Songs of the Week: April 22 - 28, 2024

“Good People” by The Harpoonist

You may know Shawn Hall as one half of the blues-rock duo The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer, but now The Harpoonist is striking off on his own with the help of some “Good People”

Produced by the legendary Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, the new song is the first single off his debut solo record, Did We Come Here To Dance. Hall says ‘“Good People” hit me like a brick to the head at my dining room table about a year ago, sort of like a mantra of some kind. I had this dizzying nature whirling around in me - it’s a call to action, in its simplest form asking “did we come here to dance or come here to die?”’

The album drops at an as-yet-unspecified date this summer, but you can watch the video below!

• Kirk

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“Subtitles” by Limblifter

After a big health scare for lead singer Ryan Dahle, Limblifter is heading back out on the road to tour their latest LP Little Payne.

Ryan has fully recovered from having open-heart surgery, and says that "after not playing guitar for a solid year, I have a renewed sense of joy that the instrument brings me. I hear it differently, I understand it in a different way. I definitely have a new appreciation for the fact that I can kinda sing and kinda play this instrument, and that I’ve written all these songs and made these recordings. It seems so basic but when you sink that much of your life into something it tends to pay off even if it’s just personal and private.”

The band will perform at Green Auto this Sunday in Vancouver - tickets can be found here.

• Christine

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“Roadtrip” by Thunder Queens

Last week the London (Ontario) trio Thunder Queens released their debut full-length album, Strike One, and are going on a “Roadtrip” to celebrate.

The high energy song is aptly named, with grungy melodies that deserve a spot on any playlist for your summer drives. And the video builds on that fun, following the trio on their own adventure.

Check out the video below, and you can pick up the new album Strike One now!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: April 15 - 21, 2024

“Find New Ways” by Dan Mangan

I am taking this song before Kirk does! (You can tell them about your Haunting playlist if you want though!)

Even more new music from Vancouver’s Dan Mangan this week, with the new single titled “Find New Way's” which is all about Dan “haunting his wife should he happen to die first”.

It might sound morbid, but it’s very sweet. Of it Dan says:
“The idea that even death can’t help our relationship from evolving and unfolding in new and unexpected ways. Lustful love is part of the journey, but most of a life together is actually about friendship. It’s about having a person. And not just staying with that person because you said you would, but finding new ways to appreciate their contribution to your life."

Mangan has announced some summer festival shows already, but hopefully there are some local shows announced soon!

• Christine

[Kirk note: the Haunting playlist Christine alluded to was from a tweet where I wanted to start a playlist with this song and “I Died So I Could Haunt You” by Stars, and build it from there]

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“Nic At the Museum” by Unessential Oils

The first time I heard an Unessential Oils song, I had CBC Radio 3 on in the background, and immediately sopped what I was doing when I recognised the distinctive voice of Plants and Animals singer Warren Spicer.

“Nic at the Museum” is the latest single from his new project, which is inspired by P&A bandmate Nic Basque, and his habit of visiting local museums while on tour.

Spicer says: “I can remember working on this song and realizing that I was writing a song about him, and accepting that it was simply about him going to museums and looking at art. Strange idea. However, with the performance of the band and singers the song took on a transcendental quality. All of a sudden, I was no longer sure what the song was about, all I understood was the feeling that it was giving me.”

Watch the video below (which features the titular Nic) and catch the self-titled debut album, when it’s out May 31 on Secret City Records.

• Kirk

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“I'm So F*cking Happy” by Blonde Diamond

The title of the brand new Blonde Diamond song could also describe how I felt when I saw new music from the Vancouver band!

“I'm So F*cking Happy” is the latest single from the group, a punchy synth-pop tune that is definitely a contender for this year’s ‘song of the summer’.

Hopefully this means a new album is on its way sooner rather than later!

• Kirk

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“Crisis Management” by Imposer

Sometimes timing in life is just weird.

