I suspect most people are looking forward to the long weekend. Me? I’m giddy as a schoolgirl at a Taylor Swift concert over the Eurovision Song Contest final tomorrow. But before I get out the popcorn and thrill to the many splendors of Bara Bada Bastu, Zjerm, Bur Man Laimi and Milkshake Man, allow me to present the contestants in this week’s Beaconvision Song Contest. And the winners are:
Absolute Treat | Shattered Love
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Absolute Treat, the new moniker of the Toronto popsters formerly known as Dilettante, just released their EP Shattered Love. It marks a pivot point in the band’s journey, having shed the hazy, lo-fi trappings of their previous project to turn their attention to the dance floor. With these new songs, bandleaders Natalie Panacci and Julia Wittmann find inspiration from the points where disco, pop, rock, and slinky R&B meet. In celebration of the release, Absolute Treat share the video for the EP’s title track. Shattered Love is the product of Julia’s song-a-day exercise in December 2022. Midway through, the hardcore Britpop fan made a decision: “I want to write a Blur-inspired song.” She thought about playful, maybe sometimes dissonant melodies, songs like Stereotypes or Charmless Man. That’s how the main hook, melodies, and chord progressions for Shattered Love were born. From there, she wrote some filler nonsense lyrics (including what would ultimately become the opening line: “Everybody take a hit.”) Lyrically, the song was mostly inspired by Julia’s experience of getting dumped in the early stage of a romance.”
Siggimusic | DOIT!
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “After a long hiatus,Toronto pop-funk artist Siggimusic (formerly known as Siggi) is back with his electrifying new single and video DOIT! It is the first single from Siggimusic’s forthcoming five-song EP, due in early 2026. Drawing from his diverse musical influences, DOIT! is a testament to Siggimusic‘s ability to fuse classic funk elements with modern pop sensibilities, resulting in a track that is both nostalgic and fresh. Lyrically, DOIT! exudes confidence and motivation, a reminder of the joy in movement, connection, and raw self-expression. Set in a lifeless party, the video brings that message to life, as Siggimusic reignites the room with an unspoken energy that draws people back to the rhythm. “DOIT! is about the primal urge to feel, move, and truly let go,” says Siggimusic. “It’s your reminder to stop overthinking and start moving!”
Ark Identity | Oh My God
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto indie pop singer-songwriter and producer Ark Identity’s new single Oh My God marks a raw and introspective chapter in the artist’s sonic evolution. Blending anthemic alt-pop energy with deeply reflective lyrics, the song tackles the overwhelming emotions that surface when confronting one’s past amidst the future’s uncertainty. It’s a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever found themselves standing at a crossroads, questioning the path they’ve taken and the future they face. “This song came from a place of self-reflection — those moments where you take a step back and realize just how much your past choices, mistakes, and fears have shaped where you are now,” says Noah Mroueh, the mastermind behind Ark Identity. “It’s about confronting everything you’ve buried, the weight of your regrets, and that overwhelming feeling of ‘What do I do now?’ ”
Ariana Fig | Weather App
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ariana Fig taps into the melancholic, dreamy, and nostalgic moods of modern online connection with her latest single Weather App. Written about the strange intimacy of checking in on someone through an app, the song blurs the lines between self-validation and unhealthy attachment. Fig, a singer-songwriter from Hamilton, channels her classical training into a genre-blending sound that’s both vulnerable and inventive. Written during her first co-writing session with Emma Whale at the iconic Catherine North Studios, Weather App took shape on a rainy August evening. She worked with Sarah MacDougall, a long time collaborator of Fig’s, who did the production and mixing on the track. Chris Wong later added guitar and bass tracks, helping to bring the emotional landscape of the song to life. Fig also layered her own violin playing into the track’s powerful bridge — a section she crafted to capture the heart-sinking realization that neither the narrator nor the subject of their affection will ever truly change.”
DJ Wiley | So Brand New
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “CJ Wiley returns with another live video from their debut album So Brand New. The performance video for the album’s title track was shot and edited by Katja De Bourbon, with audio recorded and mixed by Calvin Hartwick at Dreamhouse Studios. The band features Kate Palumbo on bass, Madelyn Kirby on rhythm guitar, Julia Wittmann on lead guitar and Nick McKinlay on drums. So Brand New captures the “seductive essence of finding parts of ourselves in others, seeing life from new perspectives, and the irresistible urge to burn it down and start again,” says Wiley. “It taps into that universal feeling of falling in love — becoming obsessed and ultimately the darkness of being left behind.”
Ian James Bain | Church On A Hill
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “On his upcoming EP At Your Service, Ian James Bain is ready to make his mark within the current crop of young singer-songwriters carrying on the tradition of their honky-tonk heroes. He’s already got plenty of experience in that field, serving as touring guitarist with Jeremie Albino, and as a core member of Nicolette & The Nobodies, but on At Your Service he’s found his own voice on four songs that convey hard-earned lessons. Working closely with the in-demand Toronto producer and pedal steel guitarist Aaron Goldstein (Daniel Romano, Kathleen Edwards), Bain’s songs seamlessly blend the past and present, updating vintage sounds in surprising ways. Church On A Hill offers a poignant meditation on faith and resilience that stands alongside the recent work of Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan. Ian says, “I wrote Church On A Hill on a particularly dark day during the pandemic, partly inspired by the cathedral, Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, that overlooks the entire town of Guelph, Ontario where I lived for 10 years. I grew up without God in my life, and I wouldn’t change that, but I suppose a part of me is envious of people who truly believe there’s someone in their corner that has a plan. When I wrote the song I needed some help and I sure would have liked to feel that kind of support even if it was from someone I couldn’t see.”
