unleashing of small observations and soft emotional movement and a clear indication of the thoughtful direction that Girlhood is heading next.
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