From the misty hills of Cape Breton Island comes a song as timeless and yearning as the land itself. Lookout Tower — the genre-defying Americana, soul, blues, folk-rock, and alt-country band — have officially released their new single, "Valley Song," out now.

Written during the heart of a Cape Breton winter, "Valley Song" captures the delicate tension between clinging to lost love and embracing the freedom of letting go. It’s an evocative journey through emotional valleys, where lush string arrangements by Blue Lobelia and heartfelt harmonies reminiscent of The Band blend seamlessly into Lookout Tower’s signature Winter Swamp Sound.

For decades, the music industry thrived on contracts that kept artists from owning their own work, but those days are over. 98°, the multi-platinum, chart-dominating vocal group that soundtracked an era, is reclaiming their catalog and their career with their new album, Full Circle, out May 9, 2025, through XOXO Entertainment Corp. A bold blend of past and present, the record features five brand-new tracks alongside re-recordings of their biggest hits, giving the group full ownership of the songs that helped define late ‘90s and early 2000s pop.

“My musical passion is turning pain into beauty. I use music to call people in and speak truth by making the unpalatable palatable by nestling it in music… this can spark a fire of awareness and bring about social change.” – D.M. Lafortune

Birdsong Foundation announces the release of a powerful new song from Indigenous artist D.M. Lafortune titled “How Many Times”. She is an unshakable voice, particularly for those people who live with trauma.

When you Google her name, you will find her harrowing, yet transformational life story written by Maureen Littlejohn which we have included here. Platinum Award-winning Producer Greg Kavanagh produced the song, now available on all streaming platforms worldwide through Distrokid.

Free And Ticketed Activities Planned Throughout The Week May 20 - 25 2025

The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) is thrilled to announce the first ever Capital Music Week (CxMW), a new and innovative week-long celebration of music that places Ottawa’s music industry on the national stage. CxMW will run from May 20-25, 2025, in multiple venues across the city and will feature public concerts, professional development summits, and networking opportunities that rival other music weeks across Canada, with a creative and strategic focus on re-invigorating the local and national nightlife economies. Marking a significant milestone for Ottawa’s music sector, the launch of CxMW will showcase local talent and foster city-wide partnerships while animating numerous locations within the community. 

Just in time for Mother’s Day, acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Neena Rose unveils "I Love You Mama (Even More)", a stunning re-imagination of her beloved song, "I Love You Mama."

Originally released a few years ago, "I Love You Mama" was a heartfelt tribute to Neena’s mother — her best friend, unwavering supporter, and constant source of inspiration. Today, Neena deepens that tribute with "I Love You Mama (Even More)," capturing how love and gratitude for a mother only grow richer with time.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/5nc6oJLlzdz52Cki7FIFPA

Infused with emotional violins, tender pianos, and richer and lush cinematic soundscape, the new version adds layers of warmth, nostalgia, and timelessness to an already powerful anthem. Neena's soaring vocals glide over the orchestration with even greater tenderness, inviting listeners everywhere to reflect on the irreplaceable bond they share with their own mothers.

In a time of geopolitical uncertainty and rising tension across North America, a newly-formed Canadian music collective has stepped forward with a clear, emotional declaration: “This Is Not America.” Out now, it aims at the days after the U.S. president’s shocking call for Canadian statehood and an aggressive escalation of tariffs, the track arrives not as a rebuke, but as a deeply patriotic reflection—a reminder of who Canadians are and what makes their country distinct.

“After generations of close friendship and cooperation with our closest neighbours to the south,” the band explains, “Canadians awoke a few weeks ago to a starkly different reality.”

New tracks “Kaukuarjuk” and “The Great Angakkuq (feat. Kevin Qamaniq-Mason)” out now

\What does it sound like when the ancestors sing back? Acclaimed Inuit throat-singing duo Silla returns with two powerful singles — “Kaukuarjuk” and “The Great Angakkuq (feat. Kevin Qamaniq-Mason)” — that reach across generations and genres to embody Indigenous resurgence, kinship, and sonic evolution.

Comprised of Charlotte Qamaniq (Iglulik) and Cynthia Pitsiulak (Kimmirut), Silla has been captivating audiences with their genre-defying fusion of katajjaq (Inuit throat singing), hard rock, electronic, IDM, and post-industrial textures since 2005. Currently based in Ottawa, the duo has received two JUNO nominations and two Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards for their work with Silla and Rise. With these new singles, they assert themselves not only as keepers of tradition — but as creators of future worlds.

In a world gasping for clarity, STEINRUCK and ANET offer up something radical: a song that doesn’t try to fix things — but dares to feel them. Their new single, “Atmosphere,” now, is a brooding, cinematic meditation on what it means to be alive in a time that feels both heavy and wondrous. It's a soul-deep collaboration between two of Canada’s most fascinating artists — rock lifer Tim Steinruck and multi-platinum songwriter and opera performer Annette Ducharme, known professionally as ANET.

Portugal Cove, NL, Newfoundland-based singer-songwriter Rachel Cousins releases her luminous new single “Nora,” a heartfelt ode to the kind of friendship that sees you through your darkest self-doubt and brings you back to the light. Co-written with Halifax-based artist Leanne Hoffman over Zoom, “Nora” is a deeply personal, poetic offering rooted in gratitude and the kind of connection that transcends platitudes.

Music is the wind that lifts the wave, the rhythm of the road, the pulse of a restless heart. With his latest single, "Calm Cool Connection," Ryne D. Trevlon, the mastermind behind Legacy of Lovers, delivers a track that doesn’t just play—it breathes, soars, and crashes like the tides. A sun-drenched anthem for seekers and dreamers, this song is the heart of his new EP Calm Cool Connections, a record that’s already making waves on international charts.

