Songs of the Week: August 25 - 31, 2025

September 03, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Can I Call You in the Morning?” by The Beaches

The Beaches celebrated the release of their latest album on Friday by dropping one last single, “Can I Call You in the Morning?”

The raucous song is the album’s opening track, and lead vocalist Jordan Miller explains it was “inspired by an experience Kylie [Miller] had at the end of her previous relationship. After a couple of late nights, she would call her ex and would spew all of her frustrations regarding their relationship, and then would be immediately apologetic and take it all back. It goes out to all of the chaotic girlies out there.”

The song sets the tone for the album, No Hard Feelings, which is out now (and I highly recommend it!) You can also catch The Beaches when they head out on tour this fall, including a Vancouver stop at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena (!!) on October 25th!

Kirk

“Distance” by Kylie V

Last week, Vancouver’s Kylie V released the first follow up to their acclaimed album Crash Test Plane with the song “Distance”.

The new single highlights Kylie’s incredible vocals on a slow-burn indie-rock twang, with Kylie elaborating: “I wrote "Distance" about all the things that circle around my brain constantly: memories I can't shake, anxieties, obsessions, deadlines, and the intense urge to run away from them. It's a bright, fun, twangy, catchy indie rock song that I had an absolute blast recording and arranging.”

No word on an album, but you can catch Kylie here in Vancouver when they play the Flats Fest on Saturday!

Kirk

“Crazy Love” by Frazey Ford

I just love Frazey Ford’s voice - it’s so unique and lovely - and thus I got excited to see there was new music out!

“Crazy Love” is a Van Morrison cover which, along with two other covers, will be included in the deluxe re-release of Frazey’s 2014 album Indian Ocean.

Of the songs Frazey says: “I don't tend to do a lot of love songs or covers, but these are three love songs by three of my favourite artists, and I thought they made a nice collection unto themselves, and a nice addition to the album. They’re special to me as they reflect a moment in time in this space of collaboration.”

Christine

“New Light” by KINLEY

KINLEY is back with her first new track in over a year with the bright and uplifting “New Light”.

The song is instantly catchy, and the east cost singer says it’s “about coming through challenges stronger, more open, and more grateful. It’s that moment you realize the hard times didn’t break you—they helped you shine even brighter.”

Hopefully we’ll be hearing more from KINLEY soon, but until now listen to “New Light” below!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: September 30 - October 06, 2023

October 07, 2024 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“A Day In The Life” by Shad

Holy crap we have a whole new EP from Shad!

Four brand new songs from the EP Reel Speakers were released last week. Of how it came to be, Shad says:
“Last summer, I decided to write, record, and release a two (or three) verse freestyle every week for 10 weeks on Instagram. I did it as a creative exercise, a fun way to connect with community, and also a tribute to some of my favourite beats for Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary. Those freestyles sparked a collaboration with the super dope producer and artist 14KT, a longtime favourite that I connected with in-person in 2019 at the DJ Jazzy Jeff’s incredible Playlist Retreat. What began with KT crafting a beat for one of those freestyles spiraled up into this project.”

You can listen and download to the whole EP on Bandcamp by clicking here, and I chose “A Day In The Life” for this week’s song based on the line about taking naps (which made me laugh). Give them all a listen!

Chrsitine

“Baby” by Basia Bulat

Oh boy, this just jumped to the top of my most anticipated albums for next year so far. Last week, Basia Bulat announced her newest album, Basia’s Palace, as well as the first single, “Baby”.

The new song is a fun, upbeat tune that spotlights the Montreal singer’s amazing voice, with Basia explaining,
“I wrote this song many years ago but never could get the lyrics and performance quite right. I wanted to try it again after becoming a parent–it’s about how we can’t control how or when we’re going to evolve even when we desperately want to. We keep making the same mistakes until we notice a pattern repeating, and even then, change is hard when we have to fully surrender to it. Could I make that predicament something I wanted to dance to? Could I sing the lyrics with joy instead of the sorrow I was channeling in the past? Nothing in my life has made me want to evolve faster, better, stronger than parenthood and the universe keeps throwing that desire back at me with a laugh and a wink, reminding me that things take time and to just love myself for being human. So this song from my past I couldn’t let go of finally made it onto a record–after all the times I tried to get it right I knew I finally had ‘the take’ when my daughter kept asking to hear it again.”

Basia’s Palace is out on February 21 of next year, via Secret City Records, and you can check out the amazing one-take video below (someone remind me of this when the next Prism Prize for music videos rolls around!)

