We live in divided times. But there are some things I believe we can all get behind: Short work weeks. Long weekends. Adult beverages. And swell new singles and videos from talented Canadians. You’re on your own for the first three. But I’ve got the fourth one covered. See you on the flipside, baby:
Hillary Reynolds | Gaslight
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “On her new single Gaslight, singer-songwriter Hillary Reynolds leans into surreal tension and floating vulnerability, capturing the hollow ache of being gaslit with intimate clarity and ethereal vocal layering. Stripped of drums and anchored by a percussive acoustic guitar, the track hovers in an emotionally charged space between fragility and strength — a sonic embodiment of that feeling when your world feels shaken but your truth still flickers in the dark. Written in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, Gaslight came from a deep place of fear and emotional overwhelm. “Some songs feel consciously crafted,” Reynolds shares, “but this one was different. It came from letting my subconscious unwind — letting my intuition drive the bus.” What emerged was a powerful reflection on love, illusion, and persistence — as tender as it is gutting. As a vocalist with choral roots, Reynolds lets her harmonies guide the track’s emotional current. “The way the vocal lines weave in and out feels like a nod to my Eric Whitacre phase,” she says. “It’s the closest I’ve come to revisiting that part of myself and it felt like home.” Originally tracked with drums, Reynolds ultimately removed them to preserve the impact of her guitar and voice. “The second I heard it without percussion, it just clicked. My gut knew.”
The Bapti$$ | My Father’s Sins
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Following the soul-stirring release of Crazyglue and Skeletons, The Bapti$$, the boundary-pushing musical rebirth of multi-instrumentalist Joseph LaPlante, returns with My Father’s Sins, a raw, introspective new single from his just-announced debut album, Pop Cult(ure), out Sept. 26. Anchored in aching guitar and a deep 808 heartbeat, My Father’s Sins is a confessional offering that digs deep into the scars of lineage, masculine silence, and the fight for spiritual freedom. “I wholeheartedly believe in generational curses and contracts made with the spirit world,” LaPlante reveals. “I took it on myself to break my family tree free of those shackles that have caused so much pain in my bloodline.”
Raphaelea | Muse
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Lebanese-Canadian artist Raphaela unveils a new side of herself with Muse, a light, romantic indie-pop single that captures the giddy glow of a love so deep, it becomes your inspiration. It’s a sonic exhale — warm, cinematic, and effervescent — marking a bright step forward from the moody introspection of her earlier work. This is a song about ease after ache, about finally finding the kind of love that doesn’t ask you to shrink, change, or chase. Written on a sunny summer afternoon, Muse is all soft light and open-hearted ease. It’s a celebration of the kind of love that feels natural and grounded — the kind that makes you feel seen, steady, and full of joy. Produced with a new pop-forward polish, Muse balances Raphaela‘s signature emotional honesty with a more playful tone: sunlight on your shoulders, dancing in the kitchen, a song you want to get lost in.”
Jont | Dark Days Are Over
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Nova Scotia-via-London singer-songwriter Jont returns with Dark Days Are Over, a defiant, emotionally raw anthem that channels the spirit of renewal after despair, and the untamed joy that emerges when we simply begin again. The song arrived, as many of Jont‘s do, not just from a place of inspiration but of lived experience. “Things linger…. In the soul, in the fabric of the soul,” he shares. “Wounds picked up in ancient battles might never heal in this life and who knows, from what science tells us we hand down both our physical and emotional trauma to our descendants. The funnel leads to us and we take it on as ours and it can feel too much to bear. Until you get it. Until one day it comes to you. Like a life-affirming riff you’ve never played before that’s been staring you in the face every time you’ve played an E chord… In this time of grand cynicism and wariness, fear and betrayal of ourselves, is it possible that something so pure and true can wing its way through in the shape of a life-affirming riff, in the form of some simple poetry that carries just enough meaning to make you smile and dance?”
Norine Braun | Bolts From The Blue
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Vancouver singer-songwriter Norine Braun releases her poignant and powerful new single Bolts From The Blue, recorded at the legendary Warehouse Studio as part of Steve Dawson’s Henhouse Popup Sessions. A soulful meditation on aging, resilience, and self-reflection, the track delivers Braun’s signature lyrical wit and heartfelt authenticity. Bolts From The Blue is Braun’s second offering from the Henhouse Popup Sessions — a unique project where songwriters are given just one hour to record a song with a stellar house band, capturing the magic of the moment. Produced by Braun and the Henhouse Popup team, the track was captured by Juno-winning engineer Sheldon Zaharko, with final mastering by Adam Popowitz. Backed by a seasoned band of greats — Dawson (guitars/pedal steel), Darryl Havers (keyboards), Geoff Hicks (drums), Jeremy Holmes (bass) and Alice Fraser (harmony vocals) — Braun’s expressive vocals guide us through a wry and wise exploration of growing older.”
The Real Shade | Can We Wake
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With this song, the band and I offer up a joyous anthem for uncertain times,” says The Real Shade‘s Jane Gowan. “It’s a call to action, a plea for change, and a tribute to the power of humanity. Written and recorded in beautiful Prince Edward County, ON, this is the first time that I’ve worked with engineer/musician/songwriter Annelise Noronha in the producer’s seat. It’s also a first-time studio collaboration (in the context of The Real Shade) with my good friend Stephen Stanley (Lowest Of The Low). In addition, singer-songwriter Mel Hilmi and award-winning producer and drummer James Bunton (Donovan Woods, Celeigh Cardinal) added their talents and good vibes.”