A couple weeks ago, I randomly found myself wondering what happened to Calgary band Jane Vain & the Dark Matter. Then a few days later, their Facebook page drops an announcement of a new project from frontperson Jamie Fooks: Imposer.

The new band pairs Fooks with Ryan Sadler, and the first single is “Crisis Management” an indie-pop earworm that belies slightly darker lyrics.

Have a listen below, and hopefully we’ll be hearing more soon!

• Kirk

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“Sweet” by Grizzly Coast

Toronto’s Grizzly Coast released a brand new song last week, the sentimental “Sweet”.

The dreamy song is, appropriately enough, inspired by a dream Alannah Kavanagh had. It was about someone she knew as a teenager, which “got her thinking about how you don't have to be in touch with someone to remember them fondly.”

Close your eyes and have a listen!

• Kirk

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“nikâwîs” by ASKO

You may know Marek Tyler from nêhiyawak or WAYFINDING (among other bands), but last week he announced the upcoming, self-titled album for his latest project ASKO.

The latest song is called “nikâwîs” and Tyler says, “nikâwîs (aunt) câpân Harper told a story about family responsibilities. This summer, we lost our late aunt on Mom's side. As our uncle explains, to help our mom's sister take the next step, we refer to her not by name but by kâkî-kahwîsiyan (our late aunt on mom's side). Mom noted that after someone's passing, we don't refer to individuals by their name at all because kinship terms are used regularly. But nowadays, people will, after one year, preface the person's name with 'late-…' Two years ago, kâkî-kahwîsiyan shared her story of dancing Fancy with me. She said, ‘When I danced, I tried to carve through the air like an eagle.’ This song is for the aunties and nieces and their courage to dance, to be seen, be okimâw (the boss).”

You can find “nikâwîs” on the self-titled album, when it’s out on September 9 via Dine Alone Records!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: April 08 - 14, 2024

“The Banks of the Lough Erne” feat. Erin Rae by The Deep Dark Woods

We have another new track from Broadside Ballads Vol. III, the upcoming album from The Deep Dark Woods.

The song “The Banks of the Lough Erne” is their take on an Irish emigration song - which goes by many names: “Rambling Irishman”, “Lough Erne”, “New York Bay”, and “An Irishman From Monaghan”, just to cite a few.

Of the song, frontman Ryan Boldt say he “first heard it by the beautiful Irish singer Dolores Keane and her group De Danann. I thought Erin Rae, one of my favourite current singers going, would do a wonderful job singing the song, making it sound less Irish and more American. Our voices work very well together and I hope we can make more music together in the future.”

• Christine

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“Exhale” by iskwē | ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ

This past Friday, iskwē | ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ released her much-anticipated album nīna, and with it dropped a new video for the breathtaking album-closer, “Exhale”.

The whole album is deeply personal & autobiographical, with iskwē sharing about "the song: “I needed to remind myself that I am vibrant, that I hold life in me. I am an artist, a creative, confident and soft. I needed to remind myself that I hold love in my being. It was time I remembered these pieces in me which had been dormant for some time. So now I start again, to rebloom. To be reborn. To look at myself in the mirror and exhale. It’s time for me to breathe out…”

You can check out the video for “Exhale” below — directed by iskwē herself — and pick up the new album nīna in all the usual places!

• Kirk

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“Pull Yourself Together” by Basement Revolver

Also released this past Friday (it was a busy day for albums!) was the new, deluxe version of Basement Revolver’s sophomore LP, Embody.

Embody (Expanded) features a pair of new songs to go with the original 2022 release, including “Pull Yourself Together”, a dreamy song about songwriter Chrisy Hurn’s experience with really bad panic attacks at parties.

They say, “It makes me sad for baby Chrisy who was afraid that everyone was judging them or thinking negative thoughts towards them or their body. It has taken a lot of work to get to a place where I don’t panic in party-like settings anymore.”

