Songs of the Week: November 17 - 23, 2025

November 24, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“You Get Me By” by MOONRIIVR

New MOONRIIVR alert!

I can’t believe it’s already been almost two years since their debut album, Volume 1, and I’m so excited to get new material.
“You Get Me By”, according to lead singer Gavin Gardner is “an attempt to hold up a mirror and offer the same empathy to myself that I would offer a friend navigating the challenges of self and identity. My mind creates boundaries for who I think others expect me to be, when hopefully they just want me to be free.”

There’s no other word on any upcoming album, but the band is about to do some touring in Europe with the Rural Alberta Advantage (THAT would be a fun show), so hopefully upon their return we’ll get some more info!

Christine

“Devastation’s Bliss” by Larkk

Last week, Larkk not only released their latest single, but also announced a debut album!

“Devastation’s Bliss” is a haunting piano-driven number from the solo project of Dear Rouge’s Danielle McTaggart, and is the latest in a string of singles that we now know will culminate in the release of Cinders on February 13, 2026.

Have a listen below!

Kirk

“Margaret” by Elliot C Way

Following up his previous single from this year “Fool’s Gold” Vancouver’s Elliot C Way has released a new track titled “Margaret”, a song about his grandparents, Margaret and Nelson Beattie:
“It tells the true story of their decades-long love, and their shared life in rural Ontario that was filled with hard-won moments of resilience and devotion. At its heart, the song is a tribute to his grandmother and her quiet battle with MS, a disease that slowly changed the shape of their lives but never broke their bond. It’s also a testament to his Grampap, as told from his perspective, and his unwavering love as he stood by her side through the difficult years.

Whenever Elliot visited them on their Uxbridge, Ontario hay farm, he got to witness the kind of rural, hardworking life that made a profound impact on him at a young age—hot, muggy summers with fireflies and iced tea, and unforgettable Christmas gatherings that included hockey games on frozen ponds and snowmobile rides in the deep cold. As Elliot describes, “My grandpa was the patriarch of the family and a man larger than life. He was a humble farmer, a handyman, and the kind of father and husband any man would hope to be. I saw first-hand the power of his love for my grandmother in the care he gave her until the very end.””

It’s a beautiful and sweet ballad that you can hear live in Vancouver on the 26th of November at the WISE Hall, or the 19th of December at Green Auto!

Christine

“Amour Amour” by Common Holly

Montreal’s Common Holly (aka Brigitte Naggar) just released a cover of the 1970’s Anne Germain song “Amour Amour”

A beautiful and vulnerable version of the song, Brigitte explains: “This song has been in my head since I first encountered it during a film screening in a high school French class. We had the opportunity to watch Peau D'ane, a 1970's fantasy musical belonging to the infamous 'Demy-world' of director Jacques Demy. Between the chromatically whacky music, outrageous themes and whimsical visuals, I haven't been able to get it out of my mind, so a little while ago I adapted the song to guitar. This is my first time singing in French too, which is technically a language I speak, but has never found its way into musical releases until now, so this is also a nod to my home in Quebec and to my French heritage.”

Along with the new cover, she’s also teasing more music for next year, so be sure to keep an ear out!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: September 15 - 21, 2025

September 22, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Caverns” by Larkk

You know Danielle McTaggart as the voice of Dear Rouge, but now she’s venturing out on her own with a brand new solo project, Larkk.

Her first single is “Caverns”, a stunning piano-driven instrumental, with Danielle explaining the song is “about the deep and sacred journey I took when I suddenly and unexpectedly experienced deep grief like I had never known. The memories of my life, the unexplored ideas and questions I had long ignored, began to awaken — as I went down into the caverns of my heart. I heard a voice in my innermost spirit, ‘When you can’t go around, you must go down.’ And I knew I could not go around. So down I went. I walked slow, afraid and shaking, through the tunnels of my heart. Down, into the places I’d forgotten or wished I could forget. And yet, to my utter surprise, there was such treasure there. Rare and precious jewels being formed in the heat of my heart's pain. And I knew, somehow I was not alone.”