Kirk

“Neon Signs” by The Weather Station

And another addition to my most anticipated for 2025 is the upcoming Humanhood from The Weather Station!

Toronto’s Tamara Lindeman announced the new album for The Weather Station with the instantly-captivating lead single “Neon Lights”, of which she says,
“I wrote ‘Neon Signs’ at a moment of feeling confused, upside down, at that moment when even desire falls away, and dissociation cuts you loose from a story that while wrong, still held things together. The song came with multiple strands entwined; the way that something that is not true seems to have more energetic intensity than something that is, the confusion of being bombarded with advertising at a moment of climate emergency, the confusion of relationships where coercion is wrapped in the language of love. Ultimately though, isn’t it all the same feeling?”

Humanhood drops January 17 on Next Door Records, and you can watch the video, directed by Lindeman, below!

Kirk

“Jocelyn” by The Beaches

Totally forgot to post this one last week!

The Beaches released a new track titled “Jocelyn” dedicated to their fans, and revolving around their new-found audience.

“We wanted to write about the experience of feeling undeserving of all the reverence that was being thrown away after 'Blame My Ex' did so well. All of us in the band are just a bunch of messy girls, and we felt strange about the way that some people were putting us on pedestals,” says singer Jordan Miller.

“Blame My Ex” co-writter Lowell kept singing the name “Jocelyn” and the band decided to seek out a fan with the same name. “We kind of wrote it about this brilliant young woman, and about the experience we were going through, feeling uncomfortable and undeserving of Jocelyn's adulation.”

Christine

Songs of the Week: August 21 -27, 2023

August 28, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Mmm, Delicious” by Nora Kelly Band

Not going to lie, a small part of the reason I am including this song is because the promo image caught my eye and I needed to share it.

But the bigger part of sharing the newest single from the Montreal quintet Nora Kelly Band, is that “Mmm, Delicious” is an incredibly catchy tune, with a quirky country twang.

Nora explains that the song “is one of the especially playful and raucous moments on the album, but at its core it’s me trying to make a deal with myself to stop arguing for argument's sake; a reminder to think about when to take the high road, and when to not give up the fight.
What I really like is how well the song showcases the talents of everyone in the band. All 6 of the players get the opportunity to contribute their own unique flavour to the track, hence… ‘Mmm Delicious’. We the band would be overjoyed if Coca-Cola, Red Bull, Putter’s Pickles or Classico picked it up to advertise their incredible products.”

Check out “Mmm, Delicious” below, or pick up the recently released album Rodeo Clown, out now on Mint Records.

Kirk

“What’s Even Real Anymore” by Old Man Canyon

We’re getting supernatural this Monday morning with a new track from Vancouver’s Old Man Canyon.
Frontman Jett Pace says of “What’s Even Real Anymore”: “While I was writing this song, I had a bunch of UFO sightings…. There was a two-week period where I quite literally would go outside, in the middle of the day, look up and see these strange metallic lights hovering in the sky over my house. Sometimes there would be 3 or more, disappearing, reappearing, staying in one spot for hours, forming triangles, and shooting off super-fast. I still have no clue what they are, but there was something magic about those experiences that instilled a sense of curiosity that I hadn’t felt since I was a kid, it opened me up again. Coupled with the confusion of the world, every source of truth was being questioned in some way. I think a lot of people felt the same.”
Well that’s nuts!
The video for the track is a must-see and fits the whole vibe of the song with both film and computer generated material.
There’s also a release show announcement - October 1st at the Hollywood Theatre.

Christine

“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Paranoid” by The Beaches

Honestly, every single song The Beaches have released from their upcoming album Blame My Ex has been a BANGER.
The new single “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Paranoid” is no exception, and I already know the new album will be one of my favourites of the year (it’s out September 15th).

Of the new song, the band says it’s “a song about feeling intense anxiety after a breakup. This had been my experience when my relationship had just ended. I wasn’t used to being on my own, so I found myself feeling really insecure in social situations - which was really surreal because I’m usually very confident and self-assured. However, the more people I’ve shown this song to, the more I’ve come to understand I'm not alone."
Also can’t wait for their show at the Orpheum on November 12th - and a LOT of the shows on their tour are selling out, so if you want to catch them, grab a ticket!

Christine

“In the Middle” by Darryl Kissick

You may know Darryl Kissick as a part of the group Foxwarren, but the Regina songwriter is gearing up to release his third full-length solo album, Goodbye Patterns.

The first single, “In the Middle,” is an entrancing song about “receiving a life-altering vision from another dimension and losing one’s sense of self, but for the better.”

