We were driving along a highway north of the city this week when we passed a car stopped on the shoulder of the road in the middle of nowhere. As we zipped by, we spied the motorist, suntanning with his shirt off in a lawn chair in the ditch near his vehicle. We figured he was waiting for a tow / mechanic / ride and making the best of it. Then we promptly forgot all about it — until we had to make the same trip three days later and SAW THE SAME CAR IN THE SAME SPOT, WITH THE SAME GUY TANNING AGAIN! WTF? Is he decompressing from work? Meeting his dealer? Selling govenment secrets? I have no damn clue. Thankfully, I have better things to occupy my time — like today’s list of the coolest and hottest videos from this side of the border. Break out the lawn chair and soak up the sounds:
Hot Mud | Nobody Listens To The Radio
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The second single from Hot Mud’s upcoming album Pink Cloud Pop is a quirky perspective on today’s music industry. It’s a bitter point of view with a tongue-in-cheek delivery, dancing on the edge of satire. Full of lyrics and quotes taken from Hot Mud’s personal experiences and interviews with other musicians from his very own radio shows. He sings about the battle between streaming services and radio, recorded music being completely free, and the seemingly inevitable takeover by artificial intelligence. Although the message paints a grim picture for music makers, the song proves that the art is still alive, and as creative, and exciting as ever. Fun fact: Muddy Watters produces a radio program on CKCU 93.1 FM in Ottawa called Canada’s Cool Culture, celebrating underground Canadian music.”
Haley Blais | Basement Apartment + Sweet Surrender (Live)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Haley Blais follows up her sophomore album Wisecrack with two live-off-the-floor covers: Sweet Surrender, the beautiful rendition of Sarah McLachlan’s timeless classic about letting go of control and accepting vulnerability in a relationship; and Sarah Harmer’s Basement Apartment. Haley reflects: “Sarah McLachlan was a huge musical inspiration to me growing up; Sarah Harmer was integral to the journey of Wisecrack. I wanted to pay homage to the two artists that shaped me as the artist I am today.” For Haley, the purpose of looking backwards was never just for nostalgia’s sake, but to come to terms with the past in an effort to push herself forward. Within the creases of Wisecrack, Haley dives into the existential, everyday worries we all contain but rarely share and lays them bare with grace and humour.”
Mike Evin | Outside With A Guitar
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Piano-pop songwriter Mike Evin is sharing an earnest and hopeful new album by the name of Something Stirs When You Sing, featuring a collection of songs whose characters long to find joy and feel alive. “That’s always been my intention every time I sit down at the piano,” Mike details. “Singing and playing with just my piano for accompaniment is the most immediate way I feel a connection with the songs. This is the first time I’ve made an album with that approach as the foundation.” Working with producer Chris Stringer (Rose Cousins, Abigail Lapell), Evin and Stringer prioritized emotion and vibe over precision and perfection, handpicking from a batch of about 120 songs, mostly written during the early pandemic years. The album’s focus track, Outside With A Guitar, was inspired by the community of musicians that Evin was a part of led by Ken Whiteley. Every night for almost two years, they made music outside. The jovial song took root one night after seeing the abandon with which one of the street’s couples sang a song. It alludes to difficult times but is ultimately about the catharsis of making music.”
Myles From Home | Van Trippin’
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Vancouver indie folk-rock trio Myles From Home have just shared their new single Van Trippin’. Led by visionary musician Myles Hildebrand, Myles From Home make eclectic genre-bending music with roots in the dynamic world of funk and jazz blended with soothing folk-rock and melancholic lyricism. And those experimental vibes are on full display on Van Trippin’, taking the listener on a laid-back funky, groovy ride. “This song was inspired by a weekend trip I did up a steep mountain road to a place called Jones Lake with a lady in her van,” says Myles. “All I wore was a hat and all she wore was a mushroom necklace and we had a blast. This song is about the endless opportunities of the open road. We experiment with alternative time signatures throughout and focus on making the grooves feel unusual but still natural.”
Sam Weber | Tamarindo Sunsets
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging from the bright, wide skies of Canada’s west coast, Sam Weber has spent the last decade variously honing his craft as a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Now based in Los Angeles, Sam is set to release a new collection of solo work with Clear + Plain, a group of simple and beautiful folk and jazz-inflected songs which lean into sensory experiences and underscore Weber’s values. Clear + Plain features the focus track Tamarindo Sunsets, what Weber calls a “social media song… about staring into the digital abyss and being confronted with greener and greener grass. Reckoning with what it means to find that beauty, peace, satisfaction in your heart,” he explains. Tamarindo Sunsets couples Weber’s gentle vocals with warm upright bass, searching piano, and understated acoustic guitar playing. “If I stay at home, can I still get free? If there’s something new, can you text it to me? ‘Cause I’m going offline, I’m going offline, I’m going offline until the end of time.”
Havelin | Rodeo Clown
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Havelin, also known as Alex Zaichkowski, is an acclaimed (unofficially) singer-songwriter (allegedly) whose passion for music began at a young age and will continue until his untimely demise (which will likely come at the hands of some great warrior or foul beast…or, more likely, slipping on a banana peel). The Alberta-born Zaichkowski has been described as “a real pleasure” to listen to by Shania Twain one time (a thing which actually happened, there’s proof). His songs weave rich narratives into pleasant melodies, while his storytelling strives to unpack complex emotions in a way that is both uniquely personal and heart-wrenchingly universal. Five to six years of getting kicked around by life’s ups and downs culminated in Havelin almost hanging up his hat as a songwriter, until a fortuitous spark of creativity struck him while driving by a rodeo grounds in his home province of Alberta. That moment birthed Rodeo Clown, a forlorn and melodic reflection on toxic relationships in all their forms: business, platonic, and romantic. Its plaintive organ, guitar, and piano provide the backdrop to an earnest song that speaks of Havelin’s inner turmoil when feeling the need to perform a role within these unhealthy dynamics.”
iskwē | Sure To Come (ft. Marson El Original & Indigo)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “iskwē | ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ (short for waseskwan iskwew, meaning blue sky woman) is an award-winning Indigenous creator whose catalogue drips of a spectrum of emotions and is powered by resilience. Following several seasons of high highs being met with low lows, the Cree Métis artist retreated south to Mexico and inward to her soul to paint a 10-song collection that illustrates the gut-wrenching roller coaster ride that has been her recent life. Sure To Come, iskwē’s empowering single written after an attempt to discredit her identity and work, features on nīna and has been given new life by the reggaeton artists Marson El Original and Indigo of Colombia collective Systema Solar. Pulsating with beats, live marimba performed by Miguel Haller, playful synths and airhorn, Sure To Come has experienced a rebirth by way of Marson and Indigo’s reggaeton treatment.”
Apryll Aileen | Take Me
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Apryll Aileen is a classically trained pianist-turned-dynamic pop artist, captivating global audiences for over a decade. She was a finalist in the Juno Wavemakers Tour and recently showcased her talent at the Viva Sounds Music Festival in Sweden. Get ready to dance with Take Me, a high-energy pop disco anthem that fuses the introspective essence of Madonna’s Ray of Light era with Dua Lipa’s modern flair and features powerful vocals, profound lyrics, and innovative production. It describes finding passion in the shadows of the dance floor and was written between Apryll, Lazermortis (Monika Ouellet) and Assteroidz (Philip Clark). “I wrote this song to inspire others to open up and express themselves, especially in romantic partnerships,” Aileen says. “Ever meet someone and feel like they were holding back their true feelings and acting reserved? This song is meant to embolden the listener to take charge in their love life and open up to new possibilities of what the future can offer.”