Danielle promises Larkk will embrace intimacy and introspection, and you can see that in the incredible live performance below.

Kirk

“Naturally” by The Barr Brothers ft. La Force

The new album from The Barr Brothers is out in a couple weeks, and we’re getting one more tease with the new song “Naturally” featuring Ariel Engle (aka La Force)

I’ve been a fan of Ariel Engle back to AroarA (her project with partner Andrew Whiteman) so I was very happy to see her as one of the many guests on Let It Hiss, which also includes contributions from Klô Pelgag, Elizabeth Powell (of Land Of Talk), Patrick Watson, and Jim James (from My Morning Jacket)

She adds her ethereal vocals to the heartfelt ode to personal growth and self-acceptance, as Brad Barr notes: “This was one of the more demanding songs that I wrote for the album. It required a degree of honesty and humility that, once finished, set the mark a lot higher for what I hope to offer as a songwriter. It helped me open up to some hard truths.”

Listen to “Naturally” below, and pick up Let It Hiss when it’s out on October 17th.

Kirk

“An Effort To Forget” by Headstones ft. Emily Haines

Legendary Canadian rockers Headstones are back with a brand new album, and along with it, a new single featuring Emily Haines!

The Metric singer joined the band for the banger “An Effort To Forget”, their latest single off their eleventh(!!) studio album, BURN ALL THE SHIPS.

Singer Hugh Dillon says, “If there is such a thing as a perfect storm creatively AND collaboratively for this band, ‘An Effort To Forget’ IS that song. Emily Haines is an incendiary talent, adding a powerfully subtle, emotionally elegant perfection to this intensely haunting piece of pure rock & roll.”
And Emily adds she “Was thrilled to make it happen. Instant Headstones classic. I love how the song turned out!”

BURN ALL THE SHIPS is out now, and also features a collaboration with City & Colour’s Dallas Green!

Kirk

“It Come Alive” by Rich Hope

I’m still kicking myself over missing out on Rich Hope recording an album live off the floor at the Anza Club in April, but the beauty is…it’s recorded!

The first song, “It Come Alive”, was released this week as well as the date for the Live At The ANZA Club (November 21st).
Of the reasoning behind recording a live album, Rich says:
“I have always been at my best live, and we wanted to capture what this version of the band is doing. Since we didn’t have the luxury of extended touring and recording every show, we decided on finding the best venue and taking two nights to capture lightning in a bottle. The ANZA is a venue where I played some of my first shows in a neighbourhood where I lived for many years, so I feel a personal connection to the club.”

Well, Kirk and I do too, as it’s been our home for hosting Simpsons Trivia for 4+ years now and I can’t wait to see it highlighted in more videos and songs!

Christine

“Deeper Than Blue” by MALINOWSKI

Yes, that MALINOWSKI!

Jay Malinowski of Canadian staple Bedouin Soundclash, is releasing his first new solo music in more than a decade.

His first offering “Deeper Than Blue”, is a ballad for his son Finn and of writing the song, Jay says: “when I went to write a love song for my son Finn, I was in unknown territory. I had written love songs before but this was a love I had never felt. I went through all the cliches; Valentine’s Day and roses etc. I went through all the colours; reds, pinks and violets. None of that was right. Then I thought about blue.
I went to art school for painting and loved reading about the history of pigments. Blue is very rare in nature and highly prized. I once read an art historian talk about blue in even more poetic terms; that if you try to reach the blue of the sky or the blue of the sea it moves to the horizon or depths just beyond you. You can never reach blue. That was my love for Finn, I thought, except my love is just a bit deeper.”

No official word on a full project, but the rumour mill is churning!

Christine

“Halloween Mask” by sundayclub

It’s the autumnal equinox, so what better way to celebrate than with a song called “Halloween Mask”?

The new track is from Manitoba’s sundayclub, and is an (appropriately) haunting and dreamy indie-pop jam from the duo of Courtney Carmichael and Nikki St. Pierre.

