Following on from 2022’s impactful Darkside of Christmas Chapter 1, Collette Cooper, known for her individual, unmistakable voice returns this festive season with Darkside of Christmas Chapter 2 (Thelonious Punk Records.)

Check it out on YouTube here:

Reflecting the current political and social environment caused by the impact of national and global events, Darkside Of Christmas Chapters 1 & 2 takes a more poignant approach to the seasonal album, aiming to recognise the recent difficulties that have been felt by many around the world, touching on themes of love, loss and empathy, tied together with wry wit, edgy humour and outstanding musicianship.

In a groundbreaking move at the intersection of music and technology, Run The River has harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to create their latest music video “Punch The Dark.” Check it out on YouTube here:

Experience the innovative Fusion of Psychedelic Rock, Blues, and Funk with Traditional Percussion and MPB Música Popular Brasileira of “Capoeira Blues,” the second single from the self-titled album by the internationally acclaimed artist Mestre Sérgio Xocolate, also known as XOCÔ, out now on Lulaworld Records, This musical odyssey transcends boundaries, weaving together the rich heritage of the Brazilian people.

From Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, XOCÔ embarks on a mission with the XOCÔ project to bridge cultural and musical gaps. Initiated in South America and on the shores of Turtle Island South and flourishing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, “XOCÔ” is not just an album but a cultural exchange, a musical journey, and an homage to XOCÔ’s Afro Indigenous heritage.

As a master teacher of Traditional Capoeira, XOCÔ invites listeners on a transformative experience, urging respect for Indigenous cultures, honouring Black heritage, preserving Mother Earth, and fostering unity. “Capoeira Blues” promises an auditory adventure that merges Afro Indigenous Brazilian rhythms with soulful and electric arrangements.

Singer-songwriter Victoria Houser showcases her superb storytelling once more in her new single “By the Ocean” from her new EP Somewhere Close To Home. Check it out on YouTube here:

The song is an ode to her East Canadian roots and explores the magic of her upbringing in the coastal town of Hubbards, Nova Scotia. Each verse pays homage to a member of her family and the crucial role they played in her early life.

“My family and the vibrant tales of our home served as the heartbeat behind ‘By the Ocean.’ Each verse encapsulates the essence of one of them; my mom, my dad, my two sisters, and my brother, all of whom played roles in shaping who I am.”

Cross-genre sensation Valentina Cherico unites everyone through the power of dance and music. Her latest single of the year, “Dance Until The Sunrise” is a formidable anthem that resonates with the masses on a widespread level. Unlocked now, Valentina continues to bloom within the pop/R&B genre. Check it out on YouTube here:

This track was written and produced from the comfort of her home- with help from her father, Mickey Cherico. “Dance Until The Sunrise” embodies an integration of Disco with a modern Pop Funky feel. It is evident in the additional lead and backup vocals from the family band, Casanova, and solid production by The Vault Recording Studio in Pittsburgh.

Rising Canadian pop-rock duo Synthetik Blonde return with fresh new track “Dreams of You,” an 80s-esque power anthem characterized by strong synths, slick electric guitar riffs, and heartfelt lyricism. The track is the first single from the pair’s recently released acclaimed sophomore LP PIECES, a concept album that takes a deep look at the complexities of the human condition while simultaneously rejecting conventional societal norms. Check it out on YouTube here:

Did you ever have a dream that stuck with you so doggedly and irresistibly that you began to question your hold on reality itself? That’s the kind of experience Dracula Jackson – a.k.a. Annapolis singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sean Jackson – has conjured up with “Dreams,” the haunting new single from his most recent album, Shadows of a Ghost. Check it out on YouTube:

Born and bred from Whitehorse, Yukon and now based in Vancouver Island, 4-time 2024 Maple Blues Award nominee Brandon Isaak offers another delightful melancholic single 'What's This World Coming To?' from his new album One Step Closer.

