Songs of the Week: June 30 - July 06, 2025

“Sunshine” by Royal Wood

Summer’s in full swing, so maybe you need a little more “Sunshine” in your life?

The new song from Royal Wood comes with the announcement of his ninth studio album, Dear John. It’s an upbeat, summer jam that Wood says is “inspired by the Buddhist ideology that behind every cloud is a forever blue sky. No matter the metaphoric storm in life, peace and love are always present. Once you steer your heart with this principle, hope and faith return. I wanted the song to feel like sunshine itself. Like I had it in a bottle, and I could drink it. This is my summer jam.”

Have a listen below, and kee an ear out when Dear John drops on October 17 via Cordova Bay Records.

• Kirk

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“Good Luck, Babe!” (Chappell Roan Cover) by Rose Cousins

I’ve heard Chappell Roan’s song “Good Luck, Babe!” probably 100 times, so when I saw that Rose Cousins covered it, I needed to hear it.

There’s something special about a cover when it completely becomes it’s own, and this is definitely one of them. It takes the sentiments from the original and puts it into a delicate and soft reworking that creates an air of melancholy.

Beautiful job and hopefully we can hear it in October when she performs at St James Hall on the 6th!

• Christine

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“Pine” by Kathleen Edwards

Kathleen Edwards is giving us another tease of her upcoming album Billionaire with the stripped down, vulnerable new track “Pine”

The song came to Edwards on the road, as she explains: “On the 2-day drive from Ottawa to Nashville, a line popped in my head, ‘when we go our separate ways, the thought of you stays.’ By the time I arrived in Nashville I had written ‘Pine’ and it was the first track we put down for this album. Friends who can’t be lovers. A classic country song. At first the arrangement made me feel incredibly bare and exposed, but I now love the spare production, Jason’s super dry electric solo makes me feel like Dusty.”

It’s a gorgeous song to crank on the car stereo on a late summer night, with the windows down as the sun sets. Listen for yourself below, and note down August 22nd for the release of Billionaire.

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: May 19 - 25, 2025

“Colours of My Dreams” by Yukon Blonde

Yukon Blonde is back with a brand new single about the highs and lows of being in a band, called “Colours of My Dreams”.

Bassist & singer James Younger says “Playing in a band is like being in a family. It’s a cliché, but most clichés stick around because they’re rooted in something real,” but also adds “There’s the other side too: the fights, the quiet grudges, the cold stares when someone’s not pulling their weight during a snowy 2 a.m. load-out in Montreal.” Younger finishes by sharing, “Over the last decade, one thing’s stayed solid: when life goes sideways and the ground starts to shake, that damp room and this band have been the only place I’ve wanted to be. It’s the one thing that keeps setting me straight again.”

“Colours of My Dreams” is exactly the jam you would expect from the band, which you can listen to below!

• Kirk

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“Give It Up” by Royal Wood

One of Canada’s smoothest vocalists Royal Wood is back with a brand new single, “Give It Up”.

The raucous song is about tuning out the noise, with the singer/songwriter explaining: “This song is a message to myself to live to my fullest potential at a time when the world is all too scary and social media tells us to be like them. It's a call to action, a reminder to listen to the quiet voice within, make genuine art, and truly live the life I choose. After all, why else are we here?”

Check out the video below!

• Kirk

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“Finger” by Mother Mother

Well, the first line in this song certainly grabbed my attention immediately.

“Finger” is the latest track from Mother Mother, off their upcoming album Nostalgia, and explores double standards and gender roles. Singer Ryan Guldemond elaborates: “The song addresses several societal double standards: the stigma surrounding female promiscuity compared to the celebration of male conquest, the absurdity of the animal class system — why are some creatures considered food while others are viewed as pets? — and the feelings of shame that heterosexual men may experience when exploring sensual pleasures that are not traditionally considered masculine.”

You’ll have to check out the video — directed by Sterling Larose — to hear that opening line for yourself (I don’t want to spoil it). And mark June 6th on your calendars for the release of Mother Mother’s tenth(!) studio album, Nostalgia.

• Kirk

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“One More Dance Around The Sun” by Great Lake Swimmers

So excited that Great Lake Swimmers are back with their first new music since 2023’s Uncertain Country.

