It’s the end of another Friday. The end of another week. The end of another February. And after sifting through another 1,000 Friday emails, I am once again at the end of my rope. But not the end of my labours. First, allow me to present you with the finest new sounds our country has to offer — the be-all and the end-all, if you will:
Yves Jarvis | One Gripe
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Yves Jarvis — the moniker of Canadian musician Jean-Sébastien Yves Audet — just released his new album All Cylinders along with the video for One Gripe. Warm and vivid, One Gripe is about airing one’s grievances. Of the track, Jarvis says: “Though it does not go unappreciated, loved ones dish out hard truths when I just want to hear myself talk.” He sings: ‘Talked all night / I needed your advice / One gripe / You don’t tell me what I want to hear / You keep it real.’ Jarvis recommends the track for fans of roller rinks, John Mayer, The Doobie Brothers and Daft Punk. On All Cylinders, Jarvis expresses a brazen songcraft and pure musicianship: 11 tracks he played himself, without a single additional contributor, transforming his vision into the stuff of verses and choruses, hooks and hits, which vibrates like a cosmic anthropology. At home, in the studio, at sublet apartments in Montreal and L.A. — he’d roll out of bed and get straight to work, plugging his gear into a half-broken laptop. Whereas once he had fetishized analog tape, now Jarvis appreciated the value of working without any such preciousness: Much of All Cylinders was recorded on bare-bones Audacity, sans plugins, channeling the spirit of Paul McCartney’s McCartney II.
Hot Mud | Nowhere Town
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Hot Mud presents an indie-rock anthem for small-town dreamers with his infectious new single Nowhere Town. It is a song full of longing and desire to see the world while living a monotonous routine. Cursing his head full of dreams and fantasies, Hot Mud walks through the same streets, observing his surroundings, day and night, over and over. He cries out loud, “Just need a little more money, just need a little more time,” while the days slip away in his Nowhere Town. It’s an all-too-relatable tale with an irresistibly catchy chorus that will remain in your head long after the song fades out. It comes with a music video inspired by the opening credit sequence of Hot Mud’s favorite TV show, The Kids In The Hall. It’s the first song from the Ottawa artist’s Shiny Single Sessions — he will be releasing a new song each month.”
Braden Lam | Hurricane Season
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ferociously bowed fiddle lurks underneath anxious climate fears in the urgent, driving Hurricane Season, the fourth and final single from Braden Lam’s debut LP The Cloudmaker’s Cry, due April 11. The new track follows the singles Beautiful Neighbourhoods, Highway Jesus and Wide Open, a duet with Vancouver’s Michaela Slinger. Showcasing new depths to his roots-Americana sound and a knack for expressing observations universally, Lam takes his lived experience through a natural disaster and closely examines the human nature of desire and envy in Hurricane Season. “This song was born during Hurricane Fiona, an intense post-tropical cyclone that hit the East coast of Canada in September of 2022. I was on tour in Europe and following closely with the news and social media buzz back home. First the toilet paper and chip aisles get cleared out at the grocery stores, then school and work gets cancelled, then the power goes out and everyone’s collective anxieties feed into each other online until the last phones die and the internet quietly waits for the storm to pass.”
Jenny Palacious | Took
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto indie-pop singer-songwriter Jenny Palacios unveils her playful and angsty new single Took, a dynamic blend of rock, alt-pop, and pop-rock that explores the complexities of digital identity and self-worth. With an infectious energy and tongue-in-cheek irony, Took captures Jenny’s struggle with internet culture and the pressures of maintaining an artist persona online. Took is a reflection of Jenny’s realization that constantly seeking validation online was taking a toll on her sense of self. The song delves into the suffocating feeling of being influenced by people she’s never met, and the unrealistic standards of appearance and behavior dictated by social media. The official lyric video for Took brings this narrative to life with playful yet poignant visuals, highlighting the internal conflict between authenticity and online curation.”
Nares | Levitate (With 8485)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian dark-pop artist Nares unveils the official video for her hauntingly ethereal single Levitate (with 8485) — a cinematic and deeply introspective track that explores themes of transformation, isolation, and connection. Levitate offers a visceral experience, merging sullen melodies with expansive production to evoke a sense of otherworldly longing. Written in a remote country cabin in Guelph, the track took shape over a period of years, with 8485 breathing new life into an old demo of Nares’ titled seethru. The result? A song that feels massive — sonically and emotionally. The official music video, directed by Nares and Jonathan Matta, serves as the song’s visual counterpart, embodying a Lynchian dreamscape with elements inspired by The Virgin Suicides and Jungian symbolism. Blending surreal found-footage aesthetics with high-contrast cinematography, the video brings Nares’ and 8485’s dual perspectives to life — two beings navigating separate yet parallel emotional realities.”
