Songs of the Week: November 29 - December 05, 2021

“Heaven” by Begonia

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard new music from Begonia, but last week she released a brand new single, “Heaven”. The gorgeous song features Alexa Dirks’ powerful voice driving the track that “finds beauty in the unknown.”

Dirks says: “When I was a kid I thought I knew a lot about everything. I was taught to believe that there was always a right or wrong and beyond that, that there was a heaven and hell waiting for us after we die and we just had to live our lives accordingly to end up in either place. I had a lot of fear of screwing up and a lot of fear of the unknown. As I've grown, all of those binary ways of thinking have more or less been shattered. I've come to understand that I'll always be searching and that there's a lot of beauty to that. I still think about what happens after we die but I feel more curious about it than I feel afraid or certain of it. I think this song speaks to that doubt and curiosity: thoughts I used to struggle with but now fully embrace”

Check out the video below, and keep an ear out for more new music next year!

• Kirk

---

“FAT LIP” by BIG KILL (feat. Debby Friday)

The “destructive pop” duo BIG KILL promised a steady stream of new songs, and that’s exactly what they’ve been giving us.

“FAT LIP” is their latest, and while it’s not a cover of the Sum 41 classic, it does feature Vancouver’s Debby Friday on vocals for a frenetic and explosive tune.

They’ve already released a half dozen songs since their debut in September, and there’s no indication of them slowing down, so have a listen below and hang on tight.

• Kirk

---

“Thunder” by Combine the Victorious

“Thunder” is the first song from Vancouver’s by Combine the Victorious, from their upcoming collection.
The track is an homage to nature and was filmed in Pacific Spirit Region Park in Vancouver, BC and Southern Quebec.
It also features Johanna Sö on violin! Give it a listen.

• Christine

---

“Bubble” by D.W. Waterson ft Sydanie

This one got lost in our inbox for a bit, but it’s too fun not to include now that I’ve heard it. D.W. Waterson is the “non-binary/queer artist that melds punk rock drums with their signature pop electronic remixes and deep house anthems.”
And this track, “Bubble” from their new album Home Brew Vol 1, features Toronto hip-hop artist Sydanie.
Get your groove on below!

• Christine

---

“Already Know” by Sam Weber

And to end on a mellow one, check out Sam Weber’s latest single “Already Know” from his upcoming album Get Free (due out Feb 4th).

Apparently the track started out as a waltz-style song, but Weber reworked it with co-producer Mallory Hauser and this is the result!
Also fun fact the last verse discuss the rumour that Paul Simon stole the idea for 'The Myth of Fingerprints' from Los Lobos.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: November 22 - 28, 2021

“Cathedral” by Kandle

Earlier this year, Kandle released her stunning album, Set The Fire, which is about to take on a whole new life.

Inferno is a companion short film and “visual album” directed by long-time collaborator, Brandon William Fletcher, and features “a stunning interwoven series of music videos – some audiences have seen before, some they have not – as well as a little new footage that landed on the cutting room floor, and some live videos for various version of the reimagined songs.”

“Presented as a long dream, Inferno is the burning in our subconscious, the way our brains try to process grief, frustration, anger, powerlessness, and the reclamation of that power,” comments Brandon. “While we’re incredibly pleased to be able to present this nearly 43-minute long film, we’re equally impressed that we filmed about half of it within a seven day period.”

“As usual, my partner in crime, Brandon William Fletcher, and I refused to see limitations,” adds Kandle. “Producing, styling, improvising, pulling favours, borrowing our talented friends and crossing our fingers, we created the new pieces of this film within seven days. We surrendered to the chaos, found our flow states, worked with our flaws and dove in. I am over the moon to share with you this film.”

Check out “Cathedral” below, and make sure to head here tonight (Monday) at 6pm (Pacific) for the premiere of Inferno!

• Kirk

---

“Believe it All” by Twin Rains

Twin Rains indeed!
The aptly named band released a new single this month titled “Believe it All” and it’s just the dreamy, moody song we need here in Vancouver right now.

The Toronto band’s latest EP Unreal City was released on November 19th and just had their album release party last week. Give it a listen below!

• Christine

---

“Unstoppable” by JP Maurice

Trust in JP Maurice to always give us catchy tunes with heartfelt meaning.