The timing of the release couldn’t be more perfect as “One More Dance Around The Sun” is the perfect summertime road-trip song - and the weather is starting to match that now!

Of the tune lead singer Tony Dekker says: “This song pinpoints a very distinct feeling for me. Riding around in the summertime with the windows down — maybe after a solid workday, maybe on route to an epic road trip, or maybe just seeing familiar surroundings with renewed vision. It’s about perseverance, new beginnings, and the searching that invites wisdom and perspective as the planet spins on.”

The band also announced a tour with Ontario’s Elliott BROOD but we’re going to have to wait until October 23rd to see them in Vancouver at the Biltmore Cabaret.

• Christine

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“If You're Gonna Change Your Mind” by Logan Richard

Last Friday, Logan Richard released his latest album Character Traits, as well as a video for the track “If You're Gonna Change Your Mind”.

The song is a funky jam that Richard co-wrote with his friend Chris Kirby, and he explains “We wanted to write a fun song that I could rip a guitar solo over, and we came up with this. I think it is groovy, and love all the sweet sounds that producer Josh Van Tassel threw on it.”

You can check out the chill park video below for that solo, and pick up Character Traits now!

• Kirk

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“Gher Bede (Sanguijuela)” by Empanadas Ilegales

Vancouver band Empanadas Ilegales is about to release their new record, Sancocho Trifásico, on June 6th and they’re celebrating with a record release party on the same day at the Hollywood Theatre.

The latest single “Gher Bede (Sanguijuela)” took inspiration from Swan Lake and reimagined it with “classical inspiration and Latin psychedelia”. Plus the title “Gher Bede” translates from Farsi as 'shake it,' 'groove,' or 'move your hips' - which you’ll definitely be doing when you hear them perform.

• Christine

Songs of the Week: August 07 - 13, 2023

“Cry All Day” by Spencer Krug

Spencer Krug has been hard at work for the last couple years. Two solo albums, an instrumental album, and a Sunset Rubdown reunion tour, yet he’s still at it.

“Cry All Day” is the first single off his latest solo album, I Just Drew This Knife, which is actually a collaboration between Krug, Jordan Koop, and Eli Browning. Krug’s distinct vocals were added to Browning's instrumental pandemic recordings, with Koop on lead guitar.

The new album is due October 13 on Krug's own Pronounced Kroog label, and he’ll be touring with Koop and Browning, including a show here in Vancouver at the Fox Cabaret on October 18th!

• Kirk

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“You Always Get What You Want” by Yukon Blonde

Always a great week when you find out there is a new Yukon Blonde album on it’s way!

Shuggie will be the band’s 6th album, and is going to be released on October 12th via Dine Alone Records. We also got a new track, “You Always Get What You Want”, the 3rd single from the new record.

The new music fits smoothly into Yukon Blonde’s latest sound evolution, with hypnotic vibes and synth-laden tracks. I can’t wait for the full album in two months!

• Christine

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“Nothing is Perfect” by Metric

Metric is here to remind you that “Nothing is Perfect”. The new tease of their upcoming album, which is a ‘sequel’ to their 2022 album Formentera, is a gorgeous, stripped down track. Emily Haines explains:

“'Nothing Is Perfect' stands out on Formentera II as the lone track that is carried by only acoustic guitar and vocals. We explored many renditions of this song during the recording process, but in the end found that everything we tried adding seemed to detract from the essence of it. Lyrically, 'Nothing Is Perfect' takes the common expression away from its usual meaning, giving substance to “nothing” as a concrete thing that can be actively pursued and obtained: Nothing is perfect/ I've earned it/ All absence achieved/ No fences, no exits, no lies. For the official music video, we worked with Justin Broadbent to create an atmospheric and surreal visual accompaniment to enhance the otherworldly mood of the song, with stylistic nods to Terrence Malick and David Lynch. The song ends with a meditative and anthemic repetition of the word “nothing”, like I'm celebrating it and singing its praises. I love nothing!”

Formentera II is also out October 13th, and you can check out the video below!

• Kirk

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“Starting Again” by Royal Wood

Royal Wood is a name I haven’t heard for a hot minute, but I was super excited to see that he had new music out!
Not only do we have today’s single “Starting Again”, but I completely missed the other release “Just Another Day” which is the title track of the EP (due out September 22nd - also the first day of his latest tour).

