Some folks have no sense of irony. Case in point: The Canadian rock legend who is suing the latest incarnation of his old band (which features no original members save one) to prevent them from trading on his legacy and work — while he tours with the latest incarnation of his other old band, which features no original members save him. Oh well, what can you do? Well, you could ignore all of and devote your attention to this superb list of new Canadian videos and singles. Plus, you won’t have to try to guess who I’m talking about. Let’s hit it:
Stardrop | Tiger
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Indie-pop artist stardrop is a creative force from Thunder Bay. She partnered with Tennyson King and Dan Hosh to produce her debut EP I Feel Everything, which showcases catchy, soulful self-love anthems that celebrate femininity, authenticity, and resilience. Fueled by big feelings, stardrop is using the power of music to rewrite her narrative and explore a new way of existing in the world. “After many years of feeling completely disconnected from myself and my self-worth, I was ready to claim my own space in this world,” she elaborates. “It was a real ‘fake it ’til you make it’ type of thing, or rather, ‘sing it til you believe it.'” The lyrics for focus track Tiger poured out of her like magic, at a time she longed for the strength and courage to feel powerful and begin to heal. The tiger represents the instinctive animal laying dormant inside, ready to protect us when needed.”
The Deep Dark Woods | The Banks Of The Lough Erne (ft. Erin Rae)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The long celebrated, Juno-nominated group The Deep Dark Woods, are sharing another track from their upcoming album, Broadside Ballads Vol. III. An eight-song LP, the record will lend a familiar melancholic warmth to a collection of traditional folk songs spanning centuries and continents. The Banks Of The Lough Erne is a take on a traditional Irish song of emigration that has many names — Rambling Irishman, Lough Erne, New York Bay, and An Irishman From Monaghan, amongst many others. “I first heard it by the beautiful Irish singer Dolores Keane and her group De Danann,” says Ryan Boldt. “I thought Erin Rae, one of my favourite current singers going, would do a wonderful job singing the song, making it sound less Irish and more American. Our voices work very well together and I hope we can make more music together in the future.”
Abigail Lapell | Count On Me
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Abigail Lapell unveiled her new single Count On Me, a spellbinding duet with the acclaimed indie-folk band Great Lake Swimmers. It’s the latest track from her upcoming album Anniversary, out May 10. A love song for both weddings and funerals, Count On Me explores the passage of time — celebrating the rhythms of a shared life and coming to terms with its brevity. Through the track, melodic strums breeze across enchanting harmonies offered by Lapell and Tony Dekker of Great Lake Swimmers as lyrics promise an earnest vow to a loved one. “I started writing Count On Me for my sister’s wedding and finished it in time for her first anniversary,” Abigail says. “It’s a song for me that evokes marriages or funerals or other life ceremonies.” The scrapbook-style video, directed by Krpie, brings the romantic track to life through an array of collage, animations, and rotoscoping, piecing together images of lovers throughout different eras of time.”
Tommy John Ehman | Me & Dylan (Coming Home)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “You know that old prairies joke about watching your dog run away for three days? Saskatchewan country/Americana singer-songwriter Tommy John Ehman certainly does. As a fifth-generation grain farmer, his home province’s endless flat expanses shaped who he is, both as a person and an artist. It’s also territory he knows intimately through the countless kilometers he’s covered while playing his music across Western Canada. Those long drives are the foundation of Ehman’s new single, Me & Dylan (Coming Home). It’s a quintessential heartland rock road song produced by Brad Prosko — who also plays drums and guitar on the track — and featuring Tommy’s cousin Rob Ehman on bass. Me & Dylan (Coming Home) is the latest addition to Tommy’s body of work that includes six albums and 11 singles that have helped him earn multiple Saskatchewan Country Music Association award nominations, and share stages with some of Canada’s best-loved country music artists.”
Luc LeMans | Rentmaker
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “I’m a Canadian songwriter. I modelled Rentmaker after the jangly, guitar-driven pop sounds of acts like The Bangles, The Cure and the early Beatles albums. It’s a sun-soaked, feel-good retro throwback, designed to evoke the nostalgia of classic pop.”
Tyler Del Pino | Wolf In The Hen House
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Winnipeg’s Tyler Del Pino has always struggled to fit in, and there’s nothing like his music that truly challenges the concept of genre and delivers his one-of-a-kind brand of Canadiana. Del Pino has a pure passion for songwriting and an honest sound infused with starry-eyed narratives; a hybrid of rock-pop, Americana, and East Coast folk-rock that stays true to the roots of timeless tunes. Unlike Del Pino’s usual bright and upbeat tunes, Wolf In The Hen House is rooted in raw anger. It’s a rock anthem with a punch, a departure from his usual vibe that adds a whole new dimension to his music. The song delves into the portrayal of a sinister individual, drawing from various observations in Del Pino’s life. It’s a deep dive into the depths of human deceit and malice, crafted from the shady characters that he has personally encountered over the years.”
Boy Golden | Here To Stay
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With Here To Stay, Boy Golden introduces his new album For Eden, out July 19. Inspired by The Bluebird, a Charles Bukowski poem, Here To Stay makes it safe for the smallest, most delicate parts of us to be free. A card-carrying member of Manitoba’s Friends of the Bluebirds as a kid, Boy Golden’s new song is both metaphysical and ornithological. The message of Here To Stay boils down to something very simple: Sing the songs that are inside you. In For Eden, Boy Golden searches for the best of all possible worlds. Utopic and wistful, this journey is a continuation of his “follow your art” proselytizing that began with his Church of Better Daze debut. A counterpoint to 2023’s For Jimmy, For Eden is largely a work of solitude; recorded to cassette with an SM57 in a cabin in the woods. Recorded entirely to cassette, the album’s origins — analog and off the grid — speak to the more personal, self-reflective mood of the collection. While Boy Golden’s favourite mountain road makes a cameo, the album’s country waltzes, banjo and mandolin-laced acoustics glow softly under the light of a pink moon.”
