Music is powerful; it can store memories for us – good and bad – so that we may call upon them at seemingly anytime. Michael Graff’s new single “History” is a testament to the power that music has when housing our most intimate memories – check it out on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/0FjboAqbMsdrh6FPKN14nq?si=c446a6b3188a4f5b&nd=1

An ethereal pop composition that houses the feelings of a beautiful night with a beautiful girl, “History” sees Michael Graff telling the tale of two Texas kids in LA, caught in a moment of magic.

“For me, music is a great way of capturing moments,” Graff reflects on the feeling of nostalgia. “Nothing takes you back to a time, place, and even a feeling quite like a song. In this instance, we were just a couple of Texas kids far away from home and, for some reason, it was magical.”

One upside of the pandemic is that many of us rediscovered the healing power of Vitamin D-infused sunshine and the glory of the outdoors. In that spirit, Canadian alt-folk songstress Jackie K pays reverent tribute to the panacea of lush greenery in her ‘70s-inspired new single “Green Heals Me” – Check it out on YouTube here:

With the soothing meander of a lazy day on the veranda or a leisurely hike through the woods, “Green Heals Me” features folky guitar, jazzy piano, and Jackie K’s signature plain-spoken, candor-filled voice, like that of a trusted friend. ‘I spent today living outside in the sunshine/ To shake the lack of sleep, and way too much drink,’ she begins. And then she describes with rich imagery the perfume of the lilac-tinged air, the shade-giving pine trees, the canopy of the woods, and then the cool night air at the end of an outside-filled day.

The sophisticated sonic craftsmanship of award-winning Montreal music ensemble Coco Méliès is on full display with their hypnotic new single, “Remorse Will End,” and stirring new album, Nothing Goes To Waste – check it out on YouTube here:

A harmonically exhilarating journey filled with emotional reveries and harsh truths, core themes of death and rebirth in all their manifestations embellish the introspective framework of the 12-song LP with mesmerizing grace. The listener is guided on a path of self-discovery while simultaneously transported by the collective’s signature spellbinding orchestral arraignments; “Only by deciding to go deep within, embracing all the awe and humility that comes with this path, are we able to feel truly.”

Angelique Francis Lays Down the Law in Less Than Sixty Seconds with “Take Command”. She’s hosting the Maple Blues Awards coming up, which, when you can be mesmerized by an artist singing a song that is fifty-four seconds long and contains only layered vocals, handclaps, and percussion, you’ll get why… That artist has a spellbinding gift, and this one belongs to Canadian rising blues star Angelique Francis who means business in under a minute with this, her new single “Take Command” – watch and enjoy it on YouTube here:

Take command, take command
Don’t rely on another man

Canadian artist August, Truly Yours delivers a tumultuous eulogy of self-acceptance and self-expression through spoken word with the hypnotizing new single “Easy Listening” – check it out on YouTube here:

Inspired by the emotional uncertainty felt within relationships, “Easy Listening” is a whirling maelstrom of intimate communication projected through a sonic framework. As August, Yours Truly himself puts it, “It's this surreal stream of consciousness, like a bunch of intrusive thoughts appearing in the middle of the night.”

The blistering new single is off the upcoming album, Performance of a Lifetime, which is set to release in June 2022. This album is not just an experimental soundscape; it’s a visceral manifestation of ideas surrounding more than just uncertainty, “it’s also about becoming more sure of yourself and the confidence and clarity in life that brings you.”

If you want to shrug off all naivete, become a waitress. This simple truth is inherent in Philadelphia/London pop chanteuse Zula Palmer’s understatedly searing new single “Wife” – available now – about all the ways middle-aged men can be awful, harassing and cringey… Particularly in the company of young women who are, literally, a captive audience.

Check out “Wife” on YouTube here:

Dark and synth-y with syncopated beats, “Wife” is magnetic and compelling specifically because of what it doesn’t say as much as what it does. Many of the lyrical stanzas cut off before the end of certain thoughts and phrases, only to begin with what seems like a new thought or scenario. Taken together, however, feelings of anger emerge, as well as incredulity.

Canadian band Son of James harnesses a fusion of musical influence to highlight the rise in discriminatory attacks against Asian-Canadians during the Covid-19 pandemic, with his heart-stopping new single, “Mama Never Told Me” – check it out on YouTube here:

Dripping with heart and soul, “Mama Never Told Me” is a sonically smooth experience filled with soulful guitar playing and stellar saxophone work. Rich embellishments reveal themselves in the form of brilliant piano playing and soaring vocal performances. “Mama Never Told Me” tells a relatable tale about the most important woman in our life with all of the rhythmic complexity that Son of James is known for.

