Song of the Day: May 25, 2020 - "Options Open" by Kathleen Edwards

After retiring from music and opening up her own cafe (ominously named Quitters) I never thought we would be hearing new music from Kathleen Edwards. But here we are, and I couldn’t be happier.

“Options Open” is the lead single to her brand new album Total Freedom, out August 14. Of her break, Edwards says “I had no desire to write, no desire to play. It allowed me all the time and space I needed to even just enjoy listening to music again. There were so many times where, if I was thinking about my own writing or playing, my heart just wasn't in it. I don’t want to write songs that are going to keep me in a dark place for two years. I didn’t have to carry a lot of the pressure of whatever course I was on previously…There’s a pressure sometimes to keep that ball rolling, and that’s what was so freeing about stopping altogether and starting again. I realized I’m entirely in control and deciding what my course of action is.”

Song of the Day: May 24, 2020 - "Sixteen Stares" by Aidan Knight

Oh boy, it’s new Aidan Knight! The last we heard from the Vancouver Island singer was back in 2016, but now he’s back with a brand new single, “Sixteen Stares”. It’s the first off his upcoming self-titled album, out August 14.

Aidan will also be jumping on Side Door for a show on June 5th at noon Pacific (but if you’re a 9-to-5’er like me, don’t worry, he’s also hinted at a more weekend-friendly show)

Song of the Day: May 23, 2020 - "Reset" by Rich Aucoin

Holy crap, this new Rich Aucoin song is a BANGER!

Not only is it catchy as hell, the message about gun control (or lack there of) and the video(!) are so powerful. It’s cut in a similar style to his first single “How It Breaks” with news clips from all the mass-shootings that have occurred since Rich began his cycle tour in2018 - which in total is 36!

And if you’re sensing a theme here, you’re not wrong! The new album, coming September 18th, is titled United States - and it was written while Rich cycled across the states. Looking at the track list, there is a song for the 12 states he went through (“Reset” is listed as OK, and “How It Breaks” is AZ).

Finally, Rich launched an Indiegogo campaign today where you can pre-order the album, merch of all kinds, including lots of limited edition items and vinyl, and when you DO, you get access to some of the songs ahead of the album release. You can find all of that info (and a message from Rich) by clicking here.

Song of the Day: May 22, 2020 - "In the Jungle" by Malcolm and the Moonlight

You may have seen Malcolm Holt. behind the drums in bands like Gay Nineties, Blonde Diamond/Youngblood, Art D’ecco, and Fake Shark-Real Zombie! But while he’s been at home these last few months, he’s brought back his solo project Malcolm and the Moonlight.

“In the Jungle” is the first single from his up coming EP, and he describes it as “an escapist reflection of wanting to leave everything behind and return to the jungles of Colombia where he and his fiancée Alexis Young (Blonde Diamond/Youngblood) vacationed just prior to the pandemic.”

Both the song and the video were recorded entirely in the couple’s home, with Holt writing, recording, and engineering the music, and Young providing backup vocals as well as directing the video “using only elements found at home — like an old Sony Hi8 camera, a video projector, and Phillips Hue lighting.”

Song of the Day: May 21, 2020 - "Yellow Light" by Small Town Artillery

Well this is adorable. Small Town Artillery released a video for their song “Yellow Light” from their recent EP A Knock At The Door, and it’s cute and sad all at once.

Lead singer Tom van Deursen was isolating alone on Pender Island and came up with the idea for the video, shooting it in one day. Bonus, it came with a little friend.

Check it out below and check out the rest of the record, as it was released on May 7th!

Song of the Day: May 20, 2020 - "Same Mistakes" by Hannah Georgas

Hannah Georgas has released another new single, “Same Mistakes”, from her upcoming album!

We got the first track “That Emotion” in March and that had been on repeat for me since…and with the new single, I’m eagerly anticipating the rest of the record. We don’t have a date for that yet, but I’ll take it single by single if we have to…

Check out the hauntingly beautiful (I mean, aren’t they all though?) track below:

Song of the Day: April 28, 2020 - "Bobcaygeon" by WiL

For years now, I have been telling anyone that will listen that one of the best live acts going is WiL. Between his intensity, his songwriting, and his penchant for breaking strings (so much so that his “internet presence” is @ibreakstrings), he’s remained one of my favourite singer/songwriters to see perform.

While WiL’s planned tour had to be scrapped for obvious reasons, the silver lining is the release of a brand new live album, Live at the Blue Frog. And not only that, but he’ll also be releasing live videos for each track of the album!

To celebrate the album out May 1st, WiL has teased us with a cover of a classic, The Hip’s “Bobcaygeon”. Have a listen below, and check out the album on Friday!

Song of the Day: April 16, 2020 - "How it Breaks" by Rich Aucoin

If there was any new music I needed to land in my inbox right now during my self-isolation, it’s Rich Aucoin!

Been eagerly awaiting this new track “How it Breaks”, as he’s been teasing it’s release for a while. The song, which Rich wrote during his bike across America for mental health charities, is a wicked protest song - which the video really highlights and emphasizes with the visuals.

The track pulls from a lot of elements, from David Bowie to a repurposed beat from Rihanna’s song “Umbrella” and the backing vocals include Kyla Charter (Patrick Watson/July Talk), Simone Denny (Love Inc.), James Baley (U.S. Girls), Maylee Todd, and Tarik Henry.

I can’t wait to hear more from Rich - hopefully sooner rather than later. But when you’re done listening to his protest song, he put together a protest PLAYLIST, so you can keep the energy going…