Ken Yates | Perenninals
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In January, Ken Yates shared two singles, Cataclysmic End and My Love For You Is A Straight Line, his first new music since his highly acclaimed 2022 LP Cerulean. Today, he shares Perennials, “a song for my late mother who passed in 2021,” says Yates. “I wanted so desperately to write this song for my last album Cerulean, but for some reason it was just never right. I think I had to live the past three years in order to finally write it. Some songs force you to live a bit more life before you can write them.” A standout, stripped-back track, Perennials is a rare kind of song: So honest and specific, you can’t help but hear your own stories of grief within it. Yates writes movingly of his mother, speaking directly to her at times, as he reflects on her legacy and the ways he is learning to live life without her by his side, but with a presence still keenly felt. As Yates writes in the song, ‘When you become a memory you can never lose a fight / Empty out your closet but keep all the clothes you like / Salt still in the wound / Still I always think of you / Every time the perennials bloom.’ ”
Patrick Watson & Charlotte Cardin | Gordon In The Willows
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter / film composer / pianist Patrick Watson and singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin have just released the collaborative song Gordon In The Willows. Haunting in its beauty and simplicity, the song unfurls over lightly arpeggiating piano and Cardin’s breathtaking voice covering a range of multiple octaves, until it disintegrates with a pulse rattling bass and echoing drums. Watson and Cardin wrote the lyrics together, and recorded the song last fall at Lost River Studios, in a rural lake village outside of Montreal where Watson has previously hosted his own music festival. Watson and Cardin have collaborated in the past, co-writing Next To You for Cardin’s 2023 album. They shared a live version that has over 4 million views, and Watson is also working with Cardin on her new album. “A few months ago, Patrick played me a piano piece — just the music, no words — and the moment I heard it, it felt like the whisper of an old friend,” she says. He adds: “Charlotte and I had this magical music moment together. I wanted a song that felt like it came from a long time ago.”
Newbridge | Centuries
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging from Halifax, rock and Americana outfit Newbridge unveil their powerful new single Centuries. A sweeping, emotional journey, the track encapsulates the chaos and excitement of rediscovering love after years of guarded hesitation. With elements of rock, R&B, and folk woven together, Centuries captures both the darkness and exhilaration that comes with stepping into something unknown. The song comes from their debut album Past Lives, which is set for official release on March 28. Originally inspired by classic ’60s R&B, the song evolved to embrace a more dramatic, cinematic feel, drawing comparisons to The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter and Pink Floyd’s The Great Gig In The Sky.” The tension between its hopeful lyrics and the brooding instrumental backdrop is heightened through the use of borrowed chords and an evocative vocal performance by Amber Woodhouse, pushing the song into bold new sonic territory.”
Shealagh Rose | Perth
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Shealagh Rose, a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from Hamilton, just released her captivating EP Safe in Our Silence, a collection of songs reflecting themes of vulnerability, growth and emotional resilience. The standout focus track Perth is a transcendental and calming piece that celebrates the comfort found in deep, silent connections with loved ones. It embodies a hopeful sentiment, exploring the beauty of letting people into our lives despite the baggage we carry. Perth was recorded in an intimate setting, with Shealagh tracking the piano at the music studio where she teaches, using rented Rodes mics. The process was a learning experience, pushing her to apply her knowledge of mic techniques in new ways.”
Kari Lyn | Fall (I’m Not Ready)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Prince Edward Island-born singer-songwriter Kari Lyn returns with her heartfelt new single, Fall (I’m Not Ready), a deeply introspective folk-rock anthem that captures the fear and excitement of stepping into the unknown. With raw vulnerability and cinematic storytelling, the song reflects Kari’s personal struggles with change, self-doubt, and the courage to move forward. Written in a moment of subconscious creativity — literally in her sleep — Fall (I’m Not Ready) emerged after an emotional breakthrough in therapy. Waking up in the middle of the night, she instinctively recorded a voice memo, snoring and all, capturing lyrics and melodies nearly identical to the final version. Produced by Dan Hosh (Wild Rivers, Serena Ryder, Arkells), the track seamlessly blends Kari’s folk roots with subtle rock influences, channeling a sound she describes as “if Noah Kahan and Taylor Swift had a baby.” The result is a nostalgic, road trip-ready anthem layered with emotional depth.”
Tommy Douglas Keenan | Oh Melody
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Winnipeg singer-songwriter Tommy Douglas Keenan crafts songs of heartache, longing, and humour — none more so than his latest single Oh Melody, a woozy, late-night reflection on an intoxicating, ephemeral connection. The song captures the sweetness and sadness of a romance that was never meant to last, living only in the perfect moment. Originally written for a song-a-week writing club, Oh Melody took on new life in collaboration with Matt Peters (Begonia, Royal Canoe). Recorded with Peters’ vast collection of sonic toys, the track features ethereal guitar, soaring synths, and the mesmerizing guest vocals of Natalie Bohrn (Slow Spirit), whose counterpoint melodies heighten the song’s dreamlike quality.”
