I am writing this intro while higher than a kite. No, not like that. I’m 35,000 feet in the air, flying home from Vancouver after watching Jack White destroy the Commodore Ballroom with a barnburning, hell-raising performance. But that was Thursday; right now I am all about this collection of the latest and greatest videos and singles from Canadian artists of all stripes, sounds and styles. Let’s have a ball (and perhaps a biscuit, sugar):
Graham Brown Band | Courage Comes
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Although it’s common for artists to improve with age, it’s rare when they do it in a manner that seems to turn back the hands of time. That’s precisely the feeling one gets when listening to Outside Within, the 14th album by Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Graham Brown. Working once again with his longtime electric band — guitarist/keyboardist Rob Blackburn, bassist John Werner and drummer Mark Gruft — after taking an acoustic detour on 2023’s aptly titled Solo, the Vancouver-based Brown cranked up his amp and honed his writing focus on Outside Within, a 12-song collection crackling with an inspiring energy that is most welcome at this moment. The band’s approach is probably best captured on Courage Comes, a taut rocker in the Tom Petty tradition, containing a message to stay strong in the face of adversity, and complemented by one of Brown’s trademark mind-melting solos. As on previous Graham Brown Band albums, it was all captured live in the studio, this time at Hipposonic in Vancouver where the bulk of Outside Within was remarkably laid down in a single Saturday afternoon.”
Braden Lam | Obsolete
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Following the release of Braden Lam’s debut album The Cloudmaker’s Cry, the celebrated songwriter is sharing the video for Obsolete, a song “inspired by the beautiful port town of Lunenburg on the South shore of Nova Scotia,” says Lam. “Historically known for its fishing and ship-building related industries, most notably the birthplace of The Bluenose ship. I spent a summer’s week there participating in a songcamp facilitated by the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival and meandering the streets got me thinking about all the different lives, dreams, and trades that those old shops had probably seen. Generations of expertise in various niches mostly gone obsolete by the turn of the 21st century. Co-writer Erin Turcke and I landed on this story of a rubber stamp maker who is witnessing this change firsthand. The technology gets brighter, money gets tighter, and the heart grows lighter as they realize they need to move on. We couldn’t film this music video in the middle of a January winter so an abandoned gold mining town in Arizona is the second best thing to Lunenburg!”
Neil Haverty | Man Down
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian vocalist, composer and Bruce Peninsula frontman Neil Haverty unveils his new single Man Down — brooding, introspective meditation on illness, survival, and the slow, complicated return to self. Built on dark synths, stirring strings, and Haverty’s unmistakable ghostly growl, the track marks his first solo release after more than a decade composing for award-winning film and television. On its face, Man Down is a reckoning with Haverty’s 2011 leukemia diagnosis, a life-altering moment that shook the foundation of his world. Written as a form of self-talk, the song explores grief, resilience, and the blurred lines between trauma and transformation. Rather than tying a neat bow around survival, Haverty leans into the clumsiness of healing, examining how ideals formed during hardship often fade in the forward tumble of everyday life. Recorded with longtime collaborator Leon Taheny (Owen Pallett, Austra) and featuring layered string arrangements by Mika Posen (Agnes Obel, Timber Timbre), Man Down combines analog synth textures, creaky orchestral moments, and organic found sounds — including field recordings from a Galileo museum in Florence — to build an atmosphere of both ascension and collapse. It’s music that searches for the spark of aliveness even as it grapples with mortality.”
Great Lake Swimmers | One More Dance Around The Sun
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “What would a Great Lake Swimmers song sound like if it were written during a hazy Laurel Canyon summer in the late 1960s? One More Dance Around The Sun offers a compelling answer. Their first new music since 2023’s Uncertain Country, it’s a warm, reflective track that rolls forward like a long drive at golden hour — steady, hopeful, and grounded in the quiet momentum of everyday life. Led by songwriter Tony Dekker, Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past 20-odd years crafting music that feels at once deeply rooted and free-floating — tethered to land and language, yet always reaching for something beyond. On this track, Dekker turns his eye to the passage of time and the search for constancy in an ever-shifting world. Lyrically grounded in furrows and rows, rivers and roads, the song traces the cyclical nature of days and seasons, of work and wear, and the idea that maybe, in the repetition, there’s a deeper insight to be attained. And a hope that digging through the dust might just uncover some kind of light.”
