Groundhog Day and Bandcamp Friday on the same day? Yeah, that seems about right. Thankfully, I managed to survive today’s 1,200-plus emails, notifications, reminders and pitches. Fingers crossed I won’t wake up tomorrow right back where I started. And hey: One of those emails was from a publisher, asking if I want to write a book about Canadian music. While I ponder that, enjoy some homegrown tunes of your own — the latest and greatest singles and videos from around the country.
The Glacials | Bus Bus Or No Bus
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Acclaimed pianist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn is excited to share his musical origins with never-before-heard track Bus Bus Or No Bus. Before his work with Look People, Rheostatics, Barenaked Ladies and Lou Reed, Hearn was in a high school band called The Glacials — eclectic, whimsical, and delightfully weird. Originally recorded in 1988 to four-track tape, this previously unreleased gem has been lovingly restored, renewed, and remixed with friends new and old. The single arrives accompanied by a delightful video, an eclectic visual collage sourced from the band’s high school yearbooks. In 2015, Hearn unearthed a master archive (in this case, a now-vintage Mr. Sub bag) containing well over 100 tapes from a myriad of past musical projects — all in various stages of completion. There were solo recordings, material with his various bands, and even some with his current comrades. But most appealing to Hearn were the 20-some tapes cut with his first band.”
Hovvdy | Forever
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Hovvdy will release their self-titled fifth album on April 26. The 19-track double album is a statement piece that finds Charlie Martin and Will Taylor at the height of their powers, broadening the scope of their songwriting and adding new wrinkles to their sound, creating something wholly unique and exhilarating. The collection centers Hovvdy’s creative maturation in a true co-production between the band, Andrew Sarlo (Bon Iver, Big Thief) and Bennett Littlejohn (bassist, multi-instrumentalist). Alongside the album announcement, the band share the soaring Forever, accompanied by a video starring comedians Veronika Slowikowska and Kyle Chase, and directed by Michael Rees.”
Roki | Foolish Heart
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Released on the heels of the Lovable EP in November, Roki’s single Foolish Heart showcases a darker and broodier side of her pop sensibilities, delving into the intricate conflict between emotions and logic. With Foolish Heart, Roki demonstrates her versatility as an artist, unafraid to explore the complex nuances of human experience through her music. Roki‘s ability to infuse her music with both depth and energy further solidified her reputation as an artist with a unique perspective and an undeniable talent for storytelling. As she carves her niche in the alternative pop landscape, Roki stands poised at the forefront of a new wave of artists redefining the boundaries of contemporary music, one captivating melody at a time.”
Hua Li 化力 | Part Time Muses
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Imagine a Bosch-esque garden of psychedelic flowers, blooming in a realm of eclectic delights. In the centre of the hyperreal chaos is Hua Li 化力, the only “half-Chinese, half-militant, half-rapper of your heart,” back with her most ambitious and personal record to date. Part Time Muses is an earthy, opalescent diss-track, recounting slept-on pleasures and near misses. The bones of this song were written on a beautiful Kawai grand piano. Hua Li 化力 had been starting her days playing pieces by Chopin and Ravel and weaved a melody over an impressionistic, chromatic piano line that is referenced in the incisive synth lines you hear now. What emerged were soulful verses about longing and limerence and the story of a love triangle gone wrong. Her producer, Alex Thibault (aka Gloze), picked up on the ’90s influences and created a lush, contemporary take on Timbaland and Aaliyah.”
Joan Smith & The Jane Does | Drown A Goat
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “It was recording in November 2023 at Stereobus Recording in Winnipeg. Please give it a spin and determine where and when we actually speak of drowning goats.”
Mitchell Makoons | Courage
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Mitchell Makoons is a roots-rock musician from Brandon. Mitchell started playing guitar at the age of seven to accompany his grandfather and brother on Metis fiddle tunes. The songs Mitchell writes incorporate traditional Ojibway music and culture with modern influences. Mitchell has released four singles and one EP. Courage is one of the seven sacred teachings in Ojibway culture. Mitchell, in a new and turbulent state of life, harkened back to this teaching, inspired by watching birds be carefree. He says: “All I really needed to achieve my upcoming goals was some courage, so I put down some tobacco, prayed to the Creator and wrote this song.”