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: April 01 - 07, 2024

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” by The Dirty Nil

When a cover of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” lands in your inbox and there’s a full solar eclipse happening today, you GOTTA put it in the Songs Of The Week!

The Dirty Nil’s frontman Luke Bentham says “We were asked to play (drummer) Kyle’s brother’s wedding as the house band and readily agreed. There was a list of dream covers and this one we laughed at but then learned. From the first time we did it in the jam space, I knew we had a good one. It was probably the highlight of our wedding set and we decided to record it for posterity. Special shoutout to (bassist) Sam’s amazingly high singing on this one. I find it very difficult to not sing the expletives present in the ‘Old School’ version of the song.”

I 100% get it, the version from Old School is probably my favourite cover of it, and they really could have easily thrown in the cursing on this one.

• Christine

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“Big Star” by Bend Sinister

Just ahead of their new album, Bend Sinister is giving us one last tease — or make that, two last teases.

Over the last few months, the Vancouver rockers have been releasing singles by the pair, and last week they dropped the latest: “Big Star”, along with “Gotta Get Ready”.

The video for “Big Star” was recorded live at Tyrant Studios, where they had an intimate show last year (and I definitely tried to spot myself in the quick flashes of the audience).

Mostly Great Things is out at the end of this week, April 12!

• Kirk

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“The New Joys” by Joel Plaskett

This may be a first for 3AM…spoken word poetry!

Joel Plaskett released his first spoken word poem "The New Joys" to coincide with National Poetry Month.
On how it came about, Joel says: “The New Joys is a poem I wrote a while back that we recorded in 2023 at the Carleton in Halifax with Bill Stevenson improvising gracefully on the Wurlitzer keyboard. Trying to pin down what it is about is a bit like trying to tell a teenager what to wear, but as a visual, imagine a seesaw with ‘the past’ sitting on one side and ‘the future’ on the other.  In the middle is someone trying to get the attention of their better half without completely losing their balance."

Here are the words written out, so you can follow along:

Words upon words, hooks into hooks
Can’t undo, can’t run through, can’t uncook the books
What’s old where nothing’s new?
So we hold our breath
Hit the wall
Half the time we fall
Other times we hang our heads
Blame it on our parents, their parents
This country, these threads
Or the first two words, after the title of course
Lay nothing on The New Joys

• Christine

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“Devil Talking” by David Myles

David Myles wants you to ignore the angel on your shoulder in his latest single, “Devil Talking”.

The title track to his upcoming album is a fantastically catchy ‘rock 'n' soul’ tune, that’s sure to get you moving, especially on the weekends. Myles explains, “Being too tight doesn’t work for me. I love letting off a little steam and having a good time on the weekends; it's often when I feel the most alive. But I'm also well aware of the shortcomings of doing that too much. Why are the things that can ultimately harm me so irresistible? Is this the Devil talking? 'Cause it sure feels good.”

Check out the groovin’ video below, and you can hear the whole album, Devil Talking, when it’s out on May 24.

• Kirk

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“Love changes everything I” by Dirty Three

I don’t think I can say anything better than the first chunk of the press release for the new song from Dirty Three, so I’m just gonna copy that verbatim:

Emerging once again from the unending waves crashing upon our fragile time-craft (adrift on the eternal ocean, and taking on water), Dirty Three are a) back, b) tangled in seaweed, rank with saltwater and possessed of three rather ominous thousand-mile stares (at least!), and c) not wasting another minute — as nothing is guaranteed.

The trio of Warren Ellis, Mick Turner, and Jim White have been long-time collaborators with people like Nick Cave, Cat Power, and, PJ Harvey, but now they’re back for the first Dirty Three album in over a decade!

