ZOCHI, Canada’s self-proclaimed Queen of Afropop—and a real-life Nigerian princess—releases her fearless and tender new single “Beside Me” today. Blending R&B soulfulness with Hip-Hop grit and Afrobeat rhythm, “Beside Me” is an anthem for belonging, vulnerability, and queer faith. The song follows her internationally celebrated single “Alone (Whole Again)” and continues her journey as one of Canada’s most exciting rising artists.

“I wanted to write a song that can still be universal even if faith-based,” ZOCHI shares. “We all want to be loved and accepted. It shouldn’t matter if the declaration of love is coming from the queer community. I just want people to feel and be compelled to love when they listen to this song.”

The jazz world welcomes a new landmark with the release of San Francisco 1948, the latest album by the Steve Rosenbloom Big Band. This expansive, meticulously crafted project reaffirms Rosenbloom’s status as a composer and arranger – with assistance from Chris Smith and Michael Johncsik) who channels the vibrant spirit of the big band tradition while infusing it with contemporary freshness and thoughtful nuance.

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 A native of Montreal and a committed voice in Canadian jazz, Steve Rosenbloom has long been recognized for his compositional depth and dedication to the big band idiom. With San Francisco 1948, he assembles a stellar 16-piece ensemble to deliver a record that is as much a celebration of history as it is a bold statement of artistic vitality.

Canadian singer-songwriter Samantha Hooey has emerged from a twelve-year recording hiatus with a luminous, introspective new EP titled Silver, led by the radiant single “Red Skies.” A study in restraint, reverence, and resilience, Silver is a collection of five soul-stirring songs that feel both timeless and startlingly present. With textures as gentle as moonlight and lyrics carved from deep personal renewal, the EP is Hooey’s most intimate and focused work to date.

Straight outta Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, family band Not Those Carpenters are flipping the script on fame, filters, and fitting in with their raucous, rebellious new single “Too Broke To Be Pretty!” — now streaming everywhere.

Somewhere between a campfire singalong and a punk show in a barn, Not Those Carpenters have carved out their own glorious, genre-defying lane. Hailing from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, this full-throttle family band channels the heart of The Partridge Family with the bite of Slayer, rolling folk, funk, metal, gospel, and punk into one joyfully chaotic package. Their new single, “Too Broke To Be Pretty!”, is out now and ready to be screamed in your car at full volume.

Nathan Ali doesn’t flinch from the struggle—he turns it into fuel. His new single “Forward” closes out his deeply personal EP Parallel (Slammin’ Media/Believe) with an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt like giving up but chose to rise instead. Driven by haunting melodies and raw lyrics, it’s a rally cry disguised as a slow jam.

“Sometimes in life / You feel like you’re breaking / Feel you can’t make it / Gotta move forward,” Ali sings, steady and clear. And he means it. “I done been there at the bottom / I’ve felt like there’s nothing / But when I stood up and I got it / I got everything I wanted.” These lines hit harder when you know where Nathan’s been.

Indie rock outfit Club Cadetta are charting their own path with the release of their debut, self-titled EP Club Cadetta, and its magnetic lead single “Talking to Myself,” both out now on all streaming platforms.

The Brampton/Mississauga-based four-piece—Timour Adjiev (guitar, vocals), Ethan MacKinnon (keys, vocals), Declan Lune (bass, keyboards), and Callum Gibson (drums, backing vocals)—craft their sound with reverence for the past and an eye on the future. Pulling influence from The Beatles, Dylan, Thundercat, Wilco, and beyond, the band has steadily built a vibe that’s nostalgic, fresh, and relentlessly earnest.

Mississauga-based troubadour Chase Stevens is back with “Songs In An Old Diner,” a feel-good country single soaked in nostalgia, memory, and the magic of a melody. Recorded in both Nashville and Toronto, the track is a spirited follow-up to 2024’s “As Good As It Gets,” and previews the sound and soul of Stevens’ forthcoming third album.

Chase calls his style “Troubadour Country”—a blend of New Country and classic singer-songwriter storytelling. Inspired early on by the timeless work of Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, and Cat Stevens, Chase found his path in country after discovering Keith Urban and immersing himself in Nashville’s songwriter scene. “It was a trip to Nashville that cemented my direction,” he says. “I realized I wanted to tell stories that felt real, that people could see in their own lives.”

