Straight out of St. John's, Newfoundland, With Violet expands their eclectic sound with the new album and single, gearing up for a major live performance on June 19.

Straight out of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canadian alt-pop band and local faves With Violet are expanding their eclectic sound to new levels with their latest album Saturday Nights in Your Sunday Best and a new single “That Boy.”

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/78ptpWGD5rbrbAyo5HrpE8

The group – comprised of Sarah Newell (vocals & saxophone), Peter “Pete” MacDonald (vocals & keyboards), Matthew Cadigan (guitar), Spencer FitzGerald (bass), and Hunter Madden (drums) – formed in 2018 and have been a local sensation ever since dropping their debut EP Long Story Short, racking up several award nominations and wins and performing at festivals all across NL, including a headlining stint at the Woody Point Spring Thaw Festival in 2023.

The new indie pop single “Don’t Give Me Anything” from The Muster Point Project (TMPP) is a song about owning up to the pitfalls of ambition. A doggedly persistent drum beat backs up energetic guitar riffs that complement keyboards whose melodies drive us through the sounds of different eras, from 1960s rock to the best of ’80s and mid-aughts indie pop. Check it out on YouTube here:

June 14, 2024: THE BOVINE, TORONTO
June 15, 2024: PALASAD SOCIAL BOWL, LONDON
June 29, 2024: THE CORKTOWN, HAMILTON

Pop that cork and raise a toast! Beloved Canadian punk drummer Gene Champagne is stepping out from behind the kit for his long-awaited first solo EP, Let’s Jet!

Check it out on YouTube here:

A fan favorite after decades of pounding the skins for Teenage Head, The Killjoys and playing the guitar and singing with The Un-Teens, Champagne now has his sights set squarely on Renaissance Man status. He’s written, sung and played every part on a four-song tour de force he recorded several years ago in his home studio, and which is only now seeing the light of day. Life, it seems, just got in the way … but more on that later.

The Petras’ “Sapphire,” set the stage for what’s to come from this fresh all-women band out of Kingston, Ontario. “Sapphire” is a rousing indie rock banger that invites listeners to embrace their unique and wonderful selves that invokes the band’s inspirations: The Runaways and The Beaches.

listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/48DpFCMVrpuSfnHYbADFDU

Says The Petras vocalist Brielle LeBlanc, “We all have something that’s special about us, something that makes us shine. And we’ve all had the feeling of being misunderstood, judged, or envied for it. This song is about not being afraid to shine… to celebrate the “Sapphire’ in all of us!”

Sapphire walks in the room and the whole table turns
Out of pocket but she’ll never learn
On fire like a rocket in the night
Always gets anything she likes

In their third album, “The Torch of Rock and Roll”, The Mighty One has chosen to go full tilt at the fragility and vulnerabilities we try to hide from all but a select few. The 5th single from this album “Kickin’ Stones,” out now, is a haunting tribute to Jeff Worobec, a dear friend of songwriter, guitarist and lead singer Tim Steinruck who harkened back to the bygone days of youth and boundless promise when writing this song. The Mighty One, rounded out with talented musicians Bob Wagner (drums), Chris Campbell (bass), Randy Robertson (lead guitar) and James Meyer (keyboards) tackle the often difficult to discuss parts of what it is that makes us human, by exploring themes of hopelessness, loneliness, isolation and suicide in this song that also manages to remind us of the days when epic power ballads produced by hard rock and metal bands ruled the airwaves. Check it out on YouTube here:

Chicago-based independent artist Sarantos presents a new single, “Never Trust a Happy Song.” The anthemic, catchy song’s joyful tone belies its weighty message, with lyrics describing personal missteps, mistakes, and moments of isolation and abandonment. Sarantos ultimately prompts listeners to ask what lies beneath the smooth veneer—of a song, or of any other attractive thing that may not be what it seems. Check it out on YouTube:

After jumping onto the music scene at only age 14, Alt/Dark-Pop princess Mikalyn has shown no signs of slowing down into adulthood, having already released a slew of singles over the years, including “Blame”, “Ready To Love You”, and “Phases”.