Have a listen below, and check out their upcoming EP Bannatyne when it’s released (appropriately) on October 31st on Paper Bag Records!

Kirk

“Freaks” by Mermaid Island

So fun news… the one and only George Stroumboulopoulos started a music label called No Dad Records, and the first band to sign on released some music!

Mermaid Island, a punk-rock band based out of Los Angeles (though multi hyphenate frontwoman Allie MacDonald is a Canadian!) has released their first track, “Freaks” off of their upcoming album.

It’s a fast-driving track both in pounding drums and furious vocals (that gives me PUP vibes) and speed, with the song clocking in at just over 2.5 minutes.

I’m so excited to see what else is to come from Strombo’s label and from the band.

Christine

Songs of the Week: March 04 - 10, 2024

March 11, 2024 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

Songs of the Week: October 24 - 30, 2022

October 31, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Shadow of You” by Riches

This feels like a fitting song to starts today’s selection of songs, as Riches describes themselves as “the soundtrack to an imaginary folk horror film about the cult of the Creative Entity. Each song is a scene detailing one aspect of its devotional life.”

“Shadow of You” is the latest “scene” from the duo of Catherine McCandless (ex-Young Galaxy) and choreographer Wynn Holmes, a haunting song that comes from “a particularly fragile part of Catherine's vocal range”, and “represents the scene of a slow motion, psychedelic maypole ritual celebrating the entity/demon Creation.”

Have a listen below!

Kirk

“Meet Me At The Rio” by Dear Rouge

One of my favourite tracks off of Dear Rouge’s latest album, Spirit, was the ode to Vancouver movie theatre The Rio.
”Meet Me At The Rio” now has a music video, appropriately filmed at the theatre (with some other concert footage snuck in there).
The track is catchy, and fun, with a great sing-a-long during the chorus. A great pick-me-up for your Monday morning.

PS They’re performing at the Vogue Theatre on December 10th with Hotel Mira!

Christine

“Right On Woman” by Jason Collett

The new album from Jason Collett is out at the end of the week, and we got out last preview of it, in “Right On Woman”

The upbeat and breezy tune features what Collett calls “an injection of Montreal energy”, with guests like Marcus Paquin, Joe Grass, Liam O'Neil, and backing vocals by Neil Quin, Carleigh Aikins, and Meg Contini.

The album is called Head Full Of Wonder, and is out November 4th on Arts & Crafts

Kirk

“Scars” by dwi

We got a new single from The Zola’s Dwight Abell’s solo project dwi!
Of the song he says it is about “being brave enough to share your scars with people. It’s hard, and can get ugly… but it might save ya or somebody you love. Although lyrically this song is on the darker side of things, I wanted to make it something you could scream out loud at a party. An anthem of hope.”

There’s also an acoustic version up that I included so you could hear both!

Christine

“Shivers” by Self-Cut Bangs

Self-Cut Bangs started as a home recording project during the pandemic, by partners Cayley O'Neill (Dark Time) and Shawn Petsche (Napalmpom), but now they’re ready to beat the slump and release their sophomore album, Circle Around The Free

The first single off the album was “Shivers”, and aside from being a power-pop banger, it has a great JRPG inspired video, with Cayley and Shawn scouring Calgary to look for new band members while avoiding police, protestors, and other evils of the music industry. And the in-game footage was taken from an actual working prototype made by the band! Will we see a full-on Self-Cut Bangs RPG in the future? Hopefully!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: May 02 - 08, 2022

May 09, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“My Mother’s Hand” by Jill Barber

This past weekend was Mother’s Day, and to commemorate the day, Jill Barber released a gorgeous, heartfelt song called “My Mother’s Hand”.

