Songs of the Week: May 29 - June 04, 2023

“Better Somehow” by Hannah Georgas

We finally have a release date for the new Hannah Georgas album! I’d Be Lying If I Said I Didn’t Care drops on August 25 via Arts & Crafts, and the announcement came with a new single, “Better Somehow”.

The new single instantly became my favourite of the teases for the album, and Hannah explains: “I’m trying to be more honest with my feelings and be more comfortable communicating them. I think this track is quite vulnerable in that respect. It’s about being less self-critical and accepting the side of me that’s weird, insecure and has faults. I’ve been through many situations where someone has hurt my feelings by saying something offensive and I end up not saying anything about it and feeling resentful. I don’t want to hold on to negative thoughts and let them eat away at me. I internalise a lot, and this song is about wanting to be more open.”

Have a listen below!

• Kirk

---

“Golden Days” by FRANKIIE

Happy release week to Vancouver’s FRANKIIE! Their sophomore album, Between Dreams, dropped last Friday and THIS Friday they’ll be having their joint release concert with Winona Forever at Green Auto.

Along with all of that awesome, they also put out another single and video from the record, “Golden Days”. The video follows “the inner world of a top-level gymnast, the unbreakable bond he shares with his coach, and the heartbreaking devastation they face after a sudden season-ending injury” (sorry, spoilers).

• Christine

---

“You Get What You Give” by Mint Simon

I love a good cover song, especially when the covering artist puts their own spin on it. And that’s what Mint Simon has done with the New Radicals power-pop classic “You Get What You Give”

Aside from giving the song a synth-pop update, the video was shot at Montreal lesbian sports bar Champs, and directed by one of the owners, Sarah Watts. Mint also opened up about what the song meant to them, and the reasoning for the video:

"When I first covered ‘You Get What You Give’, I realized how much of a timeless, important, and empowering song it is. After having a really rough last year between personal and community trauma, the lyrics are something I needed to hear over and over. Maybe at first, I was singing ‘don’t let go’ to myself, but making this video to celebrate queerness has given it yet another life, and one that’s not just about me.

With all of the attacks on LGBTQIA+, horrific laws, and true and utter hate - we wanted to make something beautiful and joyful and celebratory; to show that no one can take that away from us. I want our community to see this and be reminded of their own queer bars and spaces, the places that shaped their youth as it did mine, the love and intimacy and beauty that is being queer, and to see queer & trans folks being happy and loved and thriving. Existing.

This is the most raw, real, and vulnerable I’ve gotten in a music video, there are no bells and whistles. It feels grounded and rooted in some really intense self-discovery, undoing my own thoughts and patterns surrounding my transness, and is just authentically me. I’m so excited to show and share this side of myself, and our beautiful beautiful community."

Get the music in you and give it a watch!

• Kirk

---

“HUH” by Haviah Mighty

Okay, I actually had to get out of my computer chair and dance to this one - and hopefully you get a mid-day dance party too.
“HUH” is the latest from Haviah Mighty, after a few other releases this year, which hopefully means the new album is on its way too.

The new track is a very fun mix of a few different genres (hip-hop, house/dance, R&B) and it is hard to pin down in describing the progression, so I won’t!
Of the lyrical theme, Haviah says: “Huh is a tale of disappointment - following the narration of a desperate lover who is losing the love of their life, and vowing to change to reverse it all. Desperate to go back to how it was, they’re taking responsibility for the incompatibility, and suffering a mind/body separation of sorts-where their mind is wrapped up in the traumatic loss, unable to escape, but their body is free and has been let loose. They are living in two spaces, two worlds, and trying to return to perceived 'stability,' where ironically, what they want to return to, is the most unstable thing in their life.”

• Christine

---

“All Your Dreams” by Blue J

Vancouver band Blue J has announced their second studio album, Deep in the Fade, with a release date (August 25) and a new single “All Your Dreams”.

The dreamy (yes, I know) little piano ballad is what band-leader Justice McLellan calls “an anthem to the dreamer”. It gave me images of a movie where a person is walking along the waterfront contemplating their life or decisions.
Can’t wait for more from the group!

• Christine

Songs of the Week: May 01 - 07, 2023

“Blame Brett” by The Beaches

My first thought before even listening to the brand new song from The Beaches was, “jeez, I’d hate to be Brett”.

That’s because “Blame Brett” is the lead single for their upcoming album Blame My Ex, though Jordan Miller clarifies: “Blame Brett is a song with a little bit of a misleading title. It’s not really about my relationship. It’s about feeling vulnerable and afraid to open your heart to someone new. I'm basically talking to my future partners, explaining that I can only offer something casual while my heart heals—a song for all the hot messes out there.”

The new song is incredibly infectious and chaotic, as you would expect from the group, and you can grab the album when it comes out September 15. You can also catch The Beaches in a city near you when they hit the road this fall, including a show here in Vancouver at the Orpheum(!) on November 12.