Check out What’s This World Coming on YouTube here:

Isaak's ability to deliver a slow-burning blues epic that's simple yet powerful with its slow drawl and composure, tugging on the heartstrings of his audience, is one of his unique talents. His musical style comprises old-world blues, with vintage notes and tones offering poetic and humourous lyrics dancing around an eclectic mix of root-style vocals, springy guitars and dirty harmonica.

Burgeoning Montreal-born, Toronto-based queer pop artist Jennarie is ready to explode onto the scene with her debut single, “My Body Treats Me Better,” out November 24th. The track is a funky, upbeat, body-positive anthem defined by soulful, soaring vocals reminiscent of Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga. Check it out on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTZWMBSaiB4

Toronto indie-rockers Vicky von Vicky are back with “Goodbye My Love,” their third release of 2023. The track’s rock-heavy chord progressions and upbeat tempo are the perfect foil to tender, heartsick lyrics that serve as an ode to a lover already on their way out the door. Perfect for fans of Pixies, The Velvet Underground, or R.E.M., the band’s sound is a nostalgic blend of classic rock and late 20th century pop — with a unique, irresistible modern twist. Check it out on YouTube here:

Musician Robbie Tucker genuinely loves making music and doesn’t let Parkinson’s disease get in the way. After all, he’s been at it since he was eight years old and he got his first acoustic guitar for his birthday. Celebrating his fourth album release in less than a year, Tucker is eager to get as much music out as possible.

“I’m extremely proud of it,” he says. “I hope your ears discover happiness, anger, sadness, humour or some other human emotion that ultimately connects us all.”

The album, “WTF Is Happiness?” includes new time signatures Tucker hasn’t used before. The experiment proves to be a success­—“Die Diana Please” (in 6/8 time) and “Relax Now (It’ll Be Okay)” (in 5/4 time) are both catchy earworms.

Check out Robbie Tucker - Boy With The Blue Eyes at YouTube here:

Mercury Messiah, the dynamic rock duo from Montreal, Quebec is returning to entertain audiences once again with “Stay,” their newly released single that will be featured on their upcoming EP “Blast Off” – check it out on YouTube here: youtube.com/channel/UC4EnaycDZ_xbJrhI1D2JLlQ

Mercury Messiah is comprised of co-founder, lead guitarist and singer Emmanuel (Mano) Diles and classically and jazz-trained musician Alex Brunel. Stay takes a satirical look at a dark time in Mano’s life as it explores a man’s last dance with a woman, essentially a metaphor for the dance we know as life.

With this new single, the band adopted a more subdued tone, breaking away from their trademark hard rock vibe and demonstrating their ability to explore new sounds while keeping their style of progressive, metal, and hard rock. “Don’t get it twisted though, despite dialling things down to 10 from 11, Mercury Messiah is still a hard rock band at its core” Diles exclaims.

Jamie Ruben, the Toronto-based independent experimental artist with an impressive background in scoring for HBO, Showtime, and various independent projects, is poised to grip music enthusiasts with his groundbreaking debut album, “Instrumental Obscenity.” This release promises to be a unique sonic revelation that challenges the boundaries of instrumental music, even with getting a Parental Advisory sticker….on an album of instrumentals.

“Instrumental Obscenity” is far from your typical instrumental album; it’s a transformative auditory experience in both the exploration of sound and form. It will take you on an unprecedented journey. Known for his emotive soundscapes featured on platforms like HBO, Showtime, and independent projects. Jamie Ruben has pushed the envelope of traditional instrumentals, crafting what one reviewer aptly described as “easily the sassiest instrumentals ever.”

Film Beat Jamie Ruben:

iLLAH, also known as Mirazh, is ready to introduce the world to his hard-hitting lyrics and delivery with his new single, "Desire." After years of honing his skill, iLLAH's multifaceted talent and reflective lyrics are on full display. Check it out on YouTube here:

Growing up in the NDG neighborhood in Montreal to a Jamaican family, iLLAH draws inspiration from a range of musical genres, from jazz to reggae. His journey into emceeing began when his older brother imparted the art of structuring raps. As a burgeoning young writer, iLLAH seamlessly transitioned from crafting short stories to composing impactful lyrics.

A chill and introspective journey through heartbreak, the new single from Chin Injeti “Make You Understand” began as merely a chorus on TikTok and then blossomed into a beautiful collaboration. Check it out on YouTube here:

“I was in a precarious place at the time,” the Toronto-based songwriter/producer recalls. “A relationship that was hanging by a thread was coming to an end. So, I wrote the chorus and posted it on TikTok, and then my friends from daysormay sampled the chorus and wrote the rest of the song.”

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/123yHiSrHK26KrdoKa1lBf

Don't get her wrong-- Francine Honey is just as sweet as her name implies. But on her latest record Rockets In My Boots, Volume 1, she's frisky, risky, and ready to shoot whiskey?

"Better Think Again" Live Off the Floor Studio Recording - Francine Honey

Kitchener, Ontario’s seven-piece blues ensemble Fog Blues and Brass Band – featuring Dan Jancar, nominated for the 2024 Maple Blues Award for Best Horn Player - announce latest single “Who’s Gonna Suffer” from their album 12 Bar Prescription.

Check it out on YouTube here:

Following up the success of their earlier singles from the album 12 Bar Prescription, Fog Blues and Brass Band has released their latest bop “Who’s Gonna Suffer” that blends blues roots music with backing brass instruments to making a rocking fourth single. Fog Blues and Brass Band bring the groove that encapsulates their dynamic and thrilling live show that gets audiences toe tapping and twisting to their over-the-top full sound blues rock.

The homelessness crisis in Toronto has reached a critical point, with over 8,000 people experiencing homelessness every night. These individuals often find shelter in the city, while many more grapple with "hidden homelessness," relying on the generosity of relatives, friends, or strangers with little sense of stability.

The problem is exacerbated by Toronto's severe lack of affordable housing. The wait for supportive housing is several years long, forcing families to spend over 50% of their income on housing, leaving less for necessities like food and medication.

In response, Toronto-based Richard Todd, best known as the singer/songwriter/guitarist for the band Redpath Traffic, has teamed up with WoodGreen Community Services, one of Toronto's largest social services organizations, to address this urgent problem with creating “The Forgotten Homelessness” charity single with a cast of all-stars.
Check it out on YouTube here:

Toronto-based rockers Cigar Club have released two new contrasting yet complimentary singles, “Dark Market” and “Ocean Potion” both pulsing with the same buzzy, fuzzy guitar tone to make them two sides of the same coin, or sonic fraternal twins.

“Dark Market” is full of dark strut and swagger, infused with a dirty, gritty ’70s vibe meets the Arctic Monkeys. The song pounds with suspense and a gray, hazy feeling of malaise you just can’t quite put your finger on. All you know is that the morning’s dark and the coffee’s bitter and lukewarm:
Now you roll around the east of town
Where the creases in the streets pound through the seats into your soul
Falling and you can’t climb back now
Summer had danced with a frown
And an extended hand your fingers had found but it was cold

“This song came together almost in a blur,” recalls drummer Tyler Booth. “I remember hearing the chorus riff for the first time from guitarist Trevor Coughlin. That fat, fuzzy, in your face tone he had coming out of his Fender Bassman. Holy– I knew there was potential.”

“Dark Market” on YouTube here:

Some people say think if you do what you love for a living, your job is easy to do. However, this isn't as cut and dry as it seems. No one understands this more than Calgary, AB-rockers Redhead Mack Band in their new single "Pick It Up," the first single from their new album You Know That You Want To. Check it out on YouTube here:

The song opens with steady riffs from lead guitarist Lee Carlson and backup vocalist and bassist Jared Wiebe. Then songwriter and vocalist Kevin Phillips comes in with the first two verses, which discuss picking up something new and then learning to enjoy it. However, the chorus that follows shows how a personal passion can dominate your life once you start trying to make a living from it.