Of “Starting Again” Royal Wood says: “This song was inspired by the timeless idea of love and loss. Since the beginning of stories and recorded art, the theme is as old as the sea. Two ships sailing together, go different routes, never to return to each other again. Fate had other plans and more adventures ahead. So you start again…”

Wood is heading out on the road with the legendary Bonnie Raitt, but you’ll have to head to Penticton to catch them, as that’s as far west as they look to be heading.

• Christine

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“Even if it Kills Me” by Charlie PS

Last week Vancouver’s Charlie PS released her latest single, “Even If It Kills Me”.

The blues-rock influenced song was written about change & perseverance, with Charlie elaborating: “I feel that a lot of people agonize over their flaws and insecurities or just care too much and want to change into a version of themselves they think will make them happier. But I hope that ‘Even If It Kills Me’ will help remind people that being the realest version of yourself and showing the world the good, the bad and the ugly is a much more freeing place to be in.”

The song is the title track for her upcoming EP, Even If It Kills Me, which should be out later this year.

• Kirk
  

Songs of the Week: June 26 - July 02, 2023

“Air I Walk” by Zeus

Oh my gods, Zeus are back! It’s been nearly a decade since we last heard from the Toronto quartet, but they have returned with a brand new album, CREDO.

Along with the album announcement comes their first single, “Air I Walk”. Picking up exactly where they left off, the incredibly catchy song features the band’s unparalleled harmonies and throwback rock sound.

CREDO is out September 8th on Arts & Crafts, and immediately became one of my most anticipated albums of the year.

• Kirk

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“Just Another Day” by Royal Wood

Royal Wood is back with a 5-song EP Just Another Day (set to come out September 22), and has released the title track.
He not only (for the first time) solely wrote, arranged, performed and produced the song himself, but also engineered and recorded it as well.

He’s heading out on the road to support living legend Bonnie Raitt - although the closest stop to Vancouver is Penticton, that might be worth the drive for that show!

• Christine

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“Skin” by Arkells

Arkells have to be one of the hardest working bands going right now. They recently announced a new album, which will be their third new album in as many years (four if you count the acoustic album Campfire Chords).

The latest single is “Skin”, and feels destined to be a big singalong at Arkells’ legendary live shows. Singer Max Kerman explains the song “is about choosing to love more purposefully, about finding meaning in the hard stuff. It’s about coming to the understanding that the best and deepest relationships are far beyond what we experience on the surface.”

Sticking with their two-word title scheme, the new album is called Laundry Pile and drops September 21st!

• Kirk

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“Baby Teeth” by Haley Blais

This week Haley Blais announced that her sophomore full-length album, Wisecrack, will be due out on September 15th (via Arts & Crafts)!
We’ve had three singles released from said album over the last few months, and with the release announcement came another one, titled “Baby Teeth”.

The track comes with a super trippy video that I could see being on the Prism Prize list next year (speaking of, this year’s winner is announced on Thursday).
Of the song Haley says: “It’s a bunch of snippets of my life, of seemingly insignificant moments that made me who I am today, I think.”

• Christine

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“Walk Among the Stars” by Odds

Last week Odds released the third single from their upcoming album, Crash The Time Machine!

“Walk Among the Stars” is described as “a musical map pointing to fond memories of camaraderie and creativity. It's set in the town of Bath, Ontario and it's a tribute to friendship. Kindred spirits raise a toast on the frozen lakeshore. It's a rock 'n roll landscape painting.”

Check it out below, and keep an ear out for Crash the Time Machine, out August 4th!

• Kirk

Song of the Day: February 14, 2016 - "Long Way Out" by Royal Wood

Just in time for Valentine's Day! It doesn't get much more romantic than Royal Wood! 

His new album, Ghost Light, is set to be released on April 22nd and the first single, "Long Way Out" is now out!

The video for the song was released last week (see below) as well, and every week he'll be releasing a version of the songs on the album for his Pledge Music Campaign - see THIS for more info.

If this song is any indication of the direction of the album, I'm super excited. Guest artists include Hannah Georgas and Felicity Williams (Bahamas), but Royal Wood performed about 90% of the album himself. Check out this single below.