Edmonton-based pop-folk artist Caylie G (they/she) has released their new single “Brenda Heather Kelly,” a biting, glitter-drenched anthem for anyone who’s ever ghosted a party via fake phone call. Out now, the track sets the stage for Caylie’s upcoming third EP, slated for release in September 2025. Equal parts sad-cowboy pop and queer satire, “Brenda Heather Kelly” turns a mirror on influencer culture, performative joy, and the absurdity of trying to be “the hottest person in the room.”

North Carolina native Alex Blum delivers a heady, genre-bending statement with his latest single, “Believe Everything You Hear About Me”—an introspective, blues-soaked odyssey that sits somewhere between confessional and cosmic, wrapped in gritty guitars and minimalist electronic production.

Now streaming everywhere, the track is a standout from Blum’s 2025 album Good Weather, a self-produced tour through blues-rock terrain with detours into hip-hop, ambient, and progressive sonic realms. Built from the ground up with Blum on guitar, vocals, harmonica, drums, keys, and production, “Believe Everything You Hear About Me” is equal parts confrontation and transcendence.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/2PqbVv3We6HgyY4Cq3LaPo

“It’s a song about things people say about each other,” Blum writes. “On one level, you know it’s in your power not to let other people’s lies affect you. But at the same time, your life is very much affected by them no matter what you do.”

Mark Gane—co-founder of iconic Canadian band Martha and the Muffins and the mind behind international hit “Echo Beach”—has released his first solo album, Garden Music, a collection of experimental instrumental compositions inspired by plant names and imagined inner worlds. Released May 1, 2025, Garden Music is a sprawling, deeply intuitive project that took shape over decades and now arrives as an ambient, artful meditation on memory, nature, and sound.

The Toronto-based composer, visual artist, and sonic experimenter first began dreaming of Garden Music years ago, spurred by a suggestion from his partner and creative collaborator Martha Johnson. “She said I should do a solo project that combined my three great loves—music, painting, and gardening,” Gane explains. “Eventually, I started asking: If plants were people, what would their lives sound like?” That seed grew into a rich, textured album composed from over 50 years of collected studio, field, and found recordings.

With a cold drink in one hand and a lifetime of stories in the other, the Kristin Nicholls Band are ready to raise the roof — and your spirits — with their latest country anthem “One More Round.” Out now at country radio and streaming everywhere, the track is a full-throttle, feel-good call to the dancefloor, complete with line-dance energy, soul-saving choruses, and one foot firmly in the honky-tonk.

But don’t be fooled — this isn’t just another party song. For frontman Kristin Nicholls, this track is the result of a personal comeback story that’s more Nashville than Hollywood.

“I got sober… and released a fun drinking song,” Nicholls laughs. “There’s some irony there. But this song is about joy. About celebration. About giving yourself permission to just live again.”

Brandon Isaak, the Whitehorse-born bluesman known for his gravelly voice and deep respect for tradition, returns with Walkin’ With The Blues—his most authentic and electrified blues album to date. Recorded live off the floor with minimal mics, vintage gear, and a soul soaked in the genre’s deepest roots, the record is a love letter to classic blues—gritty, emotional, and defiantly old-school.

“This is the most straight-up blues record I’ve ever made, and I could not be more pleased with how it turned out,” Isaak shares. “I wanted to make a record with strong lyrics, soulful playing, and zero tolerance for wanking—and I think I’ve achieved this.” The album marks Isaak’s first time producing and engineering on his own, a feat he describes as both a challenge and a dream realized.

The lead single and title track, “Walkin’ With The Blues,” captures Isaak’s hallmark songwriting style—equal parts heartbreak and hard-won wisdom. Lyrics like “With the blues as my companion / down this long hard road / we’ll keep on walkin’ / and share this heavy load” show Isaak’s emotional range, drawing listeners deep into his world of lost love and gritty perseverance.

Kiesza stormed onto the scene in 2014 with her impassioned hit “Hideaway”, which has accrued over a billion streams; the accompanying one-shot video featured on several best-of-decade lists. Her debut studio album Sound Of A Woman saw her top charts globally and moved over a million units. With subsequent top-tier collaborations like Jack Ü, deadmau5 and Francis Mercier, Kiesza has managed to transition into independence with a strong and unique profile in spite of a two year hiatus forced by a car-crash. Her most recent album Dancing and Crying: Vol.1 leveraged the single ‘I Go Dance” which reached #1 on the US Dance Airplay Chart summer of 2024 and this year, Kiesza continues pushing her vision of dance music into the world full steam ahead with Dancing and Crying: Vol. 2. This era of sexy, intimate exploration of female driven house music, kicks off with “Stays In Bed”. A club focused track produced by UK breakout DJ/Producer Sammy Virji and rising producer artist Jess Cake. Crafted in

Honeybear, The Band, steps into the spotlight with a compelling self-titled album that speaks the language of blues with sincerity and vigor. Fronted by the charismatic Ian Beaty on vocals and bass, with Colin Brumelle’s guitar cutting through the mix, Mike Kenney’s keyboards coloring the soundscape, and Tim Watson’s steady drumming locking the groove, Honeybear offers a refreshingly honest blues experience for today’s listeners.