Full of their familiar chaotic energy, “Love changes everything I” is the first single, and opening track, on the upcoming album, Love Changes Everything. Check it out below, and make sure to mark June 28 for the album’s release!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: March 25 - 31, 2024

“Highway Crawler” by The Porch Hounds

I was scrolling through Shred Kelly’s instagram ahead of their show in Vancouver last week, and notice the had posted that their bass player Nik Winnitowy was releasing a new song (and album) under the band name The Porch Hounds.

Well I made a mental note to look it up for today, and holy hell is it fun. The three releases so far are a combo of country, rock, and folk, and this single “Highway Crawler” just makes you want to move.
No news on the release date, but I’m going to be keeping an eye out for this one for sure.

• Christine

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“How Long” [Ace cover] by Jane’s Party ft. Zeus

Last week, Jane’s Party released a three-song EP, Common Guys (Super Deluxe), which comes with not one, but TWO collabs with the dudes from Zeus!

The first is a live session version of “Common Guys”, and also a cover of the 70's classic “How Long” by Ace.

This isn't the first time the two bands have worked together; first to record Jane’s Party’s Hot Noise album, then later to produce 2022’s Live Again. Vocalist/keyboardist Jeffrey Giles said, “‘How Long’ was on our list of covers to do, and with Zeus’ affinity for that 1970s classic aesthetic, we were over the moon when Neil and Carlin came on board for the jam. It is a tune we all know and love, and was grooving right out of the gates!”

Get your groove on below, and be sure to check out Jane’s Party at the Fox here in Vancouver this Wednesday.

• Kirk

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“Padam padam” by Jill Barber

Ten years ago, Jill Barber released her Francophone album Chansons, and now she’s back with an ENCORE!

ENCORE! features interpretations of songs by Charles Trenet, Blossom Dearie, Django Reinhardt, and Edith Piaf, with Jill sharing the classic “Padam padam” by the latter.

She explains, “It's always intimidating to interpret a song made famous by the spectacular Edith Piaf… but this is such a magnificent song, I couldn't resist attempting my own rendition. The trick is not to emulate her (impossible!), but to go for my own unique approach. I am so pleased with how this song, about a woman who goes quite mad, turned out.”

The full album is out on June 14th via Outside Music, and you can watch the video for “Padam padam” below!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: March 18 - 24, 2024

“If Something Is Good” by Adaline

After releasing various singles over many months, Adaline’s new album Hymnal has finally been released into the world.

The latest track is called “If Something Is Good” and it premiered recently on CBC’s “Run The Burbs”.

The album is based around Adaline’s reconciling queerness and her religious upbringing, and the new track focuses on just that.

She says: “It encourages us to fight for our valued connections. That if a church, a God, a belief system is truly good, it won't cause you to lose the people you love. Love doesn't cause estrangement or force you to choose at the expense of another. Love doesn't cause pain, loss, and confusion.”

• Christine

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“Lasts Forever” by Scenic Route to Alaska

Last week, Scenic Route To Alaska shared the title track from their upcoming album, Lasts Forever.

Packed with their usual infectious indie-pop, “Lasts Forever” is destined to be blasting on many road-trip summer-jam playlists this year.

Keep an ear out for the album when it drops on April 12 (and for their collaboration with Colleen Brown, Major Love, with their upcoming album too)!

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“Hey Hey” by Sam Weber

I needed a sweet little folk song this morning, and Vancouver Island’s Sam Weber delivered.

Of the track, “Hey Hey”, Sam says it: “feels like an articulation and realization of the concept that the truth always rises to the surface. I feel like my understanding of it and how it reflects in my own life continues to change as time goes on. It's like it's still growing on its own, and I with it.”

It’s a beautiful little tune with Paul Simon vibes, perfect for a Monday.

• Christine

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“Are You Receiving Me?” by Stephen Hamm: Theremin Man

Stephen Hamm has been a stalwart in the Vancouver music scene for over three decades — as a part of bands like Slow, Canned Hamm, and The Evaporators — and last week he released the second single from his upcoming album, Songs of the Future.