With her heartfelt voice, tender lyrics, and a crystal-clear musical presence that echoes the spirit of Carole King and Sarah McLachlan, Alexandria, ON singer-songwriter Katie Ditschun returns with “In Your Arms,” the lead single from her EP There Will Be Flowers — both out now.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Ditschun is known for blending elements of pop, folk, jazz, and adult contemporary with remarkable sensitivity and soul. Her new single “In Your Arms,” available now on all platforms, marks the beginning of a new musical chapter — one rooted in resilience, vulnerability, and the enduring comfort of memory.

 Fiona Ross has never been one to follow convention, and her upcoming album, Moments in My Notebook, arriving May 30, 2025, is a testament to her boundless creativity and storytelling prowess. Ahead of the release, the singles “Let Your Soul Shine” and “I Don’t Want Money” are out now.

Moments in My Notebook is a chronicle of love, loss, discovery, and relentless creativity, marking her 100th original song release. Across 21 tracks of jazz-fueled storytelling, the award-winning vocalist, pianist, composer and producer delivers an expansive, deeply personal collection that spans the intimate hush of a late-night ballad to the rhythmic pulse of Latin jazz, with moments of raw, stripped-down vulnerability woven throughout.

With a piano and a heavy heart, emerging singer-songwriter Sarah Pearson introduces herself to the world with “Tainted Heart,” the debut single from her upcoming album FAUXstalgia, due out in late 2025. Out now on all platforms, the track offers a raw, emotionally intimate entry into Pearson’s sonic world — a place where ’80s influence meets diary-style honesty.

Woodland Cree hip-hop artist Nige B doesn’t just tell stories — he builds bridges with them. On his latest single “Morning Drive” featuring Dubbygotbars, Nige delivers a slow-burn banger steeped in memory, survival, and spiritual grind. The track — now sitting at #7 on the Indigenous Music Countdown — sets the tone for his April 18 release Reshape // Refashion, a record that doesn’t just bang; it breathes.

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and Montreal-based Jake Clemons has released his new single “Stop the Wars,” a poignant, heartfelt track that offers the positive counter of a shared new golden age where we can all agree to move forward together. The song was recorded live by The Jake Clemons Band at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, and mixed by Grammy Award winner Robert Orton (Lady Gaga, Mumford and Sons).

Celebrating a decade of powerful storytelling and musical connection, Four Chords and The Truth returns to TD Music Hall at the Allied Music Centre in Toronto on May 22 at 7:00pm ET for its 10th anniversary edition. The acclaimed semi-annual songwriter series brings world-class songwriters to the stage for intimate semi-round performances, and the stories behind the songs.

Marie Minet returns with a captivating new single, " Je Serais Tout Ce Que Tu Veux - High Life Edition Acoustic", from her revisited album Clair Obscur - High Life Edition Acoustic. A passionate fusion of Chanson Française and Highlife, this track showcases Marie’ s unique blend of African rhythms, evocative lyrics, and delicate melodies. Recorded live after an inspiring journey through West Africa, and featuring world- class musicians, Je Serais Tout Ce Que Tu Veux is a testament to her musical evolution and cultural exploration.

BATHURST, NEW BRUNSWICK Artist JP LeBlanc’s new album “All In My Blood” on the Acadian Connection label was produced by Grammy-winning Colin Linden, will be released nationally this summer.

The nine-song album, recorded in two sessions at a fairly fast clip in 2024 with A-list players at Linden’s 1,000 square-foot, standalone home studio Recorders Studios in Nashville, is the result of two years of intense woodshedding, and long-distance songwriting with Toronto-based music industry journalist Larry LeBlanc.

For the first session in April, backup was provided by multi-instrumentalist George Recile, one of New Orleans’ premier drummers, and Canadian bassist John Dymond. Colin himself played on all the tracks.

While the original musicians weren’t available for the second Nashville session the following December, Linden matched the quality of the earlier session by bringing in some equally heavy hitters, drummer Bryan Owings and bass player/educator/producer David Santos. Again Linden played guitar on all tracks.

Toronto folk-rocker Joe Cool is back, calloused hands and all, with the lead single from his third EP Blood, Sweat & Beers. The track, “Company Man,” is a blue-collar anthem for anyone who’s ever punched a clock, buried their dreams for a steady paycheque, and tried to keep their head above water in a world that doesn’t always make room for poets and pick-up trucks. Written by Joe Cool (aka Joseph D Coulas) and produced by longtime collaborator Jack Wiktor, “Company Man” is out now - offering the first sip of a record that goes down like a cold beer after a long shift.

Built on ringing acoustic chords and the kind of worn-in vocals that only come from life experience, “Company Man” captures the quiet resignation of working-class life, laced with just enough hope to keep going. Think Jason Isbell if he clocked in at a factory. Think Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska if it were written with a Canadian postal code. It’s a song that doesn’t flinch—it tells the truth, straight-up, no chaser.

Alternative singer-songwriter Jax Turcotte has released his debut single, “Sincerely, Once Beloved,” an intimate yet expansive ballad written as a farewell to guilt, grief, and everything that no longer serves him. Blending vulnerable lyricism with stripped-down instrumentation and a voice that sounds like both a whisper and a declaration, Turcotte is carving out a lane all his own—equal parts Phoebe Bridgers, Radiohead, and the emotional resonance of early 2000s indie rock.