”Unstoppable” is from JP’s latest release Pressure Makes Diamonds, which was released at the beginning of this month.
The “Can’t stop, won’t stop. You’re unstoppable.” mantra the songs repeats is a great motivator to keep going - especially these days.
Check out the single below and the rest of the album by clicking here.

• Christine

---

“Capture Love” by Melted Wings

We’re going back to the 80’s with this synth-y new track “Capture Love” by Melted Wings.
The song, the first single from the next album which should be out in early 2022, “explores feeling overwhelmed or down and how unexpected positive moments can lift you up.”

If that wasn’t relatable enough, Michael Wynn (the one behind Melted Wings) say that ““Love” in this case is not romantic love, instead it’s love for anything unanticipated that puts a smile on your face and clears the fog. Such as a dog wagging its tail at you, diving into your hobby or passion, or a random act of kindness from a stranger.”

I’m gonna go find a dog to smile at now.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: November 15 - 21, 2021

“Red Flags” by Blonde Diamond

One of my most anticipated albums for next year is the debut full length from Vancouver’s Blonde Diamond, and their latest single is just reinforcing that excitement. “Red Flags” features the band’s rich sounds and singer Alexis Young’s killer vocals, and was written to help break the silence that so many people feel about speaking up about abusive relationships.

Young says: "Post the breakup of a very long relationship and at a particularly vulnerable moment in my life, through a chance encounter I found myself in a relationship that was—on its surface—everything that I was looking for. "he romance, the infatuation, the lust. It was the type of affair that you only read about in books and see in films. However, the red flags had presented themselves from the get-go and I initially ignored them. I wanted to see the good in this person, and believe that I could be a strong and positive force in their life. When it finally got to the point that I allowed myself to accept that it was abusive and emotionally manipulative, I felt stupid and ashamed that I could be so naïve and easily coerced into such a spiral of entrapment and darkness. I wanted to write this song not just as a form of healing for my own experience, but also as a message to others that you CAN walk away. That you're not alone. And that it's easy to get swept up and lose perspective when you're in the eye of the storm."

• Kirk

---

“Hang in Pieces” by Riches

In the wake of Young Galaxy, singer Catherine McCandless has been hard at work with her new project, Riches, a collaboration between her and choreographer Wynn Holmes. After releasing their debut album just over a year ago, they’re already teasing their next with the first single “Hang in Pieces”.

The ethereal, shoegaze-y song “articulates the altered, psychedelic, and beautiful web of intersecting ideas, senses, and feelings within the creative process.”

Hit play below, then close your eyes and float away.

• Kirk

---

“Eclipse” by Raine Hamilton

The latest song from Raine Hamilton (no relation… as far as I know) came out at the perfect time. “Eclipse” was released on Friday, mere hours before the longest partial lunar eclipse in six centuries.

Timing aside, Raine’s delicate voiced dances beautifully with the violin, for a song that was written after she witnessed a full lunar eclipse in the mid winter, saying ”it was profound. The loss of the reassuring light of the moon is a lot to handle, especially when we are already in our darkest moments of the winter. I learned a lot by sitting with the dark through that experience. There was something about enduring, moving through, and accepting that darkness that made me more able to trust my own ability to endure, move through, and accept. That winter eclipse taught me that I can make it through my own darkness, too."

“Eclipse” is from Raine's upcoming album, Brave Land, which drops on January 21st of next year, and check out the cool shadow puppet video below!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: November 08 - 14, 2021

“I Am Water” by July Talk

After weeks of teasing on twitter what their new album would sound like, July Talk has returned with a brand new single, “I Am Water”. The new tune, produced by Graham Walsh, is “ruled by a vast force of emotion, just as the tide is controlled by the moon”, fitting since it features the familiar ebb & flow between Leah and Peter’s vocals.

With the new song, they’ve also partnered with Six Shooter Records and founded Danuta, which is “equal parts independent record label, production company and creative collective, as a new home base for Leah Fay Goldstein and Peter Dreimanis’ many creative pursuits.”

They’re also gearing up for a Canadian tour, which includes a stop right here in Vancouver, at the Queen E Theatre on Dec 22nd, with Kandle supporting them!

• Kirk

---

“Waiting” and “Kill Something” by PUP

PUP has this excellent way of making even their heavier songs super sing-a-long-able (is that a word? It is now.). This is exactly what you get from “Waiting”, the first of two new tracks the band released this week.