“Are You Receiving Me?” delves into themes of “losing connection, longing for reconnection, and the poignant pain of isolation”, and the video, directed by Ani Kyd-Wolf of Sugar Skull Films, mirrors those feelings with the vastness of space.

Have a watch below, and check out the new album Songs of the Future. when it’s out on May 6th.

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: March 10 - 17, 2024

“Just A Scratch” and “Catch Me If You Can” by Tokyo Police Club

I’m not crying, you’re crying…
Okay, I was a little misty-eyed when I got the news that after over 20 years of making music, Newmarket’s own Tokyo Police Club will be hanging up their hats.

Thankfully they’re not just leaving us with nothing, they announced several finale shows in Toronto with a lot of familiar names, and now they’ve released tour dates, including two shows here in Vancouver (with Born Ruffians!), the first of which is already sold out.

To top all of this off, we’ve been presented with two new songs: “Just A Scratch” and “Catch Me If You Can”. Of the songs guitarist and keyboardist Graham Wright says:
"I hear bits that we might have come up with in the garage back then, and other bits we could never have dreamed up until right now. I hear all the music we ever loved and all the music we ever made - and most importantly, I hear US, the four of us, the hivemind that is TPC, with all its ideas and enthusiasm.”

Okay great, I’m crying again. I cannot wait until the shows in September!

• Christine

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“Seeing Ghosts” by Nice Horse

Hot off their win for Horizon Group or Duo of the Year at this year’s CMAB Awards, Calgary country juggernaut Nice Horse has announced a new look for the band; going forward as a duo with Katie Rox and Brandi Sidoryk. And to cement that change, the pair released a surprise new single “Seeing Ghosts” last week, an upbeat country breakup song.

Brandi expands on the new direction: “There's no question that the past few years have been some of the hardest times of our lives, but the thing that got us through it all was writing and we did a lot of it. This song, and the rest of the album, is a result of that and we're so proud of the music we've created. We hope the fans, along with everyone who supported us and our former bandmates, are proud of the direction that we're heading.”

(As an aside, if I had a nickel for every time Brandi was in a band that changed into a duo… I’d have two nickels, but it’s weird that it happened twice?)

• Kirk

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“Somebody’s Son” by Haley Blais

Ahead of her North American tour that starts this week, Haley Blais has dropped her new single, “Somebody’s Son”.

The haunting, acoustic song was written & recorded during the making of her last album Wisecrack, with Blais sharing, “This is me talking directly to my brother; one family ending, and another beginning. A conversation with him spanning years.”

You can check out the new song below, and see all the dates on her tour on her website!

• Kirk

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“Gum” by Alex Badger

Alex Badger is hoping her new single sticks.

Last week, the Vancouver singer released her latest single “Gum”, a chill and catchy indie pop tune, that highlights her vocals.

Have a listen and check out the video below!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: March 04 - 10, 2024

“Wild God” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

You better believe the minute I saw there was a brand new single from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, I dropped everything I was doing to listen.

“Wild God” is the first release from the band in five years, and is the title track for the upcoming 18th(!) studio album. In contrast with their last reelase, Ghosteen, the first single is bursting with uplifting energy, especially as it swells to a huge chorus of voices.

Cave himself said, “There’s no fucking around with this record. When it hits, it hits. It lifts you. It moves you. I love that about it. I hope the album has the effect on listeners that it’s had on me. It bursts out of the speaker, and I get swept up with it. It’s a complicated record, but it’s also deeply and joyously infectious. There is never a master plan when we make a record. The records rather reflect back the emotional state of the writers and musicians who played them. Listening to this, I don’t know, it seems we’re happy.”

Can’t wait to hear the whole thing when Wild God is out on August 30.

• Kirk

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“What is Real?” by Skye Wallace

Skye Wallace wants to know “What is Real?” on her new single. The bangin’ earworm is “about the death of reality, the feeling that your understanding of the world is being ripped out from underneath you.”

