Press release –
Fans of contemporary soul music have been keeping an eye on Queen M ever since the Canadian artist burst upon the scene in 2022 with the singles “Colour of My Skin,” “Evolution of Queen M” and “High Road,” songs that spoke directly of her life experience. Now she is ready to take on the world with Introducing Queen M (out Oct. 24), a seven-song collection that includes her latest single, “The Machine.”
Showcasing her signature sound that seamlessly blends touches of reggae — a nod to Queen M’s Jamaican roots — “The Machine” was originally written by her producer/guitarist Craig Smith for his 2010 solo album Heavy Early. However, the song’s inspiring message of “We can save the world tonight before the dawn / Let’s celebrate today before it’s gone,” perfectly suited Queen M’s musical approach.
Like artists who paved the way for her, such as Sharon Jones and Bettye LaVette, Queen M doesn’t hold back an iota when it comes to singing about life as she sees it. She gives credit for that to Smith (also now a co-founder of the band ONTARIANS), who first heard her singing in cover bands around their shared home base in Collingwood, Ontario, north of Toronto.
“It is incredible how much has changed for me since Craig and I started writing together,” Queen M says. “The move from singing purely in a cover band to becoming a band writing their own material is quite a shift. It certainly saves a lot on therapy when you can put your feelings into your own song. I now regularly write down song ideas wherever I am. It’s like anything I’m feeling could be a song.”
When asked about the message behind “The Machine,” Smith says, “We humans are infinitely complex creatures that teeter on a knife’s edge. The same deep and ancient chemistry that fosters bonding can, in a heartbeat, pivot to fear and hate. The machine of life runs best when the power of love overcomes the world of power. We can save the world through small acts of love and kindness to one another.”
The creative partnership between Queen M and Smith is now fully displayed on Introducing Queen M and the new tracks “Full Body Smile,” a joyous celebration of finding a new relationship, “Hold Her While You Can,” a touching message to any parent of a teenage daughter, and “Roots & Rocks,” an empowering ode to mothers working hard to raise their kids right.
While there may still be a misconception that the only authentic soul music came from Detroit, Memphis and Muscle Shoals, it’s been proven repeatedly since the 1960s that great soul sounds can come from anywhere, and at any time, so long as the artist is able to put everything they have to give into telling their story. Queen M is one such artist determined to keep vintage soul alive by offering songs containing messages both timely and timeless.
Track listing:
01 High Road
02 The Machine
03 Evolution Of Queen M
04 Full Body Smile
05 Roots & Rocks
06 Colour Of Her Skin
07 Hold Her While You Can
Visit: https://queenm.ca.