• Kirk

---

“Expensive” by Chin Injeti ft. Jarrel The Young

An 80’s inspired tune for a Monday morning? Yes please!

Chin Injeti teased in January that he would be releasing new music this year, and after “All For Nothing” a few months ago, we have another one.

“Expensive”, which features producer and songwriter Jarrel The Young, takes inspiration from Grace Jones’ hit “Crush” and is about “celebrating the decadence of love and all it comes with”.
It’s an infectious tune that has me excited to hear more soon!

• Christine

---

“Cruel” by FRANKIIE

As we creep closer to the release of FRANKIIE’s new album Between Dreams, the Vancouver group is giving us another taste with the latest song, “Cruel”.

The third single off the upcoming album, “Cruel” is a dream-pop vibe that showcases the group’s ethereal vocals. About the song, the band saying “In an age of celebrated self-absorption, we were inspired to write this song about a fictitious character that we sing back and forth with. It is essentially an amalgamation of all the narcissists we’ve ever met and in turn we want nothing to do with.”

Check out the live performance video below, mark June 2nd for the release of Between Dreams. And if you’re here in Vancouver, check out their double album release party alongside Winona Forever at Green Auto on June 9th (please go in my place, as I’m out of town that weekend!)

• Kirk

---

“The North Shore” by Gord Downie & Bob Rock

The long awaited album between the late, great Gord Downie, and Bob Rock, Lustre Parfait, is finally out, and with it’s release, another single titled “The North Shore”.

It’s a gorgeous ballad, and does a great job balancing the rest of the album, and while I immediately thought it was about the North Shore of Vancouver, Bob explains more throughly:
"I had the music to 'The North Shore' around for a very long time. I think when Gord came to Maui when we did The Tragically Hip records, he stayed on the north shore of Maui, so we were joking that there was a north shore of Vancouver, it seemed there was a north shore of every culture and every country. But in the end what Gord wrote, it's not about any north shore at all, but just this beautiful story of a couple with his incredible imagery as the backdrop.”

Definitely one of my favourite records this year so far - it’s always nice to hear new music from an artist that’s left us. Amazing work Gord.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: March 27 - April 02, 2023

“This Too Shall Pass” by Hannah Georgas

After teasing it’s release last week, Hannah Georgas dropped her new song “This Too Shall Pass” on us!
This track comes with the promise of a new album, where Georgas takes the reins on production, and the recording process was done in Toronto on analog equipment.
Of the vibey little pop tune, she says:
“I think we have all experienced pain from things that have hurt us in our past and carried that weight on our shoulders long after the fact. Sometimes those feelings can resurface and affect us in our everyday lives. I know at least for me it has! This song was inspired by the idea of being able to recognize those feelings when they resurface and to try to move forward in a healthier way.”
Can’t wait for more music from Hannah!

• Christine

---

“Visions” by FRANKIIE

FRANKIIE is having some "Visions". The hazy, psychedelic new single is the second look at their upcoming sophomore album, Between Dreams.

Vocalist/guitarist Francesca Carbonneau says: “When dreams and memories entangle with our present moment, we can begin to question our entire reality. Visions is about that feeling, about sensing something beyond what’s happening right in front of you...as if right below the surface, anything you’ve ever lost is there; waiting for you to reach out your hand and grab it back. Like déja vu, which is something I experience frequently, a single moment can feel surreal, strange and yet strikingly familiar all at once.”

Between Dreams will be out on June 2 via Paper Bag Records, and below is the video, directed by Brandon Fletcher.

• Kirk

---

“Bloom” by Louise Burns

As we inch closer to the new album from Louise Burns, we get one last tease, with the release of the latest single "Bloom" last week.

The new song is an instant earworm, its bright and airy melodies perfect as the weather starts to turn. Of the inspiration for the new track, Burns explains:
“I got heavily into nostalgia as a coping mechanism during the pandemic which influenced some of the sonic palettes I was choosing. I suppose I tried to make a chill out downtempo love song inspired by mid-90’s video game music… I brought it to Jason (Corbett, co-producer) and he really made it come alive. I think it’s my first attempt at a proper love song, in my own faux-misanthropic way…”

The new album Element drops later this month, April 21st on Light Organ Records!

• Kirk

---

“Reality Bites” by Mise en Scene

Manitoba’s Mise en Scene is back with a brand new EP out soon, with a look at the title track dropping last week.

"Reality Bites" was inspired by the '94 movie of the same name, and is a burst of raw emotion and catchy melodies.

The new EP, Reality Bites is out on June 23rd via Light Organ Records.

