After sounding the “Alarm Bells” and vowing to give up drinking in his last single, Alliston, Ontario’s Grant Boyer returns with something dark and thought-provoking: “De-Evolution.” Check it out on YouTube here:

Does that title remind you of ‘80s icons Devo? It might, with its theme of societal regression wrapped up in a catchy chorus:
De-evolution is here, and we don’t care
Shove my face in a phone and
You can take me anywhere.

But this track’s purely of this century, with its creeping-menace hook that reflects what Boyer calls “the general sense of unease that we crave” and its “online arguments [that] go nowhere.” It was originally intended to be acoustic, until the addition of brain-crunching riffs, scraping rhythm, and a jolting solo gave the track a powerful new edge.

Music has a profound way of making us feel less alone, and that was particularly true during the pandemic. And yet at the same time, live music halted, also stunting some of those musical connections. Ottawa-based rockers Evil Creek capture this conundrum with their release of their new single and video “Away From The Sun”, from their forthcoming EP of the same name out December 2.

Check out “Away From the Sun” on YouTube here: youtube.com/watch?v=yEIMJ8cTsfE

An Americana-tinged guitar anthem with introspective loud-quiet dynamics, “Away From The Sun” takes a deep dive into mental-health issues and depression, exploring loneliness and isolation.

I know I walk alone
My shadow follows me
Takes away my sanity
Take a look in my eyes
See I've become so hollow
Will I make it through tomorrow

The corresponding music video tells parallel stories of a band and an individual who found themselves closed off from the world

It's going to get loud Saturday, November 5th in Toronto at the all-newly renovated Parkdale Hall with some of Canada's most legendary punk rock bands taking the stage for WEST QUEEN WEST PUNK FEST.

The lineup features legendary Hamilton punk rockers The Forgotten Rebels with their unique and original blend of tongue and cheek punk rock that has been wowing audiences since the first days of punk in the 70's. They always provide a fun and entertaining show that'll be filled with classics like "Surfin' on Heroin" and many more.

The bill also features such legendary bands as Toronto's Random Killing and Montreal's The Ripcordz, who will also be appearing at the event. Both bands have a huge history together and have solidified themselves as two of Canada's top punk acts, releasing albums and touring the country and beyond for over 30 years.

The festival will also feature G.F.U, a punk band from York Region that is building a lot of steam in the Ontario punk scene, as well as two more legendary Toronto bands with The Liquor Pigs and Atomic Tomb who have both been staples in the Ontario punk rock community for over 25 years.

Watering oneself down to suit the fickle tastes of someone else is never a good idea, though we’ve all likely done it before. Toronto blues-rocker Emily Mac embraces the fact that she’s a strong shot of whiskey rather than a weak cup of tea on her scorching new single “Whiskey Like Me”  - check it out on YouTube here:

Rosanne Baker Thornley (RBT). Listening to Sorry I’m Late is akin to sitting in front of a mature autobiographer telling her life story. The songs are intensely personal yet entirely relatable to so many listeners and certainly not too late.

Rosanne Baker Thornley (RBT) describes the album: “The narrative that runs through Sorry I’m Late is life and the pieces of that journey. The insights. The moments of awe. The losses. The lessons. The determination to continue on. My inspiration comes from everywhere - from experiences and people - both good and bad. I have an intuitive calling to capture and describe those moments.”

Based in Toronto, Thornley has been evolving and expanding her relationship with music (and writing) for quite some time. This solo album delves deeply into the very intense personal space, into this collection of songs that come from her life and what she knows - her own vulnerability, honesty and bravery leading the way.

Death, taxes, and heartbreak - these are the inevitability of life. There is no one among us who hasn’t felt the pain of a breakup, and Neon Bloom captures this feeling in its latest release, “Novocaine.”

Check it out on YouTube here:

The group’s first foray into hip hop, “Novocaine” touches on the stress of a failing relationship, when two people know deep down that they should walk away but can’t quite bring themselves to do it, and the difficult aftermath when all that’s left is to pick up the pieces.

“The title, ‘Novocaine,’ refers to the delusional desire after a breakup for some sort of quick-fix that will numb the sting of a lost love, leaving one blissfully ignorant and pain-free,” the group explained.