Skye goes on to explain: “The song is about a story of my mom's. When I was young, my mom had a recurring dream that felt incredibly real. She began to feel as though her waking life and dream life were separate existences and started having trouble deciphering which world was the real one. At a certain point, she felt as though something asked her to choose between the worlds - she chose ours, and from that point on she was never able to return to that dream existence again.”

“What is Real?” is the second song released of a batch Skye co-produced and co-wrote with Hawksley Workman, and I am quite excited to hear the rest of them.

• Kirk

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“New Nostalgia” by Rich Aucoin

All good things come to an end, and that is the case with Rich Aucoin’s legendary interactive live show experience. A little while ago, Rich announced he only had a few more years of his confetti-filled, sing-a-long, parachute dance parties, but luckily you still may have a couple more chances to see him, as he recently dropped a new single with a whole host of tour dates.

“New Nostalgia” is destined to get people moving at the upcoming shows, and the video celebrates those dance parties with a compilation of fan recordings from all across the country (I know I recognised a clip of mine in there from the last show at the Fox!)

You can catch Rich here in Vancouver when he returns to the Fox Cabaret on October 3, and check the video below for a full list of cities!

• Kirk

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“Danger to Dream” by Kandle

Just WOW!
Kandle’s latest release (from her upcoming album, out later this year), is a sultry, dark, and haunting one, and comes with a Tarantino-inspired video that is a must watch!

Of the “Danger to Dream” Kandle says it: “came to me one evening while gently strumming my nylon acoustic in my bedroom, playing with the idea of hope not always being a good thing. It instantly felt timeless. A Morricone meets trip hop inspired tale of trying to wake up from the trance of unworthiness. Of the voices in our heads telling us we should be more, have more. 
In honour of women’s month/endometriosis awareness month I gotta say, Lauren and I shot this stunning video while she was breastfeeding and I was having an epic flare up getting violently ill between takes BUT we showed absolutely no signs of slowing down OR compromising our vision! I’d say that’s a pretty powerful, beautiful representation of women’s resilience and dedication to their art ; ) #girlpower ” 

With Vancouver’s Debra-Jean Creelman killing it with the back-up vocals, this might be my favourite release of the new album yet!

• Christine

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“One Woman” by Major Love

In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, Major Love released their latest single, appropriately titled “One Woman”

The anthemic song is a celebration of women, with songwriter Colleen Brown saying “I wanted to highlight the way women are pitted against one another, and question the idea that there are only so many spots available for women to succeed. This felt especially true for me in my twenties, but as I get older it's more apparent that it's just bogus. We always lose when we fight with each other instead of banding together - when we spend time comparing ourselves and being in a state of jealousy instead of celebrating one another. It chips away at our self esteem when we don’t stand up for our own worth, personally, but also collectively, with and for one another.”

The collaboration between Brown and Scenic Route to Alaska are releasing their latest album, Live, Laugh, Major Love, on May 18th, and you can check out the video for “One Woman” below — which was filmed on a record-breaking -45.9 degree January day in Edmonton!

• Kirk

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“Danser tout le temps” by Combine the Victorious

Vancouver’s Combine the Victorious have released a new track that is guaranteed to make you want to dance.
Reminding me of disco, “Danser tout le temps” is fun, and funky.
Of it CtV says: “Reminiscent of Air the three of us have created a French-pop dance tune that expands your attention span with catchy synth and guitar hooks. The French lyrics just seemed to make sense at the time, an elegant way to convey a simple message.”

Check it out below!

• Christine

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“Goon” by Dear Rouge

We all know a Goon, or have encountered one out in the world, and Dear Rouge has immortalize these people that just seem to reappear.

“Goon” is the super energetic new single, released last week, and it’s a certified banger with driving drums, a very sing-a-long-able bridge, and I can already picture lead singer Danielle rocking out on stage.

More of this please!

• Christine