Today a publicist told me it would be “rad” if I shared their client’s new song. And people wonder why I’m a snarky asshole. I mean, seriously. But enough about that; on to far more enjoyable topics — like these new singles and videos from the cream of the Canadian musical crop. Check ’em out; they’re all awesome phat bops and/or sick A1 bangers that totally slap. Amazeballs, amirite?
Moonriivr | Let The World Turn (Live At Victoria’s)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “So rarely in life do we get the best of both worlds — but with a new pair of recorded-on-location, live-off-the-floor EPs, Moonriivr give us just that. Hot on the heels of last year’s debut Vol. 1, the duo of Gavin Gardiner (Wooden Sky) and “Champagne” James Robertson (Linda Ortega, Dwayne Gretzky) share The Dorval Sessions and Live At Jenny’s Bar, two bite-sized collections that capture the band in action on the streets of Toronto, bringing a taste of their charming, faded elegance to front stoops and local businesses. Their aesthetic is taped together by vintage gear and a deep love for the weirder fringes of ’60s pop psychedelia. Timeless melodies drift over vintage rhythms of drummer Lyle Molzan (Corb Lund, Kathleen Edwards) and bassist Ben Whiteley (The Weather Station), touching on influences from the golden era of western pop music while maintaining a distinctive and innovative sound.”
Geoffroy | No Calls Before Noon
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Geoffroy will drop the deluxe version of his colourful 2024 LP Good Boy on Sept. 13. The expanded LP features three previously unreleased tracks, including No Calls Before Noon, along with reimagined artwork by L.A. artist Old Sweaty, and a resequencing that creates a new listening experience. No Calls Before Noon is accompanied by a beautiful Alex Dozois-directed video, shot with Geoffroy over a month in Vietnam and Thailand. The visual captures the mood of the song masterfully, a romantic melancholy that’s been at Geoffroy’s side since childhood.“I’ve always been drawn to new destinations and meeting new people, homesickness has been a familiar companion,” Geoffroy explains. “No Calls Before Noon captures the feeling of complete belonging that strikes when you’re travelling in a foreign place, yet somehow it feels like home. It’s about that moment when you realise you’re exactly where you’re meant to be — in time and space.”
Asko | Wâkôhtowin
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Asko, the new project from Marek Tyler, just released his self-titled album. In celebration, he’s sharing a video for the song Wâhkôhtowin (translation: Being related to each other). Director Sebastian Buzzalino says, “Marek and I looked to tap into that anticipatory energy that builds once the sweat lodge’s door is closed and the darkness, heat and community take over. Bodies lose their boundaries and become interconnected, emancipatory in their intersections, and burst into new identities. We build new realities through these intersections, in the acts of being related to each other, as the three BIPOC queens (and Marek’s cameos) emerge into their fully formed selves.” Marek adds, “Capan (great-great grandfather) Harper told a story about learning our ways. When the lodge door closes, it’s dark. The hot rocks’ glow may be made out, but everything else disappears. You can hear the water hit the rocks, the feathers above, and the family around us. This song is for that moment when we are not alone. We were here, we are here, and we will always be here.”
Thunder Queens | Cannonball
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Known for their doomy anthems and sweet alt-punk songs, Thunder Queens are sharing their take on Cannonball by the iconic ’90s band The Breeders. While staying mostly true to the original, they’ve infused the track with their signature heaviness, bright harmonies, and a youthful energy creating a version that feels distinctly Thunder Queens. Collaborating with renowned producer Thom D’Arcy, who works with fellow Toronto rockers Nobro, was an inspiring experience for the band, resulting in a recording process that was both smooth and creatively fulfilling. They say: “Thom’s studio is a dream to work in, and everything came together in such a creative way.”
Owen Marchildon | Weather Gurl
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Owen Marchildon is a Toronto songwriter and guitarist whose creative output since 2005 has been prolific — 10 albums, an EP and several singles under four monikers: Purple Hill, Rough Skeletons, Marchildon! and High Wasted. Owen also played bass for the math-rock quartet From Fiction and later with Julie Kendall’s surf-soul project 1977. 2024 sees Owen finally releasing new music under his own full name. His debut album Dangling Towards Heavy Sunlight is a masterful fusion of rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia where power pop melodies meet witty, vivid storytelling. It’s an album that feels both familiar and fresh, a love letter to classic rock ’n’ roll with enough personality to stand on its own. Longtime bandmates and collaborators, Jordan Bruce and Brent Hough, spread out the sound, complimenting the style, imagination and fabric of Owen’s songwriting.”
Puma June | Bad Habits
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Puma June is a Toronto multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. With an eclectic array of influences from Stevie Wonder to Billie Eilish and everything between, her music is a unique blend of pop, funk, hip-hop, and R&B — a genre-bending sound that is both nostalgic and distinctive. With a clear political point of view, Puma June’s feminist-laced songwriting pushes unfiltered honesty and centers around regaining power in one’s life, with a particular focus on women’s/gender issues, familial trauma, and the battle of self-doubt as an artist. Her latest single Bad Habits is a jazz and hip hop-infused pop track off her upcoming debut EP A Woman That They Want. The song’s themes explore the idea of bad habits being the internal battles like self-hatred and shedding trauma, rather than solely the traditional idea of bad habits.”
Sia Shells | The Ocean
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sia Shells is a Toronto singer-songwriter who rhymes about the everyday magic we find through relationships, self-love, reflection and dreams. Her emotive contralto vocals juxtaposed against upbeat dream pop sounds instantly transport you to another world. She invented a new genre that she calls mermaid pop for ocean lovers. Her new album is diving into the mermaid world, with enchanting lyrics and tropical sounds that are worthy of your next beach day. Having always felt an affinity for the ocean, Sia Shells’ soothing new track serves as a reminder to send love its way. “The ocean is everything to me,” she elaborates. “She is truly my happy place and sanctuary.”
