“You Can't See Me (This Low)” by ZOON

This past Friday, ZOON (Zoongide’ewin) released their latest album HAPPY THOUGHT SCHOOL, and celebrated with a new video for “You Can't See Me (This Low)”

The new track is a catchy, lo-fi pop jam about “relapse and despair, tracking Zoon's lived experience with heartbreak, loss and recovery”.

The album is named after a school Zoon went to where he experienced racism as one of the only Native students, as he recalls: “As I got older, I realized how damaging that experience at Happy Thought School really was, especially because the name itself felt so contradictory to what I lived through there. I carried a lot of mental pain from that time and turned to substances to cope with those memories. Then, when I got a 24-track recorder, I started recording those emotions instead of burying them. At first it was hard to write about that school, but as I got older and became more confident in songwriting, it became easier to finally put those experiences into words. A lot of HAPPY THOUGHT SCHOOL came from confronting that pain directly and turning it into something honest.”

You can listen to the album now, out everywhere, and check out the video for “You Can't See Me (This Low)” below.

Kirk

“Homegrown” by Mimi O'Bonsawin

This track is perfect for me this week because I’m currently home in Ontario visiting family - though the video is making me long for camping in Algonquin Park!

Mimi O’Bonsawin has released “Homegrown”, a new single from the recently announced album Evoke which comes out August 28th. Hopefully it continues with the summer vibes that this track has - I picture this playing at your next outdoor hang!

O’Bonsawin says: “this song comes from such a real place inside my heart. This is the kind of music I listen to, this is the style of music that feels like home to me. Instead of fighting the urge to fit in, we just let loose on this one. It’s my favourite way to close a concert or stir up a dance party at a festival.”

Christine

“Sad Summer” by sundayclub

Now to switch vibes, here’s “Sad Summer” by Winnipeg duo sundayclub.

The shoegazey song (which will appear on their self-titled album on July 10th) “is an outpouring of youthful malaise–a candid nod to the complexities, expectations, and emotional exhaustion of young adulthood, mixed with [singer] Courtney expressing the dread she felt around the unknowns of the pandemic”.

Now this one I’m picturing you listening to it on a hazy beach day with a cold drink. Excited to hear the full album when it’s out!

Christine

“Calling All Angels” ft. Martha Wainwright by Amy Millan

Two Canadian vocal powerhouses have teamed up for a classic cover, as Amy Millan joined with the legendary Martha Wainwright on “Calling All Angels”, originally by Jane Siberry and k.d. lang.

The two incredible singers recently wrapped up a short tour together, and decided to team up for the cover, with Amy explaining, “When I moved to Montreal as a young student with my first guitar, being in the orbit of the loft parties and folk houses is where I first heard Martha and her distinct, powerful and now iconic voice. Grateful to call her a dear friend, I always wanted to find a way for us to sing together. This Canadian gem of a song by the great Jane Siberry (originally sung with k.d lang) was the perfect beginning for us to get this gentle chance to convene with angels.”

Listen below to hear their voiced intertwine beautifully!

Kirk

“Accidental Tattoo” by case/lang/veirs

And speaking of k.d. lang, it was a decade ago when she teamed up with Neko Case and Laura Veirs to form the appropriately named case/lang/veirs,

Now they celebrate the 10th anniversary of their self-titled album with a deluxe vinyl that not only includes a dozen live tracks from their tour, where they played each others songs, but also the brand new, unreleased “Accidental Tattoo”.

lang explains, ““Accidental Tattoo” is a song that came from a sudden creative spark that happened between all 3 of us a couple of years ago. Neko wrote the lyrics, Laura and I organized Neko’s poetry, adding arrangements and intertwining it with melodies and music. And then I worked closely with Larry Goldings on the actual production to fasten all of it into the song you hear now.”
With Veirs adding, “So much in the world has changed since this album first came out in 2016, but when I listen back, these songs still hold up to my ears. I’m proud of what we made together and am thankful for the opportunity to have been part of it. The experience challenged me, taught me a great deal, and ultimately helped shape the artist I am today.”

The album is out on September 4th, but you can hear the new tune now!

Kirk