Which is just a taste of the full album, which promises to deal “with the supernatural like aliens, werewolves, and time loops”

Check out the single below, and pick up the full album on October 6th!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: July 16 - 23, 2023

July 24, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Say When” by Dan Mangan

A few weeks ago, Dan Mangan went a little viral with a video talking about writing a radio friendly hit that he ended up loving, and now… we get to hear the results of that.

“Say When” was written with Lowell, and Dan explains “We were talking about how no matter how grateful you are for wherever you’re at in your artist journey, you still want more. It always feels like a truly big break is just around the corner, but that the obstacles between you and that break are ambiguous and ephemeral. It’s like you’re trying so hard and you’re stuck waiting for luck to come and anoint you. The song is totally earnest, but it’s also self-aware…like, I understand how ridiculous and self-indulgent it is to want cheerleaders to carry you through your hometown.”

As advertised, the new single is incredibly catchy, and will dig into your head for the rest of the day (week?). Check it out below, and don’t forget to root for Dan in the Polaris Music Prize, where his latest album Being Somewhere was just shortlisted!

Kirk

“Me & Me” by The Beaches

I’m so excited for The Beaches to release their new album Blame My Ex on September 15th, because every single they’ve dropped so far has been a banger.

This includes their latest “Me & Me”, which is a fast-paced anthem for single-hood (a theme to this new album).
It’s a beachy, soft rock jam tune and another perfect summer single (with a cute lyric video below).

Christine

Songs of the Week: May 01 - 07, 2023

May 08, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“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: October 03 - 09, 2022

October 11, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“After This” by July Talk

The new July Talk album is almost here. For what seems like months, the band has been teasing us on social media, culminating at a show last week at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern, where they played the full album front-to-back. The next day they released not one, not two, but three brand new songs from the upcoming album, Remember Never Before.

“After This” opens the album, and the Kevin Drew-produced song is exactly the banger you would expect from the band.

Check out the video for it song below, and click here for the other two songs, “Certain Father” (which features Spencer Krug!) and “Hold”.

Kirk

“Lighthouse in Little Lorraine” by Adam Baldwin

Adam Baldwin is one of my favourite songwriters particularly because of his ability to tell a story with his music.
”Lighthouse in Little Lorraine” from his newly released album Concertos & Serenades, is another brilliant example of his talent.
The song is about out of work fishermen and what they turned to in desperate times. I’ll leave the description at that, because the music video that was directed by award-winner Andy Hines, does a beautiful job to match the song. Oh, and I did a double take when I realized Greg Thomey of This Hour Has 22 Minutes fame is in it!

Baldwin will be in Vancouver at the Fox Cabaret on November 8th.

Christine

“My People” by The Beaches

The Beaches have been coming out with banger after banger this year, and the new track “My People” is another one.
About being young and broke in Toronto, and what they do to scrape by, the new track has driving drums and a killer bass line.
Accompanying the song is a live video from their hometown show at History in Toronto - which is full of the energy The Beaches are known for. Oh, and for something totally random but fun, the band is going to appear on this season of Top Chef Canada!

Christine

“All Roads” by Dan Mangan

I know what you’re thinking, and no; the new Dan Mangan song is not a cover of the Arkells hit “All Roads”. And not only is it not a cover, but Dan even joked that the two songs are about as tonally opposite as you can get.

Dan’s “All Roads” is a floaty indie-rock track about Mangan’s philosophical reflection ‘the thing I thought that was in the way, well it was the way’. He goes on to explain: “It’s absurd and beautiful how much consideration and yearning we place into a life so fleeting. In a billion years, it’s all just space dust. No John Lennon, no Oprah. Relativity is infinite, and we are infinitesimal. And yet, in the here and now, how could anything matter more? This song is about being emancipated by the beautiful humility of littleness.”

“All Roads” is the fourth song released off his upcoming album, Being Somewhere, which you can pick up at the end of the month, October 28th. Or if you want even more Dan Mangan Content, you can subscribe to his recently launched substack called Reality Shield, where you can find demos, AMAs, essays, and live show recordings.

Kirk

Songs of the Week: August 22 - 28, 2022

August 29, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“The People” by GLDMTH

You probably know Ryan Guldemond from Mother Mother, but the songwriter recently unveiled his brand new solo project, GLDMTH. Pronounced “Goldmouth”, the new project will be a blend of Guldemond’s music, photography, videography, & poetry. The first glimpse of that we’re getting is the new single, a dark, piano-driven tune called “The People”

Ryan says "This is my favourite song on the album. The chords and the mood opened up a space where I felt like I could be really honest about who I am, which like everybody, I imagine, is a lot of different and contrasting people. 'A drugger, a drinker, a monk up on a hill in Nirvana.' I’ve been through all of those phases, and though I may not be living some of them out any longer, the voices of those characters are still very much alive and vocal in the darker spaces of my mind."

