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Men I Trust: Canada’s DIY Indie Band That Could Be Your New Favourite

March 4, 2023

Men I Trust is a Canadian indie pop band known for their dreamy and mellow sound. Their music is laid back, incorporating elements of funk, disco, and R&B to create a smooth and groovy vibe that is

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Basics For Building an At-Home Recording Studio

March 3, 2023

Artists like Kaytranada have proved that you don’t need access to a professional recording studio to create well-produced music. As technology and social media have advanced, it is now easier than eve

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Facing the Music: Legal Challenges With AI and Copyright Laws

February 25, 2023

People draw inspiration from others when forming their ideas, it’s a fact of life. Sampling in music is no exception - and artists do it for a variety of reasons. Traditionally, copyright laws and

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Tobias Jesso Jr.: GRAMMY-Winning Canadian Sells His Song Rights

February 23, 2023

Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece

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How Popular TV Shows and Movies Resurrect Classic Songs

February 23, 2023

HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.

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Ginalina: Bringing Her Taiwan Roots Into Her Latest Album

February 21, 2023

Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe

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Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance

February 21, 2023

Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...

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How do Streaming Platforms Pay Artists - Is It Fair?

February 20, 2023

Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im

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Why Jay-Z Was Named The #1 Rapper Of All Time

February 23, 2023

Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z. In honor of Hip-Hop’s

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Behind Kaytranada’s Unique Sound

February 18, 2023

Kaytranada (Louis Celestin) is a Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. He is a highly acclaimed electronic artist, having earned two Grammys and countless other awards for his work. Kaytranada has

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The Creative Act: Rick Rubin’s Knowledge Turned Into A Book

February 17, 2023

What happens when a famous music producer takes an interest in self-help books? The Creative Act is your answer. But who is Rick Rubin? Without a doubt, Rubin has an impressive track record in the

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Behind the Music: The Audio Engineer

February 14, 2023

The music industry is a place full of musicians, producers, and creators who have the magical ability to make those perfect sounds we hear everyday through our digital devices. We want to listen close

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Shakira Recalls Putting Her Music Career on Hold to Support Gerard Piqué’s Pro Soccer Dreams

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Two years after her split from Gerard Piqué, Shakira has achieved significant milestones, including four major hits and a VMAs Vanguard Award, while preparing to release her next album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women No Longer Cry). In a recent interview with The Times of London, the Colombian singer, renowned for tracks like “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Beautiful Liar,” and “Waka Waka,” reflected on her years-long hiatus from music to support Piqué’s soccer career and raise their two sons, Milan and Sasha. Shakira recounted her decision to put her career on hold, emphasizing the sacrifices she made for love and family.

Shakira and Piqué’s relationship began after they met on the set of the “Waka Waka” music video for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where Piqué’s team, Spain, won the championship. They started dating soon after and welcomed their first son, Milan, in 2013. Despite their long-term partnership and two children, the couple never married and announced their separation in September 2022. Following the split, Piqué’s relationship with Clara Chia Martí became public, amid rumors of infidelity. In response, Shakira released four record-breaking songs, including “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” where she mentions Piqué’s new girlfriend by name. Shakira highlighted the contrast between artists and athletes, noting that empathy is essential for artists but often absent in athletes due to their competitive nature.

After moving from Barcelona to Miami with her sons in early 2023, Shakira found renewed inspiration in her music career. She shared with Billboard how the relocation allowed her to reconnect with music professionals and release new music more frequently, despite the challenges of balancing single motherhood with her career. Shakira emphasized the difficulty of juggling her responsibilities as a present mother and a pop star without a partner’s support. Her career had been a lower priority while living in Europe, as she dedicated herself to her family. Now, she involves her sons in her music, with Milan and Sasha contributing their voices to her 2023 ballad “Acróstico.” Shakira also expressed how her children inspire her to be a better person, describing them as the most important and amazing aspects of her life.