There’s no monkey business involved on Sivan Langer’s electrifying rock anthem, “Three Monkey Song”... The grunge rocker with a song on his soul bursts out of the jungle with this exciting up-tempo track  - watch it on YouTube here:

“The song was written when I lived in Tel Aviv as a student, finishing my first degree, but I didn't finish all the parts,” explains Langer. “The outro section was added just before the recording sessions started because the song was too short.

“I liked the idea of the ‘stops’,” he continues. “It's unusual in music since it requires considerable coordination between the instruments.”

Nothing hits harder and cuts deeper than midnight reflections on our life, wishing we could go back in time to warn ourselves of future heartache. It’s this encapsulating retelling so beautifully captured by Canadian R&B artist Simone Miller that makes her newest single, “Older” — available now — so breathtaking.

Check it out on YouTube here:

The song reveals a passionately vulnerable and spectacular reflection on the struggles of adolescence. Perched between the life changes and fast-paced decision-making that happens in high school and the reality of our decisions, “Older” feels like Miller’s plea for forgiveness to her younger self – a naïve and optimistic child with bright eyes and a green heart facing certainties that have hit in the blink of an eye when least expected.

Canadian rockers Season Of The Senses have created an alternative, fist-pumping anthem you’ll spin on repeat, in their latest offering, “Ever” – check out the YouTube here:

The electrifying, rock and roll, synth-infused drop is a myriad of emotions ranging from the depths of the human condition to rising up and starting over. While “Ever” bursts out of your speakers upbeat and served on a platter of alt-tinged pop, Seasons of the Senses (Elena Stocco [lead vocals], Christian Pritchard [guitars, bass, synth], Rob Clarkson [bass, guitars, and synths], Maxwell He [drums], Damian Weston [synths, guitars and bass]) reveal that at its core, the song truly speaks to a deeper and more personal experience.

Near, far, wherever you are… It’s certain you’ll find fans of Céline Dion. The international superstar’s storybook career was built on her unparalleled vocal talents and performance prowess that have captivated audiences worldwide. So, when iconic Montréal jazz vocalist Ranee Lee was approached with the opportunity to record Dion’s songs for a new album, her answer was a hard “no”... At first. However, you will be so glad she eventually agreed to the challenge when you experience Ranee Lee’s sublime new album, Because You Loved Me.

When Lee’s record label, Justin Time, brought the concept of covering Dion’s songbook to her, she reacted quite decisively. "I said no," says the JUNO-winning singer. "I listened to three minutes of explanation, and I said no again. And I said no every time for days."

Who can blame her? It takes a lot of bravado to take on the unmistakable voice of Céline Dion, who put her one-of-a-kind, powerhouse stamp on classics like “The Power of Love”, “All By Myself” and, of course, her signature, Titanic-sized hit “My Heart Will Go On”.

Following this month’s release of their new album EAR CANDY via Misfits Records in collaboration with Demented Punk, anime-meets-NY punk rock collective OSAKA POPSTAR are excited to reveal the animated video for its rocking and infectiously sweet original single, “Lost & Found” -  check it out YouTube here:

Written, produced, and directed by OSAKA POPSTAR’s frontman and longtime Misfits and Ramones collaborator John Cafiero, the cartoonized video for “Lost & Found” stars actor/comedian/musician Fred Armisen (Portlandia, SNL, Documentary Now) as the main character — a lost and lonely soul seeking out an unattainable love, all while paying homage to Saturday morning breakfast cereals, the Partridge Family, the Archies, and the Monkees — all of which are artists OSAKA POPSTAR cover throughout EAR CANDY.

In a riveting analysis of the music industry and its cookie-cutter “popstar” lifestyle, Canadian artist OLENKA draws attention to the all-too-common lifestyle of “living it big” in her new single, “Sad Boy Popstar” – check it out here: open.spotify.com/track/349Q0Ja8gzPUiXTg13Gm8E?si=cb5055ce524845b6&nd=1

“Sad Boy Popstar” is a fantastically produced single with all of the characteristics of a radio-ready hit — seemingly on key with OLENKA’s ambitions. Her understanding of songwriting and production results in an uncanny yet intoxicating combination of 808s, trap drum kits, and electric guitar. With enough atmospheric layering tucked into the overall mater, OLENKA leaves enough headroom to get lost in — symbolic of the gates opened as one climbs the socioeconomic ranks.