• Kirk

---

“The Love Still Held Me Near” by City and Colour

If you were at BC Place last week for the RHCP show, you might have caught City and Colour opening it up.
I saw dozens and dozens of instagram stories of the set, and all of them in awe of the performance. Of particular note was Dallas’ band, made up of many familiar faces from our Vancouver music scene.

The new record came out this week, and the title track “The Love Still Held Me Near” was released as well.
It’s a phenomenal album, and I’m proud of the work my friends did to help create it.
Check out the latest song below.

• Christine

---

“Head for the Hills” by Justin Rutledge

Prolific singer/songwriter Justin Rutledge is gearing up for the release of his tenth(!) studio album, Something Easy. Last week he released a video for the latest single, "Head for the Hills".

Rutledge says “I feel like I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life trying to escape the city. I made it out a couple of times—once almost for good—but I guess the skyline called me back. I wouldn’t mind a quieter place to stand one of these days. I’ve tasted that life, and it was good to me. I slept better and woke before the sun, worked with my hands, filled my body with books, and anticipated the solitude at the end of each day. I wrote this song for those who search for that kind of life.”

Check out the video, directed by Kyle Gatehouse, below. And keep an ear out for Something Easy, coming out on May 19 on Outside Music.

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: February 13 - 19, 2023

“In Lightning”
“Hiding Out In The Open”
“Love Who We Are Meant To”
by Feist

What’s better than a new Feist song? Two new Feist songs.
What’s better than two new Feist songs? Three new Feist songs!

And that’s exactly what we got last week, with an extended look at the upcoming album, Multitudes. The three songs hint at the album’s depth, with “In Lightning” being a cacophonous song that lives up to the title; the gorgeous guitar and orchestral swell of “Love Who We Are Meant To”, and haunting, layered vocals for “Hiding Out In The Open”.

Multitudes is out on April 14th, and check out a playlist of all three new songs below!

• Kirk

---

“Garden” by FRANKIIE

Vancouver’s FRANKIIE is back with a brand new song, the first single from their upcoming album. “Garden” is a psychedelic, reverb-soaked dream pop from the duo of Vocalist/guitarist Francesca Carbonneau and vocalist/keyboardist Nashlyn Lloyd.

Lloyd says the song “was inspired by writing retreats to the northern Sunshine Coast of BC where we could detach from the intensity of urban life and focus on music together. We would write all afternoon in the cabin, and take a break to slow down and watch the stars expand forever. The stillness I feel while listening to the ocean or being surrounded by trees is always something I am longing to reconnect with while living life in the city.”

Between Dreams, the second full-length album from the group, drops June 2nd, and watch the live-off-the-floor video while you wait.

• Kirk

---

“Our Back Garden” by Brandon Wolfe Scott

Okay, so great minds think alike, right?
For the second garden-based song this week, Vancouver’s Brandon Wolfe Scott reflects on three years of living with his partner in a home in East Van with access to a beautifully-lush garden.
Interacting with the family with young children upstairs, including during the height of the pandemic, the song has become an ode to them as the family moved away and the house now sits empty.

The track will be on Brandon’s upcoming EP, Slow Transmission, due out on March 23rd.

• Christine

---

“They Don't Love You (Like I Do)” by Babe Corner

Over the past few months, Babe Corner has slowly been teasing their debut full length, and the latest is the new single, “They Don't Love You (Like I Do)”.

With beautiful harmonies that build to some incredibly catchy synth, the new song comes shortly after announcing the release date of the album, Crybaby, on March 21st, as well as a pair of release shows in Victoria and Vancouver — March 24 and 25, respectively.

So mark your calendars and have a listen below!

• Kirk

Song of the Day: September 16, 2019 - "Funny Feelings" by FRANKIIE

We’ve been getting a slow drip of new songs by FRANKIIE to tease the release of their debut full length Forget Your Head, and the latest is a witchy song called “Funny Feeling”.

The video (seen above) was shot “in 24 hours on 16 mm film in a dilapidated barn created by Jeremy Wallace MacLean, the band braved through the cold and rain (with an occasional warm up as they huddled together in a car), as they shot a video full of old school smoke machines, lasers, broken mirrors, dead birds (!) and answered the call and quintessential question everyone making a music video wants to be asked: "Anyone afraid of heights?"”

Forget Your Head comes out out on September 20 via Paper Bag Records, and on the 19th they’ll be playing their album release show at The Clubhouse here in Vancouver!

Song of the Day: July 19, 2019 - "Compare" by FRANKIIE

I looooove the bass line in this new tune from Vancouver band FRANKIIE - it’s exactly the song I needed this morning.

They’ve just announced their new album, Forget Your Head, and released the track, and lyric video for, “Compare”. I could tell right off the bat the song was about social media and how people present themselves online (authentic or illusion) - and the press release confirmed it.

The band’s new album will be out on September 20th through Paper Bag Records, and I can’t wait for the release show (which we’ll definitely inform you about!).