Jont | All Become One
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Nova Scotia-via-London singer-songwriter Jont shares his stirring new single All Become One — an intimate indie anthem about collective healing, unity, and the power of love over fear. Jont recalls: “I remember doing some yoga on my own at home listening to East Forest, enjoying that feeling his music brings on. I just started singing. I turned off the music and picked up my guitar… The first lines, ‘I just wanna lie down with you’ came out. Like it is now, it was a messed-up time. It was impossible to know what was true and what was lies. And again like now, there was pressure on people not to say certain things. Just naming what was going on in the world felt challenging. It felt like many people weren’t wanting to do that. When the lines ‘We’re going down, we’re going down’ came, I didn’t know what the song was going to be about… But I thought, ‘Ah well, here we go…’ This song is being sung by many of us in different ways, because it is the song of our time,” he continues. “This is the eternal news, that you are me and I am you. This song is an anthem to the breaking down of division, and coming out of fear of the other.”
Ian North | Going North For Good
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian folk-rocke Ian North returns with Going North For Good, a stirring new single that blends wistful storytelling with layered three-part harmonies and evocative lyricism. Rooted in folk-rock and classic singer-songwriter tradition, the track is both nostalgic and quietly powerful, reflecting on the complexity of leaving behind a place and the person you were when you lived there. Inspired by his partner’s childhood move from Toronto to a small northern town, Going North For Good captures the search for belonging, the invisible threads that bind us to home, and the bittersweet courage it takes to start over. “We go looking for new beginnings, but the truth is we carry our stories with us,” says North. “This song is about the hope that drives people to make a change, and the quiet grief that comes with knowing you can never truly go back.” Co-written with his wife and creative partner Jennifer Claveau, who also contributed all harmony vocals, Going North For Good was produced by Chris Gartner, with original vocal and guitar tracks recorded by John Campbell. The track’s warm arrangement and signature harmonies support a melodic narrative that feels both grounded and timeless.”
Aiko Tomi | Bounce (QQ Selfie Cut)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto alt-pop disruptor Aiko Tomi’s newest album Everything Sparks Joy, is a nine-track odyssey that feels like a sugar rush at the end of the world. Effortlessly blending hyperpop energy with sharp introspection, Tomi delivers tracks that are playful, chaotic, and deeply intelligent — a rare balance that’s as fun as it is thought-provoking. Everything Sparks Joy invites listeners to lean into life’s contradictions: Finding joy in chaos, balancing indulgence with simplicity, and owning both confidence and vulnerability. Beneath the glittering hooks and wild production is a carefully curated statement on individuality, rebellion, and the beauty of being real. Today, Tomi shares the single Bounce, the sonic equivalent of a lucky charm — full of cheeky lines, an addictive beat, and just enough bad behavior. One listen and you’re every girl at her freakiest, sparkliest, most unbothered. “It’s giving chaotic boba physics and dance-floor prophecy, inspired by a Taiwanese massage therapist who once said, ‘Your flesh is so bouncy—I can tell you’re a lucky girl’,” says Tomi. Part folklore, part flex, the track is deluxe, extra-strength pampering for girls carrying generational good fortune.”
Ambre Ciel | Eau Miroir
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Recently, Ambre Ciel shared Eau Miroir, the second single from her debut album Still, There Is The Sea, due June 6. Today, the Montreal artist shares the Alex Dozois-directed video for the dreamy neo-classical pop movement. “I’ve been following Alex’s work for a few years, and even have one of her photographs in my studio,” shares Ambre. “The space doesn’t have lots of windows but her photograph adds a lot of light to the space and makes it more inspiring. I’ve collaborated with Alex in the past and appreciate how talented, sensitive and humble she is. Her filming approach is as slow as the world can be fast, she’s always noticing subtle elements in nature, light and beauty around her. As Eau Miroir was inspired by the sun’s reflection on water, I couldn’t have thought of anyone else to direct this music video; this collaboration felt completely natural.” “Since my practice is rooted in exploring the relationship between humans, the natural world, and the ecosystems we’re part of, it felt only natural to collaborate on this with Ambre,” notes Dozois. “The vastness I felt when listening to Eau Miroir really spoke to me. I immediately sensed a deep connection between the song and the intentions that guide my practice. The clip is an attempt to depict the world within her mind, where nature, water, and cycles are central themes. I wanted the music video to feel like a visual meditation that encompassed those themes, as well as the dreams and quiet, blurred tension of standing on the edge of change. Inspired by the song’s water motif, it was also important to me that the imagery unfold in a fluid, abstract way.”