Ada Lea | Baby Blue Frigidaire Mini Fridge
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ada Lea — the moniker of Montreal musician Alexandra Levy — announces her new album When I Paint My Masterpiece (out Aug. 8) and shares its lead single, Baby Blue Frigidaire Mini Fridge. The third LP from Ada Lea is an epic, 16-track opus, a kaleidoscopic exploration of the transformations art can bring, and the vision of an uncompromising artist dancing bravely and freely between registers and across mediums. Of the inspiration behind the song, Levy reflects impressionistically: “The Chantal Akerman film where the camera moves in slow circular pans around her apartment. Then what if the frame quickly zooms out as far as it could possibly go? And in that wide pull back, what we recognize as universal is still ‘this chair, this window, this mountain view.’ Then, move out again, even further. What we are left with — three things: ‘Our old-time souls, this old-time moon.’ Two things, I mean.”
Dan Mangan | It Might Be Raining
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dan Mangan’s new LP Natural Light marks his return to folk music’s classic underpinnings of political resistance and songs founded on building connection. No longer the hopeful young upstart or a stubborn folk-punk, Mangan’s familiar voice emerges to articulate our troubled times with tenderness and humour. These are love songs about a planet on the brink of collapse; campfire songs for a world on fire. Today, he shares the live video for the stunning opening track It Might Be Raining. It is a heartfelt reckoning with the world our children will inherit — building from its stark folk essence to irrepressible heights, it brims with Mangan’s lyrical compassion and sonic intuition. “As my kids approach their teen years, I think about my own adolescence, bussing around rainy Vancouver, lost in OK Computer,” says Mangan. “This song is for them, for what they discover in the big, beautiful, gruesome world, and who they become. If it helps, I want them to know that they don’t need to do anything to earn my love — they just have it.”
JupiterReign | All Mine
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A moody, soul-infused R&B confession, All Mine is the latest release from Nova Scotia’s JupiterReign — a rising star known for her velvety vocals, magnetic presence, and fearless emotional honesty. Blending vulnerability with sensuality, the track captures the turmoil of a love that’s as painful as it is passionate. It will feature on JupiterReign’s debut album, Jupiter’s Dreams, due June 13. Written in collaboration with Montreal R&B artist RoyyalT, All Mine explores the complexity of holding on to a relationship that no longer serves you — even when you know better. Set against a lush, trap-soul soundscape, the song’s slow-burning intensity is paired with lyrics that reflect raw self-awareness and longing.”
Double Experience | Expensive Taste
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Geek-culture rock duo Double Experience are sharing their latest single Expensive Taste. The song speaks of the simple pleasures of life ruined by the ever-expanding reach of modern consumerism and was written to contain the geeky core of Double Experience, but enveloping it in the most layers of candy coating they’ve ever dared to attempt. As a band very familiar with touring, the duo wrote songs that would enhance their visceral concerts in sweaty bars and clubs. This time around, their music has a clear, crisp sound and a new sheen of consummate professionalism. They explain: “Take, for instance, the pastime of video games — an innocent slice of escapism now rife with microtransactions designed to make those without feel inferior. In other words, do not let vanity get the better of whatever makes your heart flutter. If you aren’t feeling the warmth of the midsummer sun by the end of Expensive Taste, you’re already dead inside.”
Pistol Whip The Devil | The Devil In Me
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With their signature blend of gritty country rock and heartfelt storytelling, Vancouver’s Pistol Whip The Devil return with their explosive new single The Devil In Me. Produced by Winston Hauschild at The Treehouse Studio, The Devil In Me is a driving anthem that captures the intoxicating rush of spontaneity and connection — the thrill of a night unbound by rules or expectations. It’s a celebration of living in the moment, where anything can happen, and nothing is off-limits. “This song is about one of those nights where you are out meeting new people, sharing new experiences, doing things you never thought you would do, embracing life and the moment, not caring about consequences not doubting your next move,” says singer-guitarist Shane Jolie. “It could end good or could end terrible. Who knows? Anything goes!”
Takes An Army | Rise Up
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian punk outfit Takes an Army are sharing their most motivated and spiritually grounded work yet: Rise Up. The EP showcases the band’s signature blend of pop-punk, third-wave ska and emotionally honest lyricism, brought together by years of growth, setbacks, and relentless hope. Rise Up is born of adversity but filled with triumph. Thematically, the EP explores faith, healing, and resilience in the face of life’s unexpected turns. Whether you’re chasing goals or recovering from setbacks, Rise Up is a reminder that you’re not alone in the struggle and there’s always room to get back up again. The project’s explosive title track serves as both a sonic and thematic centerpiece. A fusion of fast-paced drums, ska-influenced guitar chops, and a vocal punch that opens each verse, the song takes on the often-unpredictable road of adulthood and delivers a call to surrender to something bigger — faith, purpose, and the journey itself.”
Raphaela | Leave Him First
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Lebanese-Canadian singer-songwriter Raphaela unveils her emotionally complex new single Leave Him First, a cinematic and empowering pop track that flips the script on betrayal and heartbreak. What begins as a classic story of romantic infidelity quickly becomes something more nuanced and powerful: a conversation between two women who unknowingly shared the same partner. But instead of revenge, Raphaela offers empathy. In Leave Him First, the narrator speaks not to the man who broke her heart, but to the girl he cheated with — encouraging her to reclaim her worth before it’s too late. The track’s delicate balance of melancholic vulnerability and quiet strength is what makes it unforgettable. It’s a reflection of Raphaela‘s unique perspective — choosing compassion over conflict, solidarity over spite.”
