Songs of the Week: June 09 - 15, 2025

June 16, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Let It Hiss” by The Barr Brothers

Last week The Barr Brothers announced their long awaited new album and dropped the title track, “Let It Hiss”.

The album comes eight years after 2017’s Queens of the Breakers, as the brothers Brad and Andrew have been incredibly busy since then, and they found they needed a new approach on this album. Brad explains, “In 2022, we found ourselves at a breaking point. It was clear something had to change. The real story of this record is the story of that change and everything that came after.”
With Andrew adding, “Let it Hiss is what happened when we stopped pretending everything was fine and finally listened to what was actually going on.”

Let It Hiss features some heavy hitters like Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), Patrick Watson, and Elizabeth Powel (of Land of Talk) and you can pick it up October 17 on Secret City Records.

Kirk

“Chinatown” by Adam Mah

Back from a year’s hiatus from music, Adam Mah returns with a new single “Chinatown”, originally recorded for his debut, 2023 album Year Of The Dog.

During the time away since “Chinatown” was recorded, Mah’s life drastically changed with the end of a 12 year relationship - but the song itself speaks to the “nostalgia of love rekindled and the quiet joy of shared moments in a new home”.

Mah says that the song is a snapshot of the relationship and “it’s about the beauty of starting over with someone, and the tapestry of the city becoming part of your story.”
I can’t wait to hear more!

Christine

“Lipsync” by Debby Friday

With her new album out in a few weeks, Debbie Friday has dropped a tease with the scorching video for the electro-rap jam “Lipsync”.

The video was co-directed with frequent collaborator Kevan Funk, and was shot in only thirty (30!) minutes at the historic Massey Hall in Toronto.

Check it out below, and you can pick up The Starrr Of The Queen Of Life when it drops on August 1st.

Kirk

“Rock N’ Roll Band” by The Dirty Nil

Appropriately writing about an Ontario band while I’m sitting at a cafe in Ontario - but it’s a good thing I have my earbuds in for this LOUD one from Hamilton’s The Dirty Nil.

“Rock N’ Roll Band” is the new single from their upcoming album The Lash (due out July 25th via Dine Alone Records) and if any wanna be rockstars are reading this, it’s billed as a “snarling, full-volume gut check for every wide-eyed hopeful with rockstar dreams”.

The lyrics speak for themselves, but the refrain (“someone else is getting rich, not you”) has me picturing sweaty crowds shouting it back to them on stage.
Speaking of which, they’ll be in Vancouver this July 26th at the Rickshaw Theatre!

Christine

Songs of the Week: January 02 - 08, 2023

January 09, 2023 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“SO HARD TO TELL” by DEBBY FRIDAY

Last week, DEBBY FRIDAY announced her debut album, GOOD LUCK, with a brand new single, “SO HARD TO TELL”.

With a beat that will be suck in your head all day, the song — and rest of the album — was co-produced & mixed by Friday and Graham Walsh (METZ, Holy Fuck). On the single, Friday says “I have a lower register and speak with vocal fry so I don’t know what came over me when I made this track. I have never in my life sung like this before and I had no idea I could even make these kinds of sounds with my voice. There’s no pitch effects on ‘SO HARD TO TELL’, it’s all me."

You can catch DEBBY FRIDAY on tour this year, with a stop in Vancouver at the newly-reopened Cobalt on April 15, and pick up the new album GOOD LUCK on March 24.

Kirk

“Days Of High Adventure” by SHAMUS

If I see the words “Rock Opera” in a press release, I’m already hooked.
This one is going to be coming to us from The Sheepdogs, and BROS member Shamus Currie, and not only are we getting an album, but an adventure card game as well.

”Days Of High Adventure” is the opening track off the album The Shepherd and The Wolf by SHAMUS, and is the intro into the world he’s creating and the vibe of the project.
I cannot wait to hear more!

Christine

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

December 06, 2021 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“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