The second, “Kill Something”, is about lead singer Stefan Babcock’s dog Moose. Apparently he loves to “destroy his favorite things, and then is sad that those things are destroyed” - which is definitely a dog thing.
The band will be touring again starting in February, including a show at the PNE Forum with Billy Talent on Valentine’s Day.

• Christine

---

“Look Out!” by Peach Pit

And now to mellow you out, the new song from Vancouver’s Peach Pit.

“Look Out!” has summer-beachy-sounds - which we can definitely all use right now - and comes with a super fun little video that give me serious Wes Anderson vibes. They’re new album, From 2 to 3, is set to be released on March 4th, and they’ll be heading out to tour it shortly after.
Two shows are listed for Vancouver - an all ages afternoon show and a 19+ one, both at the Commodore on April 24th.
Can’t wait for more music to be released between now and then, but in the meantime, watch the new video below.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: November 01 - 07, 2021

“Fade Out” by Brandon Wolfe Scott

We got a surprise new single from Brandon Wolfe Scott this past week - “Fade Out” - and while there was no mention of more coming, after hearing this one, I certainly hope so!

Of the song itself Brandon describes it being about societies, and his own, relationship and obsession from social media. The idea of ‘fading out’ or being able to get lost into an online reality as well as the struggle to stay in moment. Pretty damn relatable there.

We don’t have any solo shows to look forward to from Brandon (yet), BUT his band Yukon Blonde has a show scheduled for December 10th at the Hollywood Theatre.

• Christine

---

“Blush” by Gold & Youth

Gold & Youth’s new album is officially out now, and they celebrated by releasing the final single from Dream Baby.
Seeing as Louise Burns is IN the band, me getting “Emeralds Shatter” vibes from “Blush” makes a lot of sense.
Lead singer Matthew Lyall said that they wanted to “make a song that sounded like Stevie Nicks singing on top of a shoegazey version of Heroes” - and that describes the song SO well.
Hoping to catch them on December 10th at the Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver, where they’re opening the aforementioned show with Yukon Blonde.

• Christine

---

“Blackhole Town” by Astral Swans

Okay, can someone please remind me of this video when it comes time for the Prism Prize next year? Because the video for “Blackhole Town” — animated by Jordan Minkoff — is as delightful as it is weird.

The video is an excellent companion to the latest tune from Astral Swans, which Matthew Swann describes as “about a desperate person living in a small redneck town”.

Find “Blackhole Town” on the latest self-titled album from Astral Swans, which is out now!

• Kirk

---

Songs of the Week: October 25 - 31, 2021

“Lost Cool” by Holy Fuck (feat. Lucia Tacchetti)

Toronto’s Holy Fuck is getting the jump on a busy 2022, with a brand new single, “Lost Cool”.

Following their previous single “Airport Dreams” — which features Sarah Bonito from Kero Kero Bonito — “Lost Cool” continues the trend of guest vocals with Madrid-based Electro-Pop artist Lucia Tacchetti lending her pipes to the dark yet danceable tune.

The pair of songs proceed a comprehensive tour, starting February 4th right here in Vancouver, and crisscrossing the globe for the next four months.

• Kirk

---

“Life Goes By And I Can’t Keep Up” by Dear Rouge

Dear Rouge has slowly been releasing new music from their highly anticipated next album (due out next year), and after a banger of a song in “Fake Fame”, we get a delicate ballad in “Life Goes By And I Can’t Keep Up”.

Drew joins Danielle on sharing the lead vocals on this one, and in the video the pair roam the Vancouver streets (Burrard Hotel and Granville Street being the main recognizable landmarks).

Around the 3:15 mark of the song, I got SERIOUS “Anthems For A Seventeen-Year-Old Girl” by Broken Social Scene vibes, and that makes sense as the song was born during a jam session at Brendan Canning of BSS’s home.
It’s a beautiful track, with incredibly relatable sentiments. Give it a listen or five.

• Christine

---

“The Lullaby (My Oldest Love)” by Rose Cousins (feat. Tim Baker)

What’s better than a new song from Rose Cousins? How about a new song from Rose Cousins featuring a duet with Tim Baker?

“The Lullaby (My Oldest Love)” sees the pair of celebrated East Coasters come together for a song that was co-written after a conversation that the two had over coffee “revealed a theme that resonated deeply in both of us,” says Cousins. “Being a human is vulnerable and it's hard to remember the harsh voices in our heads are our own creations. We needed a lullaby for ourselves and that's what we made. I'm glad we recorded this duet to honour how it felt to share the experience. Sometimes just knowing you're not the only one is the greatest comfort."