From the first note of their single “I Was Wrong,” it’s clear Vancouver-based Honeybear is not retreading old ground but charting a new course. The song’s lyrics — penned by Beaty and Brumelle — evoke the universal journey of reflection and growth, balancing vulnerability and strength with a bluesy authenticity that is both timeless and immediate. "There were times when I was wrong / And I didn’t know it / There were times when I was wrong / And it knew it well," Ian sings, with a voice that carries the weight of hard lessons learned and the grace of acceptance.

Bree Taylor has quietly but steadily built a reputation as one of country music’s most compelling new voices—an artist whose work cuts through the genre’s conventions with a blend of grit, honesty, and rock-infused energy. This summer, Bree made her landmark Nashville debut at the CMA Fest Spotlight Stage earlier this month, marking a major career moment and expanding her growing audience south of the border. Her latest single, “Wake Up!,” out now, further solidifies her place as a force to be reckoned with, and with over 2 million streams across digital platforms, the momentum behind her career is gathering real steam.

Legendary classical guitarist and Canadian music icon Liona Boyd has teamed up with acclaimed tenor Mark Masri for a heartfelt new rendition of the timeless Everly Brothers hit, “Bye Bye Love.” Available now, the song blends nostalgic warmth with a vibrant new arrangement that showcases the distinct artistry of both performers.

Liona Boyd, known around the world as “The First Lady of the Guitar,” delivers her signature shimmering guitar work alongside elegant vocals. Mark Masri—celebrated for his soaring voice as a soloist and member of The Tenors—brings emotional depth and contemporary flair, breathing new life into this beloved 1950s anthem.

There ain’t no Aspirin for your soul. But Francis Baptiste has a song that comes close. The Vancouver-based Indigenous singer-songwriter returns with “Aspirin for the Soul,” a searing folk-rock confession about pain, healing, and the bruised beauty of survival.

Born and raised on the Osoyoos Indian Band Reservation in Oliver, BC, Baptiste has spent the last 20 years in East Vancouver, where his lived experience—addiction, fatherhood, poverty, and healing—have become the raw material for his music. “Aspirin for the Soul” marks a new chapter in his songwriting: blunt, bluesy, and bruised with hope. “I’d trade suffering any day / trade a heartache for a hangover,” he sings. “There ain’t no aspirin for your soul. Oh no, ain’t no fixing what’s been broke”.

From the ancient sands of the Ennedi desert to the heart of Montreal’s electronic scene, Afrotronix is back—and he’s rewriting the future. The award-winning artist, producer, and visionary Caleb Rimtobaye, originally from Chad and now based in Canada, has just released “Oda Ye,” the pulsating first single from his upcoming album Future Tribe, arriving September 2025.

Canadian fans celebrate as beloved artist returns to international spotlight.

New York-born powerhouse SOPHIE B. HAWKINS will grace the legendary Saskatchewan Jazz Festival his summer, bringing her signature blend of raw emotion and musical virtuosity to one of the world's most prestigious music events. This performance marks a triumphant return to the international stage for an artist who has maintained a devoted Canadian following throughout her three-decade career.

The Saskatoon appearance coincides with the 30th anniversary celebration of her groundbreaking album 'WHALER' and the upcoming release of 'WHALER - RE-EMERGING' in October 2025 - news that has particularly excited Canadian fans who have long championed Hawkins' authentic artistry. 

Afro-Fusion artist Snowchild Edge is redefining the sound of the West Coast with the release of his stunning new EP *No Wahala* and its lead single “Big Problem,” out now on 100 Collective Records. An ambitious project bursting with diasporic energy, soul-bearing lyrics, and global production, *No Wahala* marks a fearless new chapter for the Nigerian-Canadian artist.

“Big Problem” hits with undeniable urgency — a rhythmic eruption that’s equal parts swagger and soul. “I get e very big problem//E get how we go solve em, Kilode for the funds that I’m wanting //You know say money na the anthem,” Snowchild Edge declares, setting the tone for a project that confronts real-life stress with head-nodding, body-moving beats. The track balances vulnerability with vitality, inviting listeners to feel deeply and dance freely.