Canadian-born, Chance Brown is a singer-songwriter with a troubled soul that applies gentle dulcet tones to his debut album 'This World’s On Fire', a perfect mix of alt-country, folk blues, and ultra-raw storytelling. Check it out on YouTube here:

Originally hailing from Vancouver Island with his roots firmly set in Victoria B.C. Chance Brown has risen amongst the alt-country scene to be one of the most prolific artists in Canada. His drawling vocals have harmonic hints of Ray LaMontagne, James Morrison, and Paolo Nutini.

His sound draws on simple vocal runs layered with traditional alt county instruments offering that perfect combination of melodic acoustic guitar, mandolin, and close-knit harmonies. His main two influences are Gord Downie and Justin Townes Earle which clearly stand out in his compositions.

Despite the stage name of Danish musician he is tall., Troels Thorkild Sørensen isn’t all that tall. But when his guitar is alongside him and he occupies stages across the country, he grows. Originally from Mårslet, near Aarhus, he is tall. towers while 'maestro-ing' his melodies for a live audience.

This year spells the debut EP for he is tall. Titled, “it’s always been you” he is tall. is announcing to the world the arrival of this likable Scandinavian lad. The project’s lead single, “new york.” is out now.

Check out “new york” on YouTube here: direct-actu.fr/2022/09/11/he-is-tall-new-york/

Singing over a slow guitar tune, he is tall. tells the tale of spending the day with a mystery character in New York at some point in the past. He wishes his previous companion well in whatever they’re up to now and contemplates if life will ever bring their paths together again.

Before Ontario-based artist, Harley Olivia embarked on a solo career, her efforts intertwined with several heavy-metal and punk bands. Harley performed in crowd-pleasing acts filled with clowns, confetti, and anything else commonly found in a pop-up circus tent. But while she was leading audiences in balloon sword battles, she leaned into her fascination for a solo project, one that dug straight into what she wished her music could convey. And “Diggin’” is that result.

When Harley toured with the band Anthems In Ashes, the group was awarded first place in the Jack Daniels Supporting Act Competition. This was no small feat for the title, but this award also paved a clear path to work and companionship with JUNO Award-Winning Producer Siegfried Meier (Face to Face, Kittie, Sectorseven, Woods of Ypres).

Harley followed this friendship and soon found herself back in the studio with Siegfried to work on her new single “Diggin’,” who co-wrote and produced the tune, out now.

From the remote, far northern reaches of Nunavut to the glistening towers of metropolitan Montréal, there is a world of difference in environment, culture, and language. However, music is one very powerful way to make a universally identifiable and relatable connection between those worlds. Award-winning, chart-topping Inuk songwriter, throat-singer and educator Angela Amarualik has put her personal experiences of navigating both of these worlds into her touching brand new single, “Stranger Of My Kind”, available now, and her upcoming second album Uvannik ᐅᕙᓐᓂᒃ, released  October 22.

Check out “Stranger Of My Kind” on YouTube here:

Hunter Lott's album, "I Stand My Ground, "released on October 22nd, is all about relating to his fans.

Check it out on YouTube here:

Growing up in Mississippi and now based in Tennessee, where Country music roots run deep, Hunter Lott's music from this album has already won him consideration in the first round of Votes for the 2023 Grammys with his songs "Honky Tonk Special” & “I Stand My Ground” (Country Solo performance).

Award-winning New Brunswick-based Alt-Metal band Sonic Detour sonically split the earth with a visceral track about getting pushed to the edge and never looking back on the blistering new single “Uncivilized” – check it out on YouTube here:

Sonic Detour delivers a spellbinding performance on “Uncivilized,” a song that pushed the band to the limit during the recording process and is a testament to the group’s resilience. The latest single comes hot on the heels of Sonic Detour’s last hit release, “Dolls,” which debuted earlier this year.

What would you do if the acclaimed drummer for one of your all-time favorite bands announced they would play on any song sent their way during the pandemic? If you’re Winnipeg singer-songwriter Scott Hinkson, you get them to bash the hell out of the skins on your entire new album.

Check it out on YouTube here:

Kellii Scott, drummer for Failure, the art-rock space lords best-known for 1996’s sprawling concept album Fantastic Planet, and this year, ambitious new full-length Wild Type Droid. Failure is considered by many in the rock world as “your favorite band’s favorite band.” For Hinkson, a fan since catching the group’s opening slot for TOOL at long-defunct St. Boniface event center Le Rendezvous back in 1994, the chance to have the group’s notoriously heavy hitter keep time (and deconstruct it) was a dream come true.