Laura Reznek | Time In The World
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Laura Reznek has never liked to talk about herself. If you listen closely to her music, however, you’ll hear murmurs of naked disclosure — fragments of grief, anger, and complicated joy riddled through her melodies. In her new EP Leap Year, Laura wrestles with time during which everything and nothing happens, and the betrayal of boredom in the midst of life-changing loss. Time In The World has the character of an interlude. Starting life as a self-soothing lullaby in times of anxiety, that original melody developed into an apocalyptic soundscape with elements of trip hop, industrial rock, and electronica. The song speaks to the anxieties of a generation. She says: “There aren’t very many lyrics in this song, but I wanted to have some sense of comfort in what is otherwise a bleak song, by imagining my own mother telling me to relax so [the lyric] ‘I’ve been soothing myself the way that she used to, so now and again I find myself saying ‘all the time in the world’ helped me kind of tie it together.”
Alexis Lynn | RIP Me
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Alexis Lynn, a pop/R&B talent, has just released her single RIP Me. The track is a poignant exploration of the complexities of heartbreak, blending infectious melodies with anthemic lyrics that resonate with listeners on a deeply emotional level. In RIP Me, Alexis lays bare the raw and authentic frustration that can come with the aftermath of a breakup. The song delves into the struggles of moving on, the pain of letting go, and the journey towards self-discovery and healing. With powerful vocals and a compelling track, Alexis invites fans into her personal experience while also providing a universally relatable narrative. RIP Me is a cathartic expression of resilience and strength in the face of heartache. Alexis invites listeners to join them on a musical journey that transcends boundaries and speaks to the shared human experience of love, loss and self-renewal.”
Nicky Mackenzie | Comfortable
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Nicky MacKenzie’s commanding vocals weave into hypnotic R&B melodies, drawing inspiration from the likes of Charlotte Day Wilson, Daniel Caesar and Hozier. A gifted songwriter capable of both hauntingly poignant restraint and irresistibly catchy pop melodies, she focuses on the universalities that shape us — breakups, self-doubt, nights out — and leaves space for her audience to unpack their own experiences. Adding layers to Nicky’s vision is L.A. production duo Likeminds, who infused her forthcoming EP Morals with body-moving synths and percussion. The first single Comfortable examines the space between adolescence and young adulthood, questioning what it will feel like to finally arrive in a place of self-reliance.”
Melina Coolen | Behind Every Cloud
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Melina Coolen is a Canadian musician, songwriter, producer and audio engineer. Her retropop influence is undeniable in her carefully self-produced sound and sophisticated songwriting style. After years of formal classical training, she pursued her love for pop and jazz songwriting in college and university. Paying homage to the Brill Building greats, Melina researched production and recording techniques of the past. She released her debut EP All of My Life in 2017. The poignant and heartfelt Behind Every Cloud is part of a new instrumental series. She says: “I composed this piece about eight winters ago shortly after my grandfather passed away. I’m a spiritual person, and I could sense the response in nature and his presence. For about a week or two after his passing, I remember the sun being extra vivid in the sky. Once I looked out my window on a stormy day and the clouds were dark but the sun was shining brightly behind them. It was very striking and inspired Behind Every Cloud.”
Adrian Sutherland | My Rebel Spirit
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “As one of the only professional recording artists in all of Canada who resides in a northern fly-in First Nation, it’s no surprise Adrian Sutherland sometimes feels disconnected. That notion of being an ‘outsider’ rings through loud and clear in My Rebel Spirit, the next single from his upcoming album. “Living in the remote north and so far away from the music industry has many challenges. I have a different perspective than most people who live in urban areas, and because of that I can be misunderstood,” says Sutherland. “But the spirit in me has always been slightly rebellious, and I’ve come to realize that being a rebel and an outsider is not such a bad thing. Choosing to be myself — even if it means not being part of the ‘hip crowd’ — is a good thing. The main message of My Rebel Spirit is that not everyone is going to accept you for who you are, so don’t let it get you down. Stay true to yourself, and you’ll stay on the right path.”
