I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to American Thanksgiving. Not for the turkey and trimmings. Not for the deals and steals. No, I appreciate the holiday — and all the Yankee holidays — because, for a few brief hours, my email will be comparatively quiet. And that welcome respite gives me more time to enjoy the latest and greatest singles and videos from Canadian artists from near and far. Give thanks for these visitors. There’s not a turkey in the bunch:
Ruby Singh’s Vox.Infold X Chimerik 似不像 | The Invitation
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Acclaimed composer and producer Ruby Singh delivers The Invitation, the third single from his forthcoming album Vox.Infold II. The Invitation is a joyous and celebratory welcoming to new kin entering this world. The song opens its arms to the sky to welcome new spirits descending from the stars. Led by Russell Wallace’s powerful and embracing voice, along with Piqsiq’s playful Inuit throat singing, this song embodies the joy we feel when a new member of our family is born. This a cappella piece weaves together Indigenous, Black, and South Asian voices, symbolizing a shared cultural tradition of erupting in song to celebrate life’s most precious arrivals. The video for The Invitation, created by Chimerik 似不像, marks their sixth collaboration with Singh. The visual work layers 360° video, captured by Singh himself, of West Coast forest landscapes with the flowing, ever-changing imagery of local water bodies. Echoing the energy of the song, the video draws inspiration from the liveliness of nature itself, how it acts as a mirror for our own human cycle of life and reminds us how each day contains something precious worth celebrating.”
Sam Drysdale | Would’ve Been Wonderful
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sam Drysdale’s new project, Bonnie’s Sad Songs, marks the latest chapter in his journey as a songwriter and storyteller. Following the releases of 2019’s Vicelove and 2022’s Testarossa: Fully Loaded, this third body of work is a deeply personal exploration of heartbreak and self-discovery. It also marks a return to Drysdale’s musical roots: Guitar-based storytelling. The single Would’ve Been Beautiful is a poignant reflection on love lost and futures unfulfilled. Through sparse production, deeply emotional vocals, and a brutally honest lyrical twist, Drysdale conveys the bittersweet reality of a relationship ending and the dreams left behind. “Heartbreak is a bitch, but this is the best music I’ve ever made. Full stop,” he says. “It took me 10 years to earn the right to make songs like this, and I’m grateful that I never stopped. Of all the music I’ve ever written and recorded, Would’ve Been Beautiful is the only song that has ever come out sounding EXACTLY as I heard it in my head. It’s the saddest song I’ve ever written, but also my favourite. The last lyric in this track is the most important one on the entire record. It’s sad, but it’s filled with love, and that meant everything to me while writing it.”
Allegories | It’s My Life
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Allegories member Adam Bentley has long been skeptical of Talk Talk’s It’s My Life, associating it with the No Doubt cover that he was forced to listen to “almost every day for five years” during his time working at a hardware store. However, thanks to his bandmate Jordan Mitchell getting It’s My Life stuck in his head, which sometimes occurs for months at a time, Jordan’s prodding got Adam to listen to the song and view it in a new light. “The urgency in Mark Hollis’ vocals struck me. And by covering the song, I felt like I was taking back to a place of admiration and passion, and away from Gwen Stefani. Keep Talk Talk away from Gwen at all costs,” insists Bentley. Allegories’ take on the classic is an impassioned plea sung by Bentley, faithful to the original’s marrying of a climbing bass melody and steady beat — both programmed by Mitchell, awash in a world of synths and electronics. The duo uses subtle production effects to lend an otherworldly quality to this classic pop track.”
Housewife | Divorce
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Fresh off the back of her highly praised September single Life Of The Party, Housewife (Brighid Fry) is back to her vibrant best once again with the surprisingly euphoric Divorce. Adopting a more introspective approach to the effervescent alt-pop sound she has become known for, Divorce is her most vulnerable and reflective — yet anthemic — offering to date. “Divorce is a really personal one for me,” admits Fry. “I wrote it after experiencing really bad heartbreak that kind of blindsided me and completely uprooted me. It’s about not only mourning the person and the relationship you have with them, but also the life you were building together. It’s about starting to rebuild and the struggle between needing to protect yourself, but also not wanting to be involved in something adversarial with someone who has hurt you. The process of making this song was completely different than any others of mine — it was written in about half an hour, which is definitely the fastest I’ve ever managed. I then took my time to record it though, co-producing with my friend Hans Li over the course of about a month. We slowly recorded everything ourselves in his bedroom. It’s the first track I have co-produced in years which I’m really excited about.”
