Tag: music

🎤 Where Are They Now? Angela Wolff – From The Voice to Soulful Storyteller

Published on September 10, 2025
By John Phillips

A woman with long brunette hair smiles confidently, wearing a black leather jacket and a grey scarf against a vibrant red background.
Image Credit: The Voice Wiki – Fandom

Angela Wolff first captured hearts during Season 1 of The Voice, delivering a powerhouse rendition of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” that left audiences stunned. But her journey didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling—in fact, it was just beginning.

🌟 Life After The Voice

“Angela’s voice doesn’t just sing—it speaks to the soul.”

Since her time on Team Adam, Angela has carved out a niche as a deeply emotive vocalist and songwriter. Her collaborations with cellist Bryan Gibson have become a signature sound—cinematic, intimate, and hauntingly beautiful.

🎶 Highlights from Her Musical Journey

🎵 Song💬 Description🔗 Link
Rolling In The DeepHer breakout moment—raw, fierce, unforgettable.Watch
Unchained MelodyA tender, haunting duet with Bryan Gibson.Watch
You’ll Never Walk AloneA powerful anthem of hope and resilience.Watch
EverythingA poetic, introspective single released in 2024.Listen

🎧 Albums & EPs

Angela’s 2015 EP Surrender & Release is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. Tracks like “Armour,” “Honeybee,” and “Holding Hearts” reveal her depth as a songwriter and her ability to turn vulnerability into strength.

🌍 Where to Follow Her

💬 Final Thoughts

Angela Wolff may have started as a contestant, but she’s grown into a true artist. Her music is more than entertainment—it’s an invitation to feel deeply. Stay tuned for more updates in this series as we continue to spotlight past contestants who are still making waves.

Jill Barber: Canada’s Cosmopolitan Crooner

By John

Album cover for Jill Barber's 'Chances' featuring the artist with curly hair and a purple dress, looking thoughtfully upwards against a light pink background, with a list of song titles on the right.
Album cover: Chances by Jill Barber. Image via Wikipedia.

Jill Barber is not just a singer-songwriter—she’s a genre-defying, language-leaping artist whose voice evokes smoky jazz clubs, Parisian cafés, and heartfelt folk stages all at once. With a career spanning over two decades, Barber has carved out a unique space in the Canadian music landscape, blending vintage charm with modern sensibility.

From Folk Roots to Jazz Royalty

Barber’s early work leaned into folk-pop, with introspective lyrics and acoustic textures. But it was her 2008 album Chances that marked a dramatic shift. Trading her guitar for a velvet microphone, she embraced the lush orchestration of vocal jazz, channeling the glamour of the 1940s and ’50s. Collaborating with Ron Sexsmith and producer Les Cooper, Chances became a breakout success, earning her a Juno nomination and a devoted new audience.

A Love Affair with French Song

Barber’s artistic curiosity led her to the South of France, where she immersed herself in the language and culture. The result was Chansons, a French-language album featuring covers of classics by Édith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, and Charles Aznavour. Her sultry, expressive delivery resonated far beyond Canada—Chansons became her most streamed album globally, with over 120 million plays.

Her latest release, ENCORE!, revisits this territory with fresh interpretations of timeless French songs. It’s not just a tribute—it’s a celebration of cross-cultural artistry.

Accolades and Artistic Integrity

  • Three Juno Award nominations
  • SiriusXM Jazz Artist of the Year
  • Western Canadian Francophone Album of the Year

But beyond the awards, it’s her commitment to reinvention and emotional honesty that keeps fans coming back. Whether singing in English or French, Barber’s voice carries a timeless elegance and vulnerability that feels deeply personal.

The Family Album and Beyond

In 2016, Jill teamed up with her brother Matthew Barber for The Family Album, a heartfelt collection of duets that explored themes of kinship and memory. It was a reminder that music, for Barber, is both a personal and communal experience.

Her songs have also found their way into pop culture, appearing in shows like Orange Is the New Black, further cementing her place as a versatile and resonant artist.

Final Notes

Jill Barber is more than a voice—she’s a storyteller, a cultural bridge, and a master of reinvention. Whether crooning in French or serenading in English, she invites listeners into a world of romance, nostalgia, and fearless artistry.

And for your listening pleasure, Jill Barber!

Remembering Myles Goodwyn

Myles Goodwyn. (2023, December 14). By Tabercil – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4449811In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myles_Goodwyn

Myles Goodwyn, a blast from my past, passed away on December 3, 2023, at 75.  I say a blast from the past as the band he basically led, April Wine, was a big part of my life’s soundtrack. Not well known internationally, April Wine is a Canadian treasure.

He formed Apil Wine in 1969 with David Henman , Ritchie Henman , and Jim Henman. The band underwent many personnel changes over the years with Myles being there through it all until late 2022 when he retired from touring due to health issues. He left the band in March 2023.

His accomplishments were many and included the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The band has recorded 16 albums, 15 compilations and 9 live albums. To my detriment, I never saw them live even though I had many opportunities. A regret for sure.

The memories attached to their volume of work are huge and plentiful. Their heyday was perfectly placed in my music timeline. He will be missed. I leave you with one of my favourites, and as always, a live version.