Though it was released ahead of Mother’s Day, the song was actually written for Jill’s mother’s birthday, after realising she had forgotten to send a card. Jill says "I wrote this song on my Mother’s birthday last year, and quickly recorded a rough demo and sent it to her as a voice note. We are very close, but live very far apart and hadn’t seen each other for over a year. I wanted to express my gratitude to her in the best way I know how, through my music. I am a mother myself now of two young kids and I sometimes worry that I’m not doing as good a job as she did with me… but I know she set the example I will always strive for, and I wanted to thank her with this song."

Have a listen below!

Kirk

“Gimmie Spirit” by Dear Rouge

New video and track from Vancouver’s Dear Rouge this week. “Gimmie Spirit” from their album Spirit that was released last month was directed by non other than Steve Bays, and follows the band around a party, and some beach fireworks.

If if you want to see them perform live, you’ve got a lot of chances coming up. They open for Vance Joy on May 27th, headline Friday at the Constellation Festival on July 22nd, and then are opening for Metric on August 13th!

Christine

“3 Sisters” by The Rural Alberta Advantage

Hot off the release of their recent EP The Rise, The Rural Alberta Advantage have released a brand new video for the song “3 Sisters”

The video — directed and animated by Jared Sales — follows the band’s tour van across the country, going from show to show. Sales stated, "We wanted to show the synergy a touring band has with each other, their audiences and the landscapes between them. Stylistically, we told the story from a bird's eye view and using 3D animation was the most effective way for me to bring it to life."

And you can catch the band with their van this summer on tour, including a date here in Vancouver opening for Broken Social Scene (or, if you find yourself in California next week, you can see them in LA with me!)

Kirk

“Part of Me” by Blunt Chunks

Even if you haven’t heardthe Toronto-based Blunt Chunks before, you may be familiar with some of the faces involved. Fronted by Caitlin Woelfle-O'Brien (of Jaunt), the band also features members of of The Weather Station, Luna Li, Hooded Fang and more! And not only that, but their latest single “Part of Me” features vocals and piano from Broken Social Scenester Brendan Canning.

Dubbed a “narcissistic anthem” by Woelfle-O’Brien, the song features her voice soaring to a crescendo, where it’s joined by a choir of others. Have a listen below, and check out the self-titled EP out now!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: January 24 - 30, 2022

January 31, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Endless Time” by The Weather Station

Remember that brief window of time when everything seemed to be starting to settle down and we could do things again? In that window I was lucky to catch The Weather Station perform a live show, where she teased some brand new songs.

Now we have news of an upcoming album, How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars, which is a companion piece to last year’s Ignorance. Tamara Lindeman says “When I wrote Ignorance, it was a time of intense creativity, and I wrote more songs than I ever had in my life. The songs destined to be on the album were clear from the beginning, but as I continued down my writing path, songs kept appearing that had no place on the album I envisioned. Songs that were simple, pure; almost naive. Songs that spoke to many of the same questions and realities as Ignorance, but in a more internal, thoughtful way. So I began to envision How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars, a quiet, strange album of ballads. I imagined it not as a followup to Ignorance, but rather as a companion piece; the moon to its sun.”

The album is out March 4, and you can check out the first single “Endless Time” below!

Kirk

“Hayloft II” by Mother Mother

Why aren’t there more song sequels?

After the surprise recent breakout of their song “Hayloft”, Mother Mother first released a brand new video for the song, and then decided it was time to revisit the characters of the narrative. Singer Ryan Guldemond says, “We have learned more about the story of ‘Hayloft’ through our fans that we ever could have unearthed ourselves. We began to ask, is there more to this story? And the resounding answer seemed to be ‘yes!’ It was an ambitious task to try to do justice to a story, and to characters, that have grown far beyond the initial intention of the song. We hope that the sequel in both song and video form honor and live up to what our incredible fans have helped ‘Hayloft’ to become.”

The first “Hayloft” remains one of my favourite Mother Mother songs, and the sequel definitely does it justice. Check it out below!

Kirk

“Small Talk” by Dear Rouge

After a few single releases, Dear Rouge finally has a release date for their new album!