Tariq | Architect’s Studio
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Tariq will release his new EP Scroll Before You Sleep on Jan. 24. The title is a unifying tether for these three songs that nod to digital isolation. “It’s less of a command or a suggestion, more of a warning,” says Tariq. “Keep scrolling, see what happens. Our phone addiction keeps us up at night. It’s impossible to relinquish our devices and when we finally do, they sit beside us on the nightstand, buzzing, alerting, demanding to be looked at and engaged with. When they finally shut up, they start doing their most unsettling activity of all: Listening. They eavesdrop on our desires, hunger, fears, our tastes in music, fashion, and lovers. They make decisions about our lives and then at night, they sell it all back to us in ads and subscriptions and as we scroll, we pay. We pay and we rarely sleep.” The single Architect’s Studio tells the story of a poet who’s down on their luck and sleeping in the title location. “Every morning they vacate the premises, sneaking out before the staff arrives to work,” explains Tariq. “Do they have a place to go, friends or anybody that cares about them? The track discusses the current epidemic of loneliness that pervades our current society.”
Meggo | Brooklyn Pt. 1
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Meggo, the alter-ego of Toronto’s Megan Ennenberg, presents her latest single Brooklyn Pt. 1, a track that captures both the spirit of New York and the artist’s unique fusion of atmospheric layers with raw, acoustic textures. Meggo blends indie-folk, jazz and field recordings, bringing her listeners into a world of delicate observations and heartfelt introspection. “I like naming songs after where most of the collected sounds come from; Brooklyn, New York, where this track was born, feels like its own character in the song. Pt. 1 hints there’s more to the journey – a story that unfolds with time. It’s been a long journey of experimentation. At the end, you’ll hear a raw moment of me working through the song in real time — a reminder that the creative process isn’t always polished. It’s exciting to me to release a song that has an obvious mistake in it.”
We Found A Lovebird | Chet
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Since 2009, We Found A Lovebird have excelled in creating trance-like, chiming rock. With three albums, one EP, and eight singles to date, they have become a respected name in indie rock. Their upcoming album With Friends Like These has seen a steady rollout of several singles, with Chet the latest addition. Inspired by a poignant moment from the Bruce Weber documentary on Chet Baker, the song recalls a scene in which Baker, reflects on his life without regret, expressing only gratitude for the path he has walked. With an unconventional chord progression, the track evokes moody, evocative, and haunting vibes, channeling the wistfulness and mystery of iconic ’80s rock while paying homage to musical legends. “The lyrics of this song are Chet’s verbatim response when asked if he felt regret,” says singer-guitarist Larry Lechner. “His words resonated deeply with me. He saw only gratitude, no regrets. That perspective is powerful. It’s not unlike the themes that run through many of our songs — nods to iconic artists, life’s moral conundrums, and the ever-present possibility of love.”
Permilla | It Ain’t Right
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Permilla are one of Toronto’s most dynamic up-and-coming bands, bringing a mix of rock ’n’ roll, blues, and Americana with a modern twist. Formed by Nicole Cerminara, her brother Joseph “Junior” Cerminara, and close friend Myles Rogers, the group quickly earned a rep as a powerhouse. Their latest single, It Ain’t Right, embodies the heartache and introspection of navigating challenging relationships. Written by Nicole, the song grapples with the tug of war between head and heart, speaking to anyone who’s ever struggled to walk away from love, even when it’s unhealthy. Departing from their usual live-off-the-floor approach, the band took a more nuanced path with engineer Mark Rogers. Together, they dissected each part to create a textured sound, aiming for a classic, road-trip vibe inspired by artists like Sheryl Crow and Fleetwood Mac. “This song was inspired by the difficult relationships I’ve seen loved ones go through,” Nicole says. “It’s about that inner conflict — wanting to stay and fight for someone while knowing you need to value yourself enough to walk away.”
Rose Ranger | Dear Dad
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Rose Ranger’s new single Dear Dad is a poignant, tender reflection on loss, love, and the enduring connection between a daughter and her father. Written as a letter to her late dad, who passed away unexpectedly on his birthday in October 2022, Ranger’s song offers a raw glimpse into her personal grief and healing. Recorded in Nashville with a lineup of seasoned musicians including Juno winner Steve Dawson on pedal steel, the song showcases a classic country / Americana sound with a heartfelt narrative at its core. “My dad was a fan of country music from the ’40s, ’50s (and) ’60s eras,” Ranger explains. “So this song (and the new collection of songs) I wrote for my dad all have a country / Americana / folk sound as a nod and ode to my dad. The lyrics capture a part of my journey and the deep curiosity I still feel about what happens after we leave this earth. It’s about remembering that we are all made of stars, continuing our evolution beyond this stage. This song is also a reminder of how much I miss my dad.”