Check it out below, and mark down September 23 for the release of the selt-titled debut.

Kirk

“Orpheus” by The Beaches

Following up on their tune “Grow Up Tomorrow” and all its summer vibes, Toronto band The Beaches have released “Orpheus”.
In an ode to the Greek mythological figure, The Beaches reimagine their lover as the ill-fated musician of the same name.

The tale goes that Orpheus was so in love with his wife that he tries to bring her back to life - only to lose her again. The Beaches on the other hand, learn from his mistake of turning back and instead, they choose to push forward.

Christine

“Sweet Oblivion” by KINLEY

Coming up on the release of her new album, KINLEY released the second single from Daylight last week, “Sweet Oblivion”.

The new song is an indie-pop jam, and KINLEY says it’s “all about summer vibes and feeling free in nature. It’s about self-acceptance and being happy where you are and having no worries in the world when you’re in paradise (aka Prince Edward Island beaches).”

Along with the new album, KINLEY has recently released a music instruction book, ‘Violin with KINLEY’. Available on Amazon, the book is designed to support her website Violin With KINLEY where you can learn to play from the comfort of your own home!

Check out the book & website now, and the new album when it’s out on November 4th!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: July 18 - 24, 2022

July 25, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Grow Up Tomorrow” by The Beaches

Reading the words “the song was co-written with LOWELL”, I already knew this was going to be a great new song by The Beaches, and I wasn’t disappointed.

”Grow Up Tomorrow” is super fun, incredibly catchy, and has one hell of a house party music video to go along with it.
I expect to hear this on the radio for the rest of the summer.

Christine

“Fire Escape” by Dan Mangan

I can’t imaging anyone wanting to hurt Dan Mangan, but that’s exactly what Steven Ogg is set out to do in the brand new video for “Fire Escape”.

Dan shares that the song “is about our unshakable longing to be seen, heard, and understood. When everyone was isolated at home I became enamored with the idea of fire escapes becoming a gathering place, a way to connect with your neighbors. I love the idea that even in the very worst of circumstances or with limited resources, humans will find a way to feel unity.”

The video, directed by Lester Lyons-Hookham, features Ogg following Dan around to attack, abuse, assault, and generally make his life a bad time… though it might not quite be what it seems at first.

Kirk

“Causeway Road” by Adam Baldwin

East Coast artist Adam Baldwin has released a new live video for his song “Causeway Road” off his upcoming album Concertos & Serenades (due out September 23rd).

I love both Adam’s voice and storytelling ability in his music, and this new tune is no different.
So in that vein, I’ll let HIM tell you what the song is about: “"Neil Young sang, 'The devil fools with the best-laid plans,' and in this case, a fellow's well-meaning ambition costs him a brother, a boat, and ultimately his livelihood. From betrayal to revenge, this story affirms another adage, 'An eye for an eye makes the world go blind.’"“
More please!

Christine

“Survivor’s Guilt” by Haley Blais

After headlining Khatsahlano and playing the Squamish Constellation festival this month, Vancouver’s Haley Blais isn’t slowing down, having just released another new song, “Survivor’s Guilt”

Haley says, ““Survivor’s Guilt” puts us at the scene of the crime where everything fell apart: the death of the family dog. I originally wrote it as this sad piano ballad, but David Vertesi (Producer) shifted the song towards something more summery and upbeat, contrasting the song’s stark lyrics and showcasing a sweltering slide guitar a la the style of Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do”. As we get older, inevitably we’ll lose things that are important to us. And when those losses come out of decisions, sometimes you can’t help but blame yourself. Sometimes the death of a childhood dog bursts up out of you, representing so much more than a dog, representing nothing more than a dog.”

The song is out now on Tiny Kingdom, and you can check out the video below!

Kirk

“Year of the Dog” by Tim Baker

At last, we have a release date for the new Tim Baker album! The Festival will be out on October 7th via End Times Music, and the announcement comes with yet another tease of the album.

“Year of the Dog” starts with a soft piano, the song builds to an emotional release, possibly emblematic of the album as a whole; Tim says the album is “about living through, and actually being thankful for, difficulty and pain, for how they make you grow and appreciate beauty you couldn’t otherwise.”

Kirk