Have a listen below, but make sure you’re sitting down first, because you’re going to need a chair to melt right into.

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: October 18 - 24, 2021

“Top 5” by Tokyo Police Club

After lots of new solo music from both Graham and Dave of Tokyo Police Club, we get an unreleased track from the band ahead of their upcoming tour.
The tour is in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their album Champ, and “Top 5” was written from the very same era. The song was never properly recorded until now, and the band got to use all of the skills learned over the past decade to capture it.
As Graham Wright says: ”10 years of Tokyo Police Club in one bite sized, 3-minute package!”.

• Christine

---

“Except For U” by Big Kill

Big Kill continued their slow drip of new music last week, with “Except For U”

The destructive pop duo (Cayne and Andy, formerly of We Are The City) describe the sound as “rooted somewhere between experimental and hyperpop, synthesizing the unique sonics from a range of influences, moving from commercial pop to noise to drill to Eurodance.”

As with their last drop, the song wasn’t released alone, but alongside a slowed down version of the track, and another song called “standing in a crowded room”. Check out their website for a countdown to new music, or here for all the links you need.

• Kirk

---

“History” by Beatrice Deer

Montreal-based "Inuindie" artist Beatrice Deer teased her upcoming album Shifting this week, returning with a brand new single.

"History" is one of the few English-speaking tracks on the album (the rest in Inuktitut or French) and Deer says the song is about “changing our focus because we may not be aware that we’re too focused on our past rather than looking ahead into our future. And it distracts us from getting in the lane to our destiny. It’s about shifting into place, a metaphor is driving. It’s hard to drive forward when you keep looking out your rearview mirror to look back into your life. Get out of your history and into your destiny."

Have a listen below, and keey an ear out for the new album on December 10!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: October 11 - 17, 2021

“Dying in LA” by Gold & Youth

As it gets closer to the release date (November 5th) for Gold & Youth’s new album Dream Baby, we continue to get new music to wet our whistles.
Matt Lyall, lead singer of Gold & Youth says that the ”Dying in LA” working title was a joke, but that he never changed it, and was also a play on ('“an inevitable sequel to) Bran Van 3000’s “Drinking in LA”.

While not being about literally dying, it focuses on Matt’s dying to get OUT of LA, and back home to his partner. I seriously can’t wait for this record.

• Christine

---

“Calle Easy” by Johnny Payne

If you’re in Vancouver, you may have been dreaming of something a little more tropical for the last few days. And that’s where Johnny Payne comes in.

The former member of The Shilohs released a new single last week, an incredibly relaxing tune called “Calle Easy” and if you close your eyes, you can almost feel the sand on your feet, waves at your ankles, and margarita in your hand.

The single is a tease of his upcoming album King of Cups, which was written, arranged, and produced by Johnny.

• Kirk

---

“You Lock The Door, I Broke The Window” by Sam Jr.

Do you ever hear a song, and immediately picture a music video in your head? Or think of the perfect placement in a movie/tv show? Because that’s what happened to me on first listen of the brand new single from Sam Jr. (who you may know as Sam Goldberg of Broken Social Scene fame).

Maybe it’s was the vaguely threatening title “You Lock The Door, I Broke The Window” or just the general proximity to the spooky season… but upon first listen to the fuzz-drenched, methodically paced song I was picturing a horror movie villain relentlessly stalking their prey in the chilling climax to a film.

That being said, Sam Jr. describes the ear-worm of a song as much less sinister and much more anti-establishment, saying it’s “a genuine anthem-in-waiting for everyone who’s spent a lifetime being told what they should and shouldn’t do and getting absolutely nothing in return. Everyone who’s realized that ‘Do what you’re taught’ and ‘Do what they say’ are drilled into you from childhood for some nebulous Other’s benefit but definitely not your own. So the message is to not let yourself be boxed in by others and what society can try to convince you is the ‘right’ thing to do because a lot of the time it’s for the benefit of the higher-ups. ‘Go to school your whole life so you can work for my company and I can ride around in my Porsche while you grind yourself into the grave for me, thank you. I’ve always put myself in positions where I break the rules to see what’s on the other side of life. Jump the fence, break the window, be a weirdo. Fuck the masses. Question what you’re taught.”

Have a listen below and let me know what you think.

• Kirk