Hard-edged and funkadelic, Canadian group Numb Tongues deliver the ultimate mix of energy and groove in their newest single, “Dance” – check it out on YouTube here:

Numb Tongues is fronted by lead singer, lyricist, and co-founding member Jonah Grinberg who crafts his melodic hooks with a colorful character that only so few stages can contain. Giving the lineup its creative flair is a team that together is greater than the sum of its parts: Tristan Lipton with charming technical prowess on the guitar, bassist Max Wilson who has mastered the art of monster-truck-sized slaps, and the chaotic, beastly styles of drummer and co-founder Corey Ryan.

It’s set to be a hot summer this year, and Canadian pop artist and producer Ceesar is doubling down on the heat. Delivering good vibes through serotonin-packed beats, Caesar’s newest single “All In” is set to dominate summer playlists – check it out on YouTube here:

Here to hand-deliver summer vibes to listeners as cities start to shake off the remainders of spring, Ceesar’s newest single is an enticing mesh of pop and EDM, radiating sweet lemonade vibes. Sugary synth hits and thick bass riffs laced throughout give “All In” an alluring aesthetic that is impossible to ignore.

Recounting a tale about finding that special someone, and counting blessings when that perfect person seemingly strolls into our lives and hearts, rising Canadian country music singer/songwriter Laurie LeBlanc brings his distinct harmonic style to his latest single, “Lucky In Love (LIL)” – check it out on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/6UAdwlCGfKLfpoOyOPNHjq?si=34c72d8d533c469a&nd=1

Recorded at Miramichi, New Brunswick’s Barrytone Studios with multi-award-winner Jason Barry, stellar production value underlines tight songwriting and expert guitar playing that hits the heart with an upbeat swing and an irresistibly catchy hook.

The track features some of Canada’s most talented musicians, to boot — including five-time CCMA winner Ed Ringwald (Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Conway Twitty, Van Morrison), Steve O’Connor (Blue Rodeo), and Jason Barry (Dean Brody).

Canadians are incredibly fortunate to call a breathtakingly beautiful, culturally and naturally diverse, awe-inspiring country home. From coast to coast to coast, there’s A LOT to love about this great land. Canada is where International singer, actress, and award-winning performer Harriet Chung makes her home, and she offers a musical love letter to one of the shiniest jewels in this country’s crown with this, her new single “Vancouver” - watch and listen on YouTube here:

An uplifting and exuberant journey propelled by piano, guitar, and strings and Chung’s bright, earnest vocal, “Vancouver” is a personal and sentimental destination for the multi-honoured artist.

“The song is about a road trip across Canada that ends in Vancouver,” Chung explains. “Having lived there in the past, the song is about my love for the city.

D.K. LYONS’ revamp of his pop-rock anthem “Summer Lullabies (Tropical Remix)” is a fluid, feel-good pop remix sure to splash some color on your summer playlist – check it out on YouTube:

Featuring Rafa Soto, “Summer Lullabies (Tropical Remix)” is an optimistic and vibrant banger ubiquitous with bubbly lyrics and tones. Fueled by hyperbolic rays of sunshine and crashing waves, D.K. LYONS’s remix of “Summer Lullabies” is reminiscent of a mixture of Kygo and Bad Bunny smashing together in a musical hadron collider.

The end of a relationship, especially if one party hasn’t exactly been ethical, can be incredibly destabilizing and crazy-making. With that, Canadian-grunge punkers Bad Skin find the sweet spot between sad and pissed off in their angry-melancholy new breakup single, “Completely Insane” – watch it on YouTube here:

Laden with wailing guitars, melodious pop harmonies, and sludgy, driving bass, “Completely Insane” starts out with a woman reminding her ex (yeah, she’s gotta remind him)  ‘Hey, it’s me/ The girl you say you’ll always love/ And, yeah, I know that love can hurt.’ Soon, we learn that he’s with someone else – ‘It’s so hard/ To know that you feel for her and not me.’

Rooted in pulsating beats and flowing vocals, Canadian alt-indie rock duo Blackout Orchestra masterfully deliver a soothing shoegazer with the release of their new single, “Unfound” – watch and listen on YouTube here:

Like its recently released predecessors, the new single represents yet again the lavish eclecticism solidified on their forthcoming album, Beauty Sleep; “It’s Fine” and “Tongues” lead the charge of singles between last year and Valentine's Day 2022, with each providing introspective insight into Blackout Orchestra as songwriters and their ability to vocalize the full range of the human experience. “Unfound” continues that journey, breaking out in unassuming, melodic undertones — soon blending the lush harmonies of Ben VanBuskirk (vocals, music) and Morgan Thompson-Reid (vocals).