Song of the Day: August 31, 2018 - "RAYZ" by Royal Canoe

The good news is: there was a brand new Royal Canoe song released this week. The bad news is: we'll have to wait five months for more. "RAYZ" is the first single off Waver, due out at the end of next January, the band's first album on Paper Bag Records. 

"RAYZ" is a full of lazy, end-of-summer vibes and it's everything you'd want from a new Royal Canoe song. The band says it's "about feeling a dark cloud hovering above and needing to reach up to see past it. You can’t help but desperately clamour for the ladder, but what are you leaving behind? There are so many forces pulling you this way and that: Be more successful, always say the right thing, get fit, make goals, achieve them flawlessly, be better in every possible way. But the higher you reach, the harder it is to stay grounded to yourself and those around you. In the chaos all you want is some clarity.”

Song of the Day: August 30, 2018 - "When I Dream, I Dream Of You" by We Are The City

For the better part of the year, We Are The City has been promising new music, and today they delivered. "When I Dream, I Dream Of You" is the first single from their upcoming album, and the song was written, engineered, produced, mixed, and mastered, which they say is "a response to the now-changed landscape of recorded music."

The song is exactly what I was hoping for from new We Are The City; wild and brash, but not overly so, like a controlled chaos. It's also accompanied by a brilliant music video done by the aptly named folks at Amazing Factory. 

The new album, At Night, is out October 5th on Light Organ Records, and they'll be playing at the Vogue in a couple weeks for the Westward Festival. 

Song of the Day: August 29, 2018 - "Relentless" by Arkells

Last night, Arkells premiered their brand new song "Relentless" in a cross-country appointment-listening fashion when radio stations across the country all played it simultaneously at 6pm (9 Eastern).  

The song is the first single from their upcoming album Rally Cry, and the song comes from an anecdote passed along to Max Kerman and Mike DeAngelis from Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip, while they were out for a beer. 
Max says: “We talked a lot about being in a band that day. We talked a lot about Gord, and how much Paul adored him. There was one anecdote that we all got a chuckle from. He said that even when Gord was sick and was going through treatment, he’d say to Paul ‘we made a record right, and we’re gonna tour it right?’ Mike D. laughed and added ‘lead singers man, they never want to stop eh?’ To which Paul responded: ‘Ever since I knew him, he was relentless. Like a dog on a bone.’ And that old expression hit me - there was our chorus. And then I was thinking about the idea of being a part of something bigger than myself,” furthered Kerman. “I was thinking about the band, and how we lean on each other, and how each guy brings something different, but contributes to a larger idea. We find strength in each other. In being relentless.”

Put on on repeat before the new album comes out October 19, and if you need more, you can catch Arkells right here in Vancouver next weekend at the Skookum festival!

Song of the Day: August 19, 2018 - "Ain't It Always" by Sam Weber

In a sharp turn from yesterday's SOTD, please enjoy the gorgeous guitar and lyrics from Sam Weber that will make you want to stay in bed and think about love lost while eating your feelings all day.

"Ain't It Always" is the first single from the upcoming album New Agile Freedom. We won't have to wait long for it, as it comes out August 31st, and that's good because looking through the track list and description I want to hear the rest ASAP! (Terra Lightfoot duet?! Yes please!)

Listen to "Ain't It Always" below!

Song of the Day: August 18, 2018 - "Normal People" by Fucked Up

I'm gonna tell you right off the bat to not watch this video in public...like on a bus or something. You're going to weird out whomever is next to you.

Okay! So Fucked Up have a new song out from their upcoming album Dose Your Dreams, called "Normal People". 

The video features a few normal looking folks, and then a guy in clown makeup on the TTC that would probably make me cry... you'll see.

The band's album is going to be out on October 5th via Arts & Crafts, and they will be heading out on tour throughout November into January.

The Vancouver show is at the Fox Cabaret on December 12th - click here for more info.

Song of the Day: August 17, 2018 - "In My Head" by Sleepy Tom ft. Youngblood

Friday jam!

Vancouver's Sleepy Tom teamed up with fellow YVR-ers Youngblood for this new track titled "In My Head" that is likely going to make it on my Biking-To-The-Beach playlist!

His new EP is due out in 2019, so we'll have to just listen to this one on repeat until then.

Have a great weekend!

Song of the Day: August 16, 2018 - "Loss For Words" Colyn Cameron

Colyn Cameron (of Vancouver band Wake Owl) is putting out a solo album called Sad & Easy (Oct 12) and we have the first single to share!

"Loss For Words" (and the rest of the album) were recording in Cameron's apartment in California and the accompanying video for the track was shot in Needles, California all on 16mm film.

I love the sound and can't wait for more from the album. Check out the single below!

Song of the Day: August 15, 2018 - "There You Are" by Kirsten Ludwig

There are two types of "Summer Jams". The ones you crank loud on a hot summer day, and the ones for chilling outdoors on a warm summer evening. The latest single from Kirsten Ludwig is absolutely the latter. 

"There You Are" comes ahead of her new album, We Get It Now, which comes out October 5th on Kathryn Calder's new label, Oscar Street Records. 

So grab a drink, find a park, patio, or porch, and drift away.