Angela Saini | Puzzle Piece
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Angela Saini returns with Puzzle Piece, a bright, roots-pop anthem about finding confidence in being different and celebrating the bold colours that make us who we are. With folk-pop charm, catchy melodies, and an empowering message at its core, Puzzle Piece affirms what Saini has long been known for: heartfelt storytelling with a big, beaming smile. Puzzle Piece is about being unapologetically you — even if that means standing out instead of fitting in. “As a biracial kid growing up, I never felt like I fully belonged anywhere,” says Saini. “But I realize now that my uniqueness is a strength and every experience of not fitting in has shaped who I am. This song is a reminder that every piece matters — the picture needs you to be YOU to make it complete.”
Puma June | Nobody
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto alt-R&B artist Puma June unveils a striking visual for Nobody, the newest video from her recent debut EP A Woman That They Want. A genre-blending mix of smooth, empowering, and edgy elements, the track continues Puma June’s fearless exploration of identity, autonomy, and self-liberation. A fashion-forward, surrealist piece of self-expression, Nobody investigates the tension between external judgment and internal limitation. Inspired by the “enemy within,” the video poses a haunting question: Is it the world boxing us in, or are we boxing ourselves? Puma June invites the viewer into her signature dream-like universe, one where expectations are twisted, and truth is uncomfortably — and beautifully — laid bare. The title Nobody cleverly plays on “no body” and “nobody,” reinforcing the track’s themes of bodily autonomy, self-worth, and unseen power. Whether confronting shame, smallness, or fear, Puma June makes space for radical self-reclamation. Shot in Los Angeles and directed by long-time collaborator Arden Grier, the video features a series of bold visuals — from tattooed brows to a surreal scene of swallowing herself. At one point, a now-infamous concept involving live ants turned into an unexpected pivot after a failed Amazon order and an online search. The solution? Ladybugs.”
Octoberman | We Used To Talk Of Death
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With their 20th year in motion, Octoberman return with We Used To Talk Of Death, a nostalgic, tape-warmed indie rock single that meditates on aging, memory, and the inevitable weight of time. Recovered from a forgotten 2014 demo, the track now arrives fully realized — leaner, rawer, and more resonant than ever. “One day I was going through old hard drives and stumbled upon the original demo,” says guitarist/vocalist Marc Morrissette. “It was meant for (2014 album) What More What More back in the day, but I wasn’t into the outro. I cut that section out, brought it to the band, and suddenly it all clicked.” Lyrically unchanged from over a decade ago, the song hits differently now. “Whether it’s losing a loved one or becoming a parent, life events shift how we think about death,” says Morrissette. “This song used to feel hypothetical. It doesn’t anymore.”
Joe Lapinski | I Know This
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With his new single I Know This, St. Catharines artist Joe Lapinski delivers a raw and rhythmically charged celebration of new love. Ecstatic, visceral and vulnerable, the track pulses with the chaotic beauty of falling fast and hard. Produced alongside longtime collaborator Dave Clark (Gord Downie’s Country of Miracles, Rheostatics), I Know This fuses indie rock grit with danceable new wave urgency —equal parts Talking Heads and Sonic Youth. Featuring a transcendent saxophone performance by Karen Ng (The Weather Station, Andy Shauf), the song captures the disorienting rush of first touch, first dance, and the inner peace that comes from simply knowing love is real. It’s the second single to be shared from Lapinski’s forthcoming album New Day, out on June 27. Driving forward with punchy beats and swirling textures, I Know This is a celebration of surrendering to love in all its vulnerability. It was designed to move you — to the dancefloor, or deeper into your own heart.”