Now, the 22-year-old is back with her latest single, “Falling Apart”, featuring the languid vibe moody vocals that she excels at and has become her signature. It’s in this track that you can really hear the influences of many of Mikalyn’s music idols, including Amy Winehouse, Lana Del Rey, and Lorde. Check it out on YouTube here:

Toronto pop-rap duo M For The Movement, comprised of J.Vision and Mega Sean, release their new single “Takeover” featuring Snoop Dogg, Alia Rene, Price da Boss, DT The Artist, and Methadist. This electrifying track promises to be a game-changer in the music industry, with a star-studded collaboration featuring some of the biggest names in the industry.

M For The Movement has been making waves since the release of their first unofficial EP, "The Night Before Christmas," under the pseudonym "The Night Before M" in December 2020. With over 50,000 streams in the first two weeks, the group quickly gained recognition for their unique sound and style.

Having shared the stage with industry giants like Rihanna, D12, Wayne Wonder, and more, M For The Movement is no stranger to delivering electrifying live performances. Their summer 2023 appearances opening for Sean Paul and closing their tour with Sean Kingston and Nelly solidified their status as a rising force in the music scene.

Summer’s here, and the time is right for dancing with some meat! Acadian country superstar Laurie LeBlanc is throwing on his apron and welcoming us all to the backyard to join him in “The BBQ Dance,” the all-English version of his paean to the immortal pleasures of a warm-weather pig-out.

As compelling a jingle for carnivorous consumption as you’ll ever hear, the song is like any great outdoor repast: tangy, expertly seasoned and giving off plenty of smoke. One listen, and it’ll be stuck in your head until fall comes, pulling you to your feet over and over again to dance with a rib in your hands and a big, greasy grin on your face.

Bring out the Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba BBQ
It’s so good when it’s cooked on the grill
Steak & ribs, get a burger or two
Let’s do the Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba BBQ Dance

Never underestimate the cathartic power of a little negative thinking. After all, it got a lot of us through the ’80s. And now it’s making a winning comeback thanks to Moncton, NB, melancholia merchant Dillon Ryan and his band, The Dream Romantic, who’ve taken a refreshingly old school-stance against toxic positivity on their just-released third album, In Polaroid.

An immensely satisfying eight-song callback to the Goth/New Wave glory days of Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths and especially The Cure, the record hits every genre touchstone your black little heart could desire: clanging, chiming guitars; a relentlessly thwacking snare drum; and long, held keyboard notes that sit just below the threshold of human hearing. And of course, a lyrical and spiritual thrust that reassure us not to wallow in how bad things are now. Because there’s always the chance they’ll get worse.

Navigating conflicts in relationships is not always easy, and Toronto indie artist Alan Tuck along with Montreal songwriter and vocalist Bobby John stand for peaceful resolutions with this sincere and eye-opening song called “Fight No More”. This powerful track is just what someone needs to sit back, reflect on emotions and be able to make peace with the ones they love. Check it out on YouTube here:

After amassing thousands of streams on past energetic and vibrant releases, the talented duo come back with a mellower chill pop leaning track, taking listeners into a space of introspection and emotional healing: “The theme of unity, peace and coming together is always relevant to those inspired listeners allowing them to reflect on their own relationships and conflicts”.

Being an S.O.B. never goes out of style. Just ask London, Ontario’s Nameless Friends, who have dropped a hot new live version of their “terrible person” rave-up, “Classic Protagonist”—largely due to popular demand. Check it out on YouTube here:

Singer-songwriter Richard Tichelman is excited to announce the release of his brand new single "Never Be The Same," out now, off his eagerly awaited full-length debut album, "In & Out of Love," set to be released in June, 2024.

Drawing on personal heartbreak, his latest track marks a new beginning for the artist and a new song for the playlists of pop fans everywhere, just in time for summer.

Written in Nashville, TN, in close collaboration with the renowned songwriting duo Jimmy Thow (Blake Shelton, Joe Nichols, Shawn Hook) and Jamie Floyd (Ronnie Dunn, Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert) and produced by Ovi Bistriceanu (Mia Martina, Massari, French Montana), "Never Be The Same" showcases Tichelman's growth and versatility as an artist who has matured as a lyricist, vocalist, musician, and songwriter.

