How in the hell is it already Wednesday? And why in the hell isn’t it already Friday? These are the questions that plague my mind. Do these new Canadian singles and videos hold the answers? Probably not. But they’ll definitely keep you entertained while I ponder. No questions asked:
Kate Maki | All I Get
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Kate Maki returns with her first new music in nine years, alongside the announcement of her seventh studio album Impossible Knot. Recorded on tape at Little Bullhorn in Ottawa and co-produced by Maki and Dave Draves (Julie Doiron), the Sudbury songwriter’s single All I Get features Peter Von Althen (Kathleen Edwards) on drums, Jon Hynes (Hidden Cameras) on bass, Dale Murray (The Guthries) on electric guitar and backing vocals, Dan Levecque (Minotaurs) on electric guitar, Anne Boulton on backing vocals, Draves on organ and Wurlitzer, and Maki on acoustic guitar. “The lightness and joyful warmth of the music helps soften the heavy lyrical exploration as to why we let our bad habits get the better of us,” says Maki. “This song asks tough questions, ones you want answered when you are trying to quit something or someone that no longer serves you, and struggling to accept defeat. We often destroy ourselves by holding on to things that we should be letting go of. This song is a reminder to bow out gracefully before it’s too late…easier said than done.”
Abigail Lapell | Wait Up (Acoustic)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Abigail Lapell returns with More Songs About Love, the extended companion to her Juno-nominated album Anniversary. An evocative collection of original love songs, Anniversary was produced with Great Lake Swimmers’ Tony Dekker and recorded at 200-year-old St Mark’s Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Balancing upbeat earworms with elegiac ballads, More Songs About Love adds eight new stripped-down tracks to the collection, including delicate acoustic versions of Anniversary’s standout tracks; a captivating French translation of crowd favourite Rattlesnake; and Lapell’s unique take on a handful of classics, including Feels Like We Always Go Backwards by Tame Impala. Today, Abigail shares the new acoustic rendition of Wait Up. An ode to dysfunctional love, this duet between Abigail and Dekker combines catchy harmonies and dueling acoustic guitars. Says Abigail: “I feel like it brings out such a different, more intimate side of the song.”
Banman | Didn’t See Me Coming
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Banman, a rising hip-hop artist from Hamilton, unveils his powerful new EP Ups & Downs — a concept disc designed to be experienced in sequence. The project chronicles Banman’s journey through addiction and recovery, offering raw, honest reflections wrapped in catchy beats and sharp lyricism. Didn’t See Me Coming radiates an infectious, uplifting energy with an old-school West Coast vibe. The song embodies Banman’s vision of emerging from the shadows to make an undeniable impact, both personally and musically. Written six years ago, it finally finds its moment, recorded in just two hours with a flow that’s been honed through relentless practice. “These songs have taught me patience,” Banman says. “I could’ve released them years ago, but I wasn’t ready. Now, it feels like the perfect time.”
Yawn | Broken Baby
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Yawn is an electro-dream-pop project that creates a gorgeously intimate sonic world, filled with lushly layered synths and warm vocals. The music is lovingly woven together by the complex and joyously self-deprecating Julia McDougall. Yawn is both a captivating one-woman show and a cathartic peek into someone else’s tear-stained diary that will make you wistfully sway on the dance floor with your best friend. Today, the Vancouver songwriter shares the first single from an upcoming release produced by Jo Hirabayashi (Jo Passed). Broken Baby is a song that was born in the early days of Covid, during a summer of forest fires and smoky skies that laid like a thick blanket over the Pacific Northwest. “It’s a song about personal and collective anguish; the story follows a woman who imagined a different life for herself, but instead spends her weekends at the local bar in the small town she never left, lamenting to strangers about what could have been,” explains McDougall. “The song parallels the deeply personal story with the crippling, omnipresent climate anxiety we feel collectively. It grapples with the fact that our physical world has shifted so rapidly into an urgent crisis that’s well beyond our control, and explores how we try to make sense of moving forward while acknowledging tremendous loss.”
Jesse Roper | Danger
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Victoria artist Jesse Roper returns with his electrifying new single, Danger, an anthemic rock track that captures the thrill of attraction and the allure of the unattainable. Set against the stunning backdrop of Hanalei Bay in Kaua’i, Hawaii, the song radiates a coastal summer energy, painting the perfect scene for a carefree vacation romance. With infectious melodies and dynamic production, Danger is an exhilarating and introspective anthem that blends upbeat rock with a sense of excitement and caution. Written during a time of personal turmoil, Roper channeled his emotions into a cinematic imaginary world where the “it” girl is in pursuit, offering the kind of attention he was craving. Produced by Juno-nominated Gus van Go and recorded at Boiler Room Studios in Toronto, Danger delivers a track that’s as thrilling as it is reflective, weaving catchy hooks with a rock edge. Says Jess: “Danger was a nice little mind circus vacation with a hint of caution to distract me from the life I was living.”
The Southern Residents | A Mother’s Lament
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “B.C. folk group The Southern Residents just released their debut album Folk Signals. The band also present A Mother’s Lament, the second single from the album. Folk Signals was born from the collaboration of Tom Taylor and Adrian Dolan, two seasoned figures in the Canadian music scene. When Tom set out to record his original folk-inspired songs, he needed musicians who could bring his vision to life. Adrian, a multi-instrumentalist and experienced producer, was the ideal partner. Together, they assembled a group of Canada’s finest musicians, each contributing their unique sound to the project. For A Mother’s Lament, the band enlisted another B.C. musician to help with the project. Says Tom: “A Mother’s Lament is a song I wrote with Barney Bentall. It’s the story of a mother mourning the loss of her daughter on the Highway Of Tears. There is a line in the song, ‘Are you cold my sweet darling?’ which suggests there is a mystery as to where someone is. We thought this could apply to the many missing Indigenous women in B.C. and the importance of keeping their stories alive.”
