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This just in...our brand new album!! Although our official CD Release isn't until June 12th in London, ON, we are excited to announce that our first shipment of discs arrived this weekend.

It's an amazing feeling to finally see all of our hard work wrapped up into a neat little package! We hope that you will enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it! :)

Now I'm sure you must be thinking..."where can I pick up my very own copy?"... Well, our CD's will be available at any of our live shows (info on our upcoming shows can be found here: http://www.essentialsmusic.com/ ). We'll also let you know when it's available online and in retail stores.

Speaking of live shows, The Essentials took a road trip this past weekend to Ottawa. Or as Jo3 so observantly pointed out, we took a trip "from our province's capital to our nation's capital".

We managed to accomplish a lot this weekend!

On our way up Ottawa, we made a stop in Kingston to shoot a quick music video (keep checking back for a peek on that), we were interviewed by Lianne Laing on the /A\ Channel Ottawa morning show, we performed at the Maxville Music Fest, and then entertained the fine people at the Rideau Carlton Raceway. We love our Ottawa fans and we hope to be back again soon!

And now it's time for a little Q&A...

Question: What is your favourite song, and why?

Thom: "Satellite" by Dave Matthews Band. DMB has always been one of my fav bands. They are true masters of their instruments and are unique in their sound. (bari sax, violin, etc) There is just something about Satellite that always sticks in my head. I haven't been able to make it to a live show but any time a friend has been there, I have them hold up their phone when that song comes up so I can be there in spirit. Thom's favourite song

Jo3: It's really tough to choose just one favourite song. A quick scroll through my iPod revealed at least 100 that I could have mentioned. But since the question asked for one, I'll go with an undisputed winner – "Imagine" by John Lennon. The song is simple in its production. The song is simple in its message: let's live in the moment, "a brotherhood of man" with no divisions caused by country, religion, or wealth and have "nothing to kill or die for". By the simple production and simple message, I think Lennon is implicitly asking why peace can't be that simple. The irony of his violent death makes the song that much more powerful. Joe's favourite song

Dan: "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin - without a doubt. Aside having every studio album they ever recorded reach the Billboard Top 10, this band basically influenced everyone who came after them. The song centres around Jimmy Page playing a 6/8 guitar riff over John Bonham's 4/4 drum rhythm and sits perfectly in between D major and D minor. I really like that it doesn't fall into a simple structure, and every time I hear it I stop what I'm doing and get lost in the 8:33 journey. (30 seconds longer than Stairway To Heaven). I even spliced the opening guitar riff together to use as a ringtone on my cel phone. Dan's favourite song

Janet: Wow! I have so many favourites...but if I had to pick just one, then I'd have to say "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson. I'm not too keen on the club scene because I don't like to dance, but this is pretty much the only song that would ever make me get up on the dance floor and cut some rug at a club! If a song can make me lose my inhibitions like that, then it must be good for the soul! My favourite song