Right out of Ottawa, Canada, comes an ethereal-sounding pop delight, otherwise known as Lady Charles. Lady Charles radiates exuberance and shiny tones throughout their explorative and vivid discography.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/1DiCdp4G3WsMxWciuZlDV4?si=08744e0e724d4610&nd=1

Ethereal-sounding lyrics emanate from Lady Charles’ flirtations into the meshings of bright electropop and subtle rock genres. Following their latest single off their album Manic Pixie Dream World, ‘Godx’, a synthy, electronic pop delve into the relationship between gender and religion, Noella (Can’t Get Enough of You) is a deeper look into what the pandemic meant for loving relationships. On the surface, Noella explores a romantic relationship, one shared between those in the spotlight. Lady Charles and their partner, Stef, concocted fictional personas for the subjects of this track. Noella personifies a glorified version of Stef as a Youtuber who shapes their persona around the “parody of the eccentric artist archetype.”

Sometimes legendary talent can play tug of war with a person’s demons, and that was the case of the late, great Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Albuquerque -based singer-songwriter Kàsh Mojo offers up a ballad of the hopeless idealist, reckless drunk, and universally admired star for his debut single “Galveston Gone” – check it out on YouTube here:

Rusty Creek’s latest single “Hello Old Friend” is an unforgettable dedication to an old friend who influenced the band as a percussionist and songwriter. The roots four-piece combined their original style of country blues, western swing, and Cajun with some traditional South African instruments to commemorate their friend who grew up in Cape Town. Check it out on YouTube here:

“He was my great friend who I miss so much,” says Rusty Creek lead vocalist and guitarist Alex Deeth. “When we recorded this song, we used different instruments on it some from South Africa and we captured the kind of rhythm that we knew Erich would have played. We think he would dig the Groove.”

Mud Bay is rocking on with their new song "Feel," dropping October 15 as the lead single from their sixth album Best Laid Plans. Addressing the preoccupied individual who "can't think, can't touch, can't feel," "Feel" is a call to embrace the anti-cerebral, sensual playground of live rock and roll. "FEEL! FEEL! FEEL!" Mark Branscombe- along with the stellar vocals of Aidan Farrell, daughter of drummer Murphy Farrell- implores the listener in the song's rollicking conclusion. It is both a plea and a rallying cry, encompassing all of Mud Bay's hard-earned wisdom in one spirited single.

Check out YouTube here:

Energy-based band and Pop Punk pioneers GROWERS showcase their new single 'TTYL'. Released in September 2022, 'TTYL' is the second single from GROWERS’ new EP 'Cry Baby' coming soon in Winter 2023.

The four-piece rock outfit features the Toronto talent of lead vocalist Charlie Joy, guitarist Matt Raitt, drummer Chris Raitt, and bassist Nate Clapinson. Born in 2019 and residing in Toronto, Canada, GROWERS have had a plethora of successful shows including winning a battle of the bands in 2019 and playing a string of sold-out shows in Toronto following the global pandemic (Horseshoe Tavern, El Mocambo, and Lee’s Palace). In 2020, the band would continue their success by winning a $2,000 grant from Corus Entertainment for their single and music video ‘The 90’s’.

Check out TTYL here:

Toronto-based Electro-pop R&B music sensation Jordana of Earth transports listeners with melancholy romance and light smoky vocals to tell a vulnerable tale of distance and its effect on love with the ethereal single "Need To Know” – check it out on YouTube here:

Fueled by her own lived experiences, this is Jordana of Earth’s 3rd single from her expertly crafted debut EP “10k,” a deeply personal voyage that sonically soothes the soul. “Each track off the EP hits different moments and feelings within a relationship running its course,” she explains.

“Need To Know” is the latest hit following the success of the EP’s first two singles, the percussive “So Bad” and the hip-hop-inspired “Hibiscus Flower” featuring Toronto artist Roshin.

A healing image of orange sunsets mixes with heavy grief on Indigenous blues singer/songwriter Donita Large’s soaring new single “Reconciliation Sky.” Inspired by the horrific 2021 news headlines that 215 unmarked graves had been uncovered at the Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia, Donita does what she describes as “the emotional labour of reconciliation work as an Indigenous person” through her music with this new song – check it out on YouTube here: