One thing that never fails to frost my tips: When a Canadian act (or one of their proxies) pays a foreign publicist to pitch me (and presumably other domestic media) — as if there’s nobody in Canada who can do the job. It is especially egregious when these people (many of whom apply for government funding to cover the cost) hire a U.K. publicist, 90% of whom are basically con artists. This week’s offender: A jazz fusion ensemble from Toronto with a new album. Rest assured these cultrual traitors won’t be getting any coverage from me. I’d rather devote my time, space and attention to these fine new songs and videos from Canadian artists — all of whom sent me their wares through domestic publicists:
Allegories | Dreamcrusher
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Experimental indie-pop duo Allegories continue their genre-melding resurgence with Dreamcrusher, a dreamy and ethereal single that reflects on ambition, disillusionment, and creative rebirth. Initially conceived as a simple ukulele sketch, Dreamcrusher took on a life of its own through Allegories’ unorthodox creative process. Without hearing any melody or lyrics, Jordan Mitchell built an entirely new instrumental world from Adam Bentley’s initial chord progression. Bentley then responded with a final version that drew inspiration from both his original vision and Jordan’s atmospheric reimagining.“I think there’s an almost conflicting nature to the song in both the overall narrative and the sound design,” Bentley says. “This song embraces the annihilation of dreams but also the beauty of what grows in their place.”
Majors | Etiquette
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ottawa pop-punk band Majors tee up something unforgettable with their first video for the single Etiquette. It showcases a dynamic collaboration with Juno-winning cinematographer Peter Schnobb (Bahamas, Sarah Harmer), who brought the high-energy visual to life as director and producer. Released in May and mixed / mastered by Dean Hadjichristou (Parkway Drive, Four Year Strong), Etiquette is Majors’ first release since their 2024 EP Songs In The Key Of Golf, and continues the band’s signature blend of driving punk energy and unexpected thematic twists. This time, Majors takes aim at a most unforgivable villain: The disrespectful golf partner. “Etiquette is about getting matched up on the golf course with a terrible person,” says vocalist Justin Camarena. “Anyone who’s played regularly knows there are some people with no respect for the game or for others, and the idea for the song came from one of those instances. In golf, you have a lot of time to think, and your mind can wander to happy or dark places. This song goes to a dark place. When I’m writing I like taking a small thought and exaggerating it to squeeze out all the feelings I had when I was in that moment. I’ve golfed with a lot of people who have annoyed me, but this song magnifies that tenfold, and the video has us murdering a guy.”
Original Pairs | Star Guitar
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto rock ’n’ roll revivalists Original Pairs unleash Star Guitar, a dark and defiant anthem to DIY spirit and six-string glory. Fueled by a caveman riff and retro-psych energy, the track is equal parts glam rock snarl and garage band grit — a love letter to every barstool shredder with something to prove. Written in homage to the final days of Toronto’s storied Dakota Tavern, the song captures the bittersweet end of a beloved venue where the band once played regularly. “They stopped giving bands beer, the doorman disappeared, the sound tech ghosted — we knew it was over,” says guitarist/vocalist Andrew Frontini. “But we plugged in anyway. Because the show must go on.” Recorded live off the floor at Lincoln County Social Club, the band powered through four tracks in one day. Exhausted and unraveling, they built in four silent beats to bridge two takes — only for keyboardist Jon Loewen to forget and play through the pause. That happy accident became the final cut, later crowned by a synth solo tracked in one take on John Dinsmore’s vintage Moog, giving the song its warped, nostalgic edge.”
The Dears | Babe, We’ll Find A Way
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Dears celebrate their recent signing with Next Door Records (The Weather Station, Yves Jarvis, Charlotte Cornfield) by sharing the new single Babe, We’ll Find A Way — their first new release since Lovers Rock (2020). Of the new song, singer-guitarist Murray Lightburn says, “The music came down all at once, strings, guitar — melodies. It was so strong and vivid. It pines for the breakthrough, we know it’s there! It’s so tangible. When that happens, inner strength takes over. There’s a motivation, a reason to get out of bed. You can feel the sun on your face and maybe a little later a smile will take over.”