Two Hours Traffic | Andy Magoffin
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Two Hours Traffic releases their first collection of new music in a decade, I Never See You Anymore. While the band took their final bow in 2013, the Charlottetown group of Liam Corcoran, Andy MacDonald, Nick Doneff and Derek Ellis eventually began playing together again — first occasionally, then more often — until new songs began to emerge naturally. Now, 12 years since their last release, Two Hours Traffic make an unexpected but welcome return with their new EP. To celebrate the occasion, the band are sharing Andy Magoffin, the song that sparked the EP’s title. “We wrote Andy Magoffin after the EP was essentially finished and liked it so much that we recorded it quickly in our hometown and finished it just in time for the release,” says MacDonald. “It also gave us the title for our EP, I Never See You Anymore, which applies to our friend (and hero) Andy Magoffin, as well as so many other amazing people and places we don’t see anymore since we stopped touring full-time.”
Ken Yates | The Great Resolution
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Early next month, Ken Yates releases his new album Total Cinema. Today, the celebrated songwriter is sharing one final preview of the album. The Great Resolution feels like “this constant tug-of-war between cynicism and optimism,” says Yates. “I kind of let my full cynical side take the wheel on this one, diving a little deeper into those raw, unfiltered thoughts. But then I tried to flip it — find a way to channel that energy into something useful, like calling out my own bullshit, as well as everyone else’s. It’s this push-pull, really: staying connected to the world while fighting the urge to completely shut it out. It’s easy to want to shut down and go numb to it, but I think it’s crucial to keep engaging, especially as you get older. If you don’t, your world starts shrinking, and that’s not something I want. Some days, you’ve got to ditch the comfort zone, put on real pants, and just feel it — the good, the bad, the ridiculousness of it all.”
Hillary Reynolds | Can’t Turn Off My Mind
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter Hillary Reynolds invites listeners into a whimsical and warmly contemplative sonic world with her latest single Can’t Turn Off My Mind. This silvery, playful track marks the foundation of Reynolds’ upcoming debut album Changing Seasons, offering a grounded yet daydreamy soundtrack for your morning routine. Blending thoughtful lyricism with classic singer-songwriter stylings, the single evokes a soft space reminiscent of Beatrix Potter illustrations and Jane Austen musings. Can’t Turn Off My Mind was written years ago, but found new life after Reynolds reconnected with collaborator and dear friend Madison Malone in Los Angeles. What began as a reflection on insomnia and intrusive thoughts gained richer meaning over time — particularly as both artists became mothers. That distinct sense of sleep-deprived tenderness now permeates the song’s groove-driven chorus, which Reynolds describes as “quirky, left-of-center, but completely natural when you feel it.” Anchored by upright bass and dreamlike phrasing, the song balances whimsy with lyrical vulnerability. “I love how playful it is,” Reynolds shares. “Sometimes we just need music that makes us feel less heavy. I wanted to put out an album that feels like saying ‘hello’ to an old friend and I feel like this first single is an invitation to that space.”
The Bapti$$! | Crazyglue And Skeletons
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Following the understated power of his debut Mister 808, The Bapti$$ — the genre−bending musical rebirth of multi−instrumentalist Joseph LaPlante — returns with Crazyglue And Skeletons, a meditative yet emotional track that floats on eerie guitars, thumping 808s, and a raw vocal delivery straight from the heart. Blending pop, R&B, and singer−songwriter stylings with spiritual depth and street wisdom, The Bapti$$ once again brings simplicity to life in a way that cuts deep. “This song to me is about using love and faith as the medicine to fight through our fallen nature,” LaPlante shares. “When life gets hard, we have our family, and we have God on our side. The lyrics remind the listener that we all have emotional baggage and scars — and in those moments, you have the chance to be the glue that holds your loved ones together from falling apart. That should be a lifelong thing — from the womb to tomb.”
Excuses Excuses | Paralysis
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian alt-punk outfit Excuses Excuses confront the raw reality of mental illness in their powerful new single Paralysis. Drawing from deeply personal experiences and the struggles of those around them, the track is a dark and driving anthem for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in place. With sharp dynamics, whispered backing vocals, and swirling effects, Paralysis paints a visceral portrait of anxiety and depression without ever giving in to despair. “Focusing on the destructive internal thoughts and debilitating feelings associated with mental illness, Paralysis is an ode to those who constantly struggle to cope but refuse to give in,” says guitarist/vocalist Kyle C. Wilton. “It outlines the difficulty of the constant mental battle with oneself… while reminding us that it doesn’t dictate who we are as individuals.” From the very first line, the band capture the crushing uncertainty of the mental health journey, while ultimately delivering a message of resilience and understanding.”