"Never Be The Same" offers an upbeat, unapologetic, yet poignant reflection on the pain of heartbreak and the path to moving on. With lyrics like, "You don't get to change your mind once you bury love alive," Tichelman turns a profoundly personal song encapsulating raw emotion into a feel-good anthem for closure and healing.

There’s something ‘bygone era’ about Toronto-based Original Pairs’ new single “Concord Avenue” – not just in its yearning for a better recent past, but in its sound. The song combines a ’50s Elvis croon with a mid-’60s rose-sunglasses filter to create a haunting and infectious power-pop ode to an apartment surrounded by intrigue. Check it out on YouTube here:

 Wandering the city at night, the narrator of “Concord Avenue” is plagued by the ghosts of a past romance. He recalls the warm, inviting beacon of a kitchen light, the ex-boyfriend who took his place, and the drunken writer who witnessed it all from the neighboring porch.

Margaret Maria, a visionary innovator, creator, music producer, composer, cellist, and educator, is on a mission to advocate for programs and initiatives that “change the world", through her musical endeavours. Renowned for her innovative compositions and masterful cello performances, Margaret Maria is set to launch an event showcasing her talent for pushing the boundaries of music, creativity and nudging the needle forward for social change.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/artist/3nJHT3O3oLCrsbSw9dEfaR

 Earlier this month, Margaret Maria performed their original song, "Music Can Change the World" with soul/reggae singer Tréson at the book launch in the MaRS Atrium. The launched celebrated Margaret Maria's contributions to OrKidstra and achievement in the book "Canadians Who Innovate - The Trailblazers and Ideas that are Changing the World" by Roseann O'Reilly Runte, published by Simon and Schuster. 

Metamorphosis can be defined as a change in physical or structural form, and perhaps nobody knows more about change than Lee Miller Matsos. His musical journey began as a teenager, after seeing Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr., leading to a life of opera and musical theatre. Until, that is, he decided to metamorphosize into a pop rock artist by enrolling at Holland College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 2019. While in PEI, he wrote most of the songs for his debut EP, and on September 8, 2023, the “Metamorphosis” had begun.

On May 10, 2024, Matsos will released his 4th single, Mother’s Day Weekend”, from the upcoming EP, “Metamorphosis, Pt. 2”. Check it out on YouTube here:

With modernization and urbanization comes big changes – and inevitable sadness and nostalgia. Regina, SK-based folk artist Jeffery Straker captures a loss of rural identity in his new single “More Than Two by Fours and Timber,” in which he describes a grain elevator being bulldozed in a small farming town. Check it out on YouTube here:

 It was so much more than two by fours and timber
That last grain elevator was comin’ down today
Under their breath people said good-bye
They tried their best to take it all in stride
They just got used to doin’ it that way

"I’m not prone to loneliness," Canadian folkie James Gordon says of his new single, "Lonesome As Hank Williams Tonight." Given the deep, convincing wistfulness of the song, and that of some of the other tracks on his new, live album, Wrinkles and Scars, it's almost hard to believe him. Check out the single on YouTube here:

Young love is hard and unrequited but young love is even harder. Just ask, the singer-songwriter born in Shanghai and based in Toronto, who documents his own teenage romance in his latest lovelorn single, “shade of hue.”

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/7aoG3LDYTOmmEjOUX3GaIa

The track, out now, tells the story of a fateful day spent sight-seeing in Toronto at the end of his freshman year.

“It only took a few months for an eighteen-year-old hopelessly romantic boy to almost give up on ever finding teenage romance,” he says of the song’s inspiration. “Just days before I flew home for summer, I ran into this guy at my friend’s residence, and we instantly connected while watching a game. Later, he proposed to take me to my first Blue Jays game and teach me how to take photos with his digital cameras.”

There’s nothing all that bluesy or melancholy about “Kingsburg Blues,” the new single by 2024 ECMA Fusion Recording Of The Year for Anuri, Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia)-based Gina Burgess, although it is indeed haunting. Instead, the song, which blends psychedelic elements with Celtic and Inuit roots, takes us into a magical and mischievous fairy world shimmering with fireflies and secrets. Check it out on YouTube here:

 There’s only one lyric to the song: “And how long does it take for a rose to bloom and die?” But that lyric allows an entry point into that November day in Nova Scotia when Burgess was first inspired to write “Kingsburg Blues.”