Montreal-based YA NO is turning heads with his debut album Mesearch, out now. After over a decade-long hiatus, Edmund Lam has redefined his musical artistry and sound and has come back to the Montreal music scene as genre-defying artist YA NO.

Check out Fiji here on YouTube:

 Formerly a member of electro pop duo Hexes & Ohs, Lam’s musical comeback consists of a melting pot of genres, with indie pop at the core, fused with alternative R&B and rap influences. YA NO pulls influence from artists like Mac Miller, Toro y Moi, and Frank Ocean. Mesearch embraces musical diversity with its tracks making leaps from electro grooves to smooth soulful R&B to syncopated rap rhythms.

Mestre Sérgio Xocolate, known as XOCÔ, is on a mission to bridge the cultural and musical gaps, bringing the vibrant traditions of Afro Indigenous Brazilian rhythms into the contemporary music scene. With his latest album, aptly titled "XOCÔ," he offers a powerful blend of traditional percussion, psychedelic rock, punk, reggae, metal and hard rock.

Born in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, Mestre Sérgio Xocolate initiated the XOCÔ project, an embodiment of explosive fusion music, on the shores of Turtle Island South. The project took root and flourished in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Turtle Island North. XOCÔ is more than just music; it's a cultural exchange, a musical journey, and an homage to Sérgio's Afro Indigenous heritage.

The self-titled album, "XOCÔ," is a celebration of heritages that unites ancestral rhythms with contemporary genres. XOCÔ is the nickname of Mestre Sérgio Xocolate, a master teacher and practitioner of Traditional Capoeira, an Afro Brazilian martial and cultural art. His music is a call to action to respect Indigenous peoples worldwide, cherish Black culture, protect Mother Earth, and uplift one another.

Texas-based, Canadian bred guitarist, singer and songwriter Sue Foley releases Sue Foley Live in Austin Vol 1 CD on October 27 via her Guitar Woman Records, with vinyl LP release to follow on December 8. Recorded on May 19, 2023, at Austin’s legendary Continental Club, this electrifying album captures Sue Foley and her unique Texas blues sound. The album features 11 tracks of grit, sweat and devastating guitar playing that has propelled Sue Foley to the top of the Blues world. It’s a retrospective collection of songs from her recording career, with a few surprise covers thrown in.

The first single off the album, “New Used Car,” was released on September 3, and will be followed by “Howlin for My Darlin’” on October 13, with a third as-of yet determined single coming on album release date.

The forward march of time doesn’t always mean progress, and for that reason Vancouver-based roots band Rusty Creek looks back on the past with nostalgia in their new single “Lookin’ For Blue Skies” – Check it out on YouTube here:

Replete with banjo, fiddle, and a zany marching rhythm, “Lookin’ For Blue Skies” is accompanied by a music video full of people and animals having wholesome fun – swimming in pools and creeks, participating in parades, dancing, frolicking on the beach. While the song shimmies with the sound of sunny positivity, the lyrics contain a bit more of an ache:

In the old days, everybody had a house
And that house became a home
Yeah, in the old days, y’all had a home
And every dog had its bone

Robbi Niles, known for his captivating sound and smooth voice, is set to mesmerize the world once again with his latest single, "Fiji." This release marks another milestone in Nile's impressive career, showcasing his versatility as a musician and his unique blend of musical influences. Check it out on YouTube here:

Born on the tropical paradise island of Barbados, Robbi Niles embarked on his musical journey at a young age, playing the Tenor Steel Pan when he was just three years old. Over the years, he has explored various musical instruments, including the saxophone, piano, drums, and guitar.

Calcutta-born, Toronto-based Tabla maestro Ritesh Das is all set to release his debut solo album, To Begin With, after three decades of heading the acclaimed Toronto Tabla Ensemble, a multi-cultural entity that has been on the map for a while for its cutting-edge contemporary fusion. 

Nameless Friends pull no punches. The rock band from London, Ontario, leaves no altar un-scorched with their latest single “Demons”, a scathing critique of right-wing, religious discrimination toward 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Check it out on YouTube here:

The closest thing the band’s debut album - Blasphemy - has to a title track, “Demons” is relentless in its assessment of queerphobic ‘Christianity’. It’s a six-minute, gospel prog epic satirizing gaslighting and toxic positivity in organized religion, that devolves into a wicked organ solo halfway through (think Deep Purple meets Dream Theatre meets Boston).

Vancouver, BC-based singer-songwriter Myk Gordon is prepping hard for an exciting release as he gears up to drop his brand-new Americana roots-rock single, "Born To Be," out now. It is the first single off his new album with the shared name. With a music career spanning over three decades, Gordon's musical prowess and diverse talents have earned critical acclaim worldwide. Check it out on YouTube here:

My Own Addiction’s new single “Take You Out” packs such a punch it made the band’s own drummer fear for whoever vocalist Alexandra Augustine had based the lyrics on.

Check it out on YouTube here:

“I laughed, the song itself sounds like a revenge song I suppose, but it’s really about taking your own power back,” she says.

And it helps do just that. The mainstream rock band based out of Oshawa in Canada burst onto the scene for their guitar-driven, high energy-sound and “Take You Out” is no different. It opens with a heavy guitar riff, followed by the drums before Alexandra rips into the lyrics with “Hey you!”.

“My mind’s a mess but my heart is wise,” a line from Kyle Haze’s newest single “My Shadows,” captures how most of the world felt during the COVID pandemic lockdown. 

But it was during these slow days and long nights confined within the walls of his Toronto apartment that the emerging guitarist and songwriter was able to channel those emotions into the song available now.

The Canadian musician says the song is about introspection and explores themes of post heartbreak denial, solitude and melancholia. 

“My Shadows is a glimpse into a personal journey, an exploration of emotions during a time of solitude and reflection; feelings that should resonate with anyone who’s experienced the complex facets of love and loss amidst the unique circumstances of a pandemic lockdown,” Haze says. 

Check out YouTube here:

With her soothing and melodic voice, Harriet Chung is at the center of imagination and wonder, with songs that stir the soul. Her latest single, “As Each Day Goes By” is as smooth and beautiful as a full moon surrounded by stars, with an emotional vocal harmony draped like curtains across the sky at night. Check it out on YouTube here:

International singer, actress, and award-winning performer Harriet Chung is ready to take you away, just like she has with audiences all over the world, with her captivating voice and musical sound. “As Each Day Goes By” is about love and all the warmth inside each of the shared moments, and that love can be felt and heard across the harmony, and the sweeping musical notes and the striking voice of Chung make “As Each Day Goes By” an essential track for fans of emotional, romantic, and theatrical music.

In the dynamic world of music, where talents emerge from unexpected corners, Dutchman's story is one of discovery, evolution, and dedication. Formed in 2017, this Delaware-based rock band emerged from a serendipitous chain of events, igniting a creative journey that would lead to their distinct place in modern music.

The band's foundation was laid when Jake Dutcher, driven by his musical aspirations, posted an ad seeking fellow musicians. Responding to his call was Connor Johnson, together they embarked on a trek that would forever shape their destiny. This journey achieved its first milestone in February 2019, with the release of their debut EP, "A Broken Man's Life." This marked the initial spark of Dutchman's presence in the music world, showcasing their ability to craft emotive and authentic rock music.

However, the progress doesn't stop there. Dutchman's lineup expanded in 2020, with the addition of Drummer Fez (Yamir Alica-Rivera), Guitarist Garrett Gravatt, and Keyboardist/Bassist Franco Solorzano. This expansion heralded a new era for the band, as they united their talents and influences to cultivate the distinctive sound that defines them today.

Too many of us know what it’s like to feel like you’re building a relationship with someone, only for that person to burn it all down. Montreal-based folk-pop artist Clare Siobhan offers a clever, heartfelt take on the situation with her new single “I Built a House with an Arsonist” – available now – from her forthcoming EP Seek the Sun. Check it out on YouTube here:

“I wrote the song as a playful exploration of bad habits, and my own rose-coloured-glasses, benefit-of-the-doubt tendencies in my personal life,” Clare explains. “The whole feeling of the song for me is that sometimes you’re so ready to jump into a new adventure that you don’t stop to consider you might burn a few houses down along the way.”

Sometimes you just get that sickly, sinking feeling you’re about to be played, and that’s what Avalon Stone’s new hard-rocking debut single “Forget You” – available now – from her forthcoming Album Chained is all about, produced by JUNO Award-winning producer Kevin Dietz (Glorious Sons, JJ Wilde, Billy Talent). Check it out YouTube:

 Heavy, grungy, and metal-tinged, “Forget You” takes us on a journey from that initial niggling feeling all the way to aftermath of the breakup, where Stone experiences both regret and steely resolve:

Feel it burn
Want you to return
Now I’ll have to learn
To try to forget you

Victoria-based guitarist and singer-songwriter Tyler James Johnson’s new single “Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire” is out now. Recorded alongside friend and collaborator Jennifer Croden, the searing duet continues the rollout of Johnson’s new EP Songs For Everyone, which dropped on August 31st.

“I was driving in my car one day and … Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around came on the radio,” Johnson recalls, “For some reason I was inspired and thought I really want to write a similar style duet song to this. Turns out not long after a close friend of mine was having relationship challenges, and it inspired the story behind this.”

Check it out on YouTube here:

How many songs do you know about a frog on a rock? Not even Kermit sang about the simplicity of hanging out on your pad, but the latest single from Ontario-based jamband Road Waves strays no further.

“Frog Rock” is as advertised, outlining the story of a frog who can’t wait to go to his favorite rock and enjoy everything it and its surroundings have to offer. In typical Road Waves fashion, the bouncy tune lasts for nearly 10 minutes, with loads of captivating melodies and harmonies interwoven into the consistently positive and upbeat sound.

Check it out on YouTube here:

 When he wrote the song, Road Waves vocalist and guitarist Ji Sharp said its playfulness was a way for him to cope.

Brooklyn-based artist Renée Catrine has released her latest album From The Garden. The record comes as Catrine’s second LP and follows the musician’s true alternative style all while bringing lyrical talent and head-bobbing melodies to her listeners.

Watch and listen on YouTube here:

The 11-track album bounces between gritty up-beat rock tracks and soft emotive ballads. From The Garden kicks the door down right from the start with drum-heavy tracks and impressive guitar riffs that take the spotlight from time to time. In this latest release, Catrine experiments with opposing styles and tempos. As the album goes on, it becomes more orchestrated with moodier ballads coming through, one of which is completely sung in French.

With the overwhelming popularity of the Barbie movie right now, every woman is reflecting on her own experiences growing up with the doll – both positive and negative – and “I’m Perfect,” the new single by Toronto singer-songwriters Jules and F.Y.D.I, was born of these reflections. Check it out on YouTube here:

Canadian synthpop project, Church of Trees, drop their newest single, a sizzling version of The Ramones’ PET SEMATARY, just in time for Halloween released today October 13, 2023.

Church of Trees, (whose last album COURAGE recently jumped onto the Earshot National Electronic Chart at Number 4), pay homage to the seminal punks with an explosive power ballad version of their ’89 hit, featuring incendiary vocals by singer Heather Brazeau.

Produced by band leader Bernard Frazer and Blinker the Star’s Jordon Zadorozny, the cover formed quickly after Brazeau played Frazer a simple piano demo.

Frazer, who arranged the song, says “It was just piano and voice but, in my head, I could hear this massive Jim Steinman-style production”.

The track features Brazeau on lead vocals and piano, Frazer on synths, piano, bass programming, and background vocals, and Blinker the Star’s, Zadorozny on guitar and drums. Zadorozny also mixed and mastered it at his Skylark Park studio in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.

Buwa returns 4 years later after his last triumph with his debut EP OLU, which offered pop-soul styles and a blend of compelling melodies. The British Columbia-based Nigerian singer has now unleashed his new single “It Don’t Matter”, to introduce his latest EP Just Call Me Buwa. Check it out on YouTube here:

 “It Don’t Matter” tells a story of Buwa learning to accept life as it is in the present. And instead of focusing on what the future holds for him, he should live in the moment and bask in the goodness of the present.

“I learned the hard lesson of accepting where I was in life and living in the present instead of some future I had dreamed of for myself,” said Buwa. “As soon as I started coming to terms with it, I began to hear melodies in my head,” he further explains, “and It Don’t Matter was born.”