Patrick Watson & Maro | The Wandering
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter, film composer and pianist Patrick Watson has released The Wandering, a new collaboration with Portuguese artist Maro. A ghostly duet of wordless harmonies, eerie orchestration and a subtle bossa nova groove, the track will be on Watson’s upcoming album Uh Oh, due Sept. 26. Maro imbues The Wandering with a gorgeously cinematic luster, her smoky vocals supporting Watson’s sensitive tenor with grace and strength. The video was directed by Jacob Jonas and filmed in a Los Angeles warehouse with a dozen dancers. Watson noted: “I’d like to introduce you to The Wandering. It’s inspired by the feeling I’ve had since I was 16: Touring and traveling the world playing music, and that unique sense of being a ghost, quietly watching the world go by. I first experienced this feeling as a kid, taking the train to school, and now, as a touring artist, I still feel it: Like a ghost observing everything around me. This song is about that feeling, but also about the ghost becoming a companion on your journey. It’s a love song about the kind of company you keep with yourself, and how it can turn into this mysterious, guiding force that leads you on all kinds of adventures.”
Aiko Tomi | Everything Sparks Joy
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto alt-pop disruptor Aiko Tomi’s new album Everything Sparks Joy is a nine-track odyssey that feels like a sugar rush at the end of the world. Blending hyperpop energy with sharp introspection, Tomi shapeshifts between brat and philosopher, diva and gremlin — delivering playful, chaotic and unexpectedly intelligent songs that hit just as hard on the dance floor as they do in your psyche. Today, Tomi shares her new video, shot in Taipei, for the album’s title track. In a euphoric burst of alt-pop maximalism, it captures the feeling of tumbling headfirst into something electric and fleeting — where intimacy meets adrenaline in the surreal moments that feel too vivid to last — but too good not to chase. The track opens with a childlike voice repeating: ‘One big thing is many little things, all the big things are one little thing.’ It’s a playful mantra that sets the tone for what follows: a sensory rush where meaning is found in fragments: Glimpses, tastes, touches, moods… where chaos and joy exist side by side, in the moments you feel your universe coming together and falling apart at the same time.”
Rosanne Baker Thornley | Her Mother’s Eyes
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto singer-songwriter Rosanne Baker Thornley unveils the video for her beautifully introspective single Her Mother’s Eyes — a cinematic, heartwarming track inspired by the quiet, emotional power of a single wedding morning photo. Framed through a mother’s gaze, the song pays tribute to the intricate, ever-changing relationship between mothers and daughters. Drawn from a deeply personal experience, Her Mother’s Eyes paints a vivid scene: a daughter on her wedding day, the final touches of makeup being applied, a veil waiting in the stylist’s hand — and a mother witnessing the culmination of years in one fleeting moment. It’s a song that acknowledges the little girl who still lives within the woman standing before her, and the life they’ve shared leading up to this day. Thornley’s signature vulnerability and lyrical honesty guide the track, giving voice to emotions rarely explored in contemporary folk and singer-songwriter spaces. With cinematic grace and gentle restraint, the song unfolds like memory itself — tender, truthful, and timeless.”
Peter Landi | Dandelion
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Alt-rock singer-songwriter Peter Landi returns with Dandelion — a shimmering, psychedelic-leaning anthem inspired by summer nostalgia, altered states of consciousness, and the cosmic rhythm of nature. Leaning into classic ’80s tones with big drums and chorus-drenched guitars, the track delivers a swirling blend of dreamy textures and catchy hooks. Dandelion grew out of a spontaneous moment: Landi picked up a book from a little free library in his Toronto neighbourhood, hoping to spark inspiration. One word — summit — set off a chain reaction. “I started thinking about what you’d see from a summit: Mountains, the sky, nature… something bigger than yourself,” he says. “That led me to thinking about actually being high and in an altered state of mind. ‘Dandelion, I miss you all the time’ was the first thing I sang when I started strumming and it all flowed from there.” The production mirrors that psychedelic arc. “The song is about a psychedelic experience, so I wanted the final chorus to be the climax of the trip,” says Landi. “Every section of the song is happening all at once – the verse guitar part, the open drums, melodic leads, and the word Dandelion all swirling around each other to create this big cosmic moment that abruptly ends.”
