April 4 street date. Anika channels her frustration, anger, and confusion with the world into her third album, "Abyss". Recorded live to tape at Berlin's legendary Hansa Studios, the album captures raw energy with minimal overdubs, resulting in a visceral and urgent 10-track journey fueled by intense emotions. The recording process, done in just a few days with a live band, emphasizes immediacy, offering a sound that's both physical and direct. "Abyss" reflects Anika's desire to create a space where people can unite and feel free to express themselves amidst the chaos of the world. With influences ranging from 90s grunge and Courtney Love to Patti Smith and Genesis P-Orridge, the album is driven by a rebellious spirit. The album's raw, emotional power is matched by its physicality. Anika's goal is to take listeners out of their heads and back into their bodies, offering a release through the music and live performances. This is a space to reclaim the connection between mind and body - something she feels is increasingly lost in today's world. "Abyss" also delves into the intense tensions between the left and right in contemporary society, exploring the complexities of human imperfection and healthy debate.
April 4 street date. Anika channels her frustration, anger, and confusion with the world into her third album, "Abyss". Recorded live to tape at Berlin's legendary Hansa Studios, the album captures raw energy with minimal overdubs, resulting in a visceral and urgent 10-track journey fueled by intense emotions. The recording process, done in just a few days with a live band, emphasizes immediacy, offering a sound that's both physical and direct. "Abyss" reflects Anika's desire to create a space where people can unite and feel free to express themselves amidst the chaos of the world. With influences ranging from 90s grunge and Courtney Love to Patti Smith and Genesis P-Orridge, the album is driven by a rebellious spirit. The album's raw, emotional power is matched by its physicality. Anika's goal is to take listeners out of their heads and back into their bodies, offering a release through the music and live performances. This is a space to reclaim the connection between mind and body - something she feels is increasingly lost in today's world. "Abyss" also delves into the intense tensions between the left and right in contemporary society, exploring the complexities of human imperfection and healthy debate.
April 4 street date. Anika channels her frustration, anger, and confusion with the world into her third album, "Abyss". Recorded live to tape at Berlin's legendary Hansa Studios, the album captures raw energy with minimal overdubs, resulting in a visceral and urgent 10-track journey fueled by intense emotions. The recording process, done in just a few days with a live band, emphasizes immediacy, offering a sound that's both physical and direct. "Abyss" reflects Anika's desire to create a space where people can unite and feel free to express themselves amidst the chaos of the world. With influences ranging from 90s grunge and Courtney Love to Patti Smith and Genesis P-Orridge, the album is driven by a rebellious spirit. The album's raw, emotional power is matched by its physicality. Anika's goal is to take listeners out of their heads and back into their bodies, offering a release through the music and live performances. This is a space to reclaim the connection between mind and body - something she feels is increasingly lost in today's world. "Abyss" also delves into the intense tensions between the left and right in contemporary society, exploring the complexities of human imperfection and healthy debate.
March 21 street date. Produced by Scott McCannell and mixed by Kelly Finnigan of Monophonics, Record Kicks presents two brand new single from Toronto rising soul star Tanika Charles on limited edition clear 45 vinyl. Charles has been JUNO-nominated twice as well as twice two-time Polaris Prize listed. Both tracks are taken from the highly anticipated new album "Reasons To Stay", coming out in May 2025 via Record Kicks. On the A side, "Don't Like You Anymore" is a mid-tempo gospel-funk stormer able to set the dancefloor on fire. With its boom-bap-smacked drums and chunky basslines, it will not be a surprise if rap/hip-hop artists will get on it to sample the song. The B side "Here When You're Ready" is an equally strong mid-tempo soul number that makes this limited edition 45 vinyl a real double-sider.
May 17 street date. Record Kicks presents the new album by Juno Award and Polaris Music Prize-nominated Canadian soul star Tanika Charles, produced by a stable of some of Canada's finest musical minds including DJ Kemo (The Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall), Chin Injeti (DJ Khalil, Eminem, Drake) and Daniel Lee (Hooded Fang, Phedre). "The Gumption" picks up where "Soul Run" left off, continuing her tradition of marrying classic soul with modern production styles. Across a dozen songs spanning 38 minutes, Tanika addresses moments of vulnerability, vindication, uncertain love, forbidden fruit and the state of the world today. Predominately guitar-driven mid-tempo soul, with a handful of dance floor friendly tunes and some psychedelic leanings, "The Gumption" was indirectly influenced by the likes of Alabama Shakes, The Supremes, Khruangbin, D'Angelo, and Moses Sumney. It is sonically moody at times, but with consistent silver-lining arcs.
May 17 street date. Record Kicks presents the new album by Juno Award and Polaris Music Prize-nominated Canadian soul star Tanika Charles, produced by a stable of some of Canada's finest musical minds including DJ Kemo (The Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall), Chin Injeti (DJ Khalil, Eminem, Drake) and Daniel Lee (Hooded Fang, Phedre). "The Gumption" picks up where "Soul Run" left off, continuing her tradition of marrying classic soul with modern production styles. Across a dozen songs spanning 38 minutes, Tanika addresses moments of vulnerability, vindication, uncertain love, forbidden fruit and the state of the world today. Predominately guitar-driven mid-tempo soul, with a handful of dance floor friendly tunes and some psychedelic leanings, "The Gumption" was indirectly influenced by the likes of Alabama Shakes, The Supremes, Khruangbin, D'Angelo, and Moses Sumney. It is sonically moody at times, but with consistent silver-lining arcs.
April 8 street date. Twice JUNO-nominated and two-time Polaris Prize listed, Toronto's soul songstress Tanika Charles unveils her album "Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly". Composed and recorded while in and out of lockdowns, "Papillon de Nuit" is an album anchored in growth and maturity. The thematic inspiration came from an unlikely source, a creature that soars after the sun sets, but often goes unnoticed until the light shines on it. It is the "papillon de nuit" to some, but drably referred to as a moth by others, revealing a bias in language alone. Following the success of "Soul Run" (2016/17) and "The Gumption" (2019), Tanika had found a comfortable pace of releasing albums then hitting the road the following year to bring her show to new markets far and wide. So when things changed for all of us, and plans of touring "The Gumption" properly fell through, there was a realization that getting to work on the next project was the healthiest choice to make.
April 8 street date. Twice JUNO-nominated and two-time Polaris Prize listed, Toronto's soul songstress Tanika Charles unveils her album "Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly". Composed and recorded while in and out of lockdowns, "Papillon de Nuit" is an album anchored in growth and maturity. The thematic inspiration came from an unlikely source, a creature that soars after the sun sets, but often goes unnoticed until the light shines on it. It is the "papillon de nuit" to some, but drably referred to as a moth by others, revealing a bias in language alone. Following the success of "Soul Run" (2016/17) and "The Gumption" (2019), Tanika had found a comfortable pace of releasing albums then hitting the road the following year to bring her show to new markets far and wide. So when things changed for all of us, and plans of touring "The Gumption" properly fell through, there was a realization that getting to work on the next project was the healthiest choice to make.