Spirit will be coming out on April 8th, and of it the band says it is: “the most vulnerable and raw side of Danielle’s inner thoughts, and the line being thrown from these questions and deep reckonings within oneself, urging you to grab hold and hang on for dear life.”

“Small Talk”, the latest single released last week, is about looking for authentic connections in today’s world. I can get behind that!

Christine

“It’s Too Quiet” by Begonia

Another single from Winnipeg’s Begonia was released this week - which hopefully means she’s building up to a new album!

“It’s Too Quiet” is about the beginning of relationships when lots is still uncertain - it’s about when “you just want to be around someone all the time but aren't sure how they feel about you, so you second guess every text and every phone call before finally just being vulnerable (AH!) and letting the other person know how you feel.”

In March, Begonia is heading out on tour in the States, with a stop at SXSW - and let’s hope things get better here so we can see her in Vancouver once again.

Christine

“What’s Wrong With Changing?” by Wallis Bird

One of my favourite things about the Vancouver Folk Music Festival is the workshops, especially going to a workshop where I know one of the acts and then immediately being enamoured by one I hadn’t heard of.

That’s exactly what happened a couple years ago when I went to see Skye Wallace, and came out a new fan of Ireland’s Wallis Bird. So I was happy to see she had a new album on its way, Hands (Nine and a Half Songs for Nine and a Half Fingers).

Out on May 27th, the title references Wallis’ own hand, and was announced with a pair of songs, “What’s Wrong With Changing” and “Pretty Lies”.

The first (which you can check out below) is a raucous track about the inevitability of change, and the need to adapt.

Kirk

Songs of the Week: October 25 - 31, 2021

November 01, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Lost Cool” by Holy Fuck (feat. Lucia Tacchetti)

Toronto’s Holy Fuck is getting the jump on a busy 2022, with a brand new single, “Lost Cool”.

Following their previous single “Airport Dreams” — which features Sarah Bonito from Kero Kero Bonito — “Lost Cool” continues the trend of guest vocals with Madrid-based Electro-Pop artist Lucia Tacchetti lending her pipes to the dark yet danceable tune.

The pair of songs proceed a comprehensive tour, starting February 4th right here in Vancouver, and crisscrossing the globe for the next four months.

Kirk

“Life Goes By And I Can’t Keep Up” by Dear Rouge

Dear Rouge has slowly been releasing new music from their highly anticipated next album (due out next year), and after a banger of a song in “Fake Fame”, we get a delicate ballad in “Life Goes By And I Can’t Keep Up”.

Drew joins Danielle on sharing the lead vocals on this one, and in the video the pair roam the Vancouver streets (Burrard Hotel and Granville Street being the main recognizable landmarks).

Around the 3:15 mark of the song, I got SERIOUS “Anthems For A Seventeen-Year-Old Girl” by Broken Social Scene vibes, and that makes sense as the song was born during a jam session at Brendan Canning of BSS’s home.
It’s a beautiful track, with incredibly relatable sentiments. Give it a listen or five.

Christine

“The Lullaby (My Oldest Love)” by Rose Cousins (feat. Tim Baker)

What’s better than a new song from Rose Cousins? How about a new song from Rose Cousins featuring a duet with Tim Baker?

“The Lullaby (My Oldest Love)” sees the pair of celebrated East Coasters come together for a song that was co-written after a conversation that the two had over coffee “revealed a theme that resonated deeply in both of us,” says Cousins. “Being a human is vulnerable and it's hard to remember the harsh voices in our heads are our own creations. We needed a lullaby for ourselves and that's what we made. I'm glad we recorded this duet to honour how it felt to share the experience. Sometimes just knowing you're not the only one is the greatest comfort."

Have a listen below, but make sure you’re sitting down first, because you’re going to need a chair to melt right into.

Kirk

Photo Credit: Sebastian Buzzalino — Photo by Lindsey Blane

Songs of the Week: September 06 - 12, 2021

September 13, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Fake Fame” by Dear Rouge

Dear Rouge has come roaring back with a very timely single, “Fake Fame”. The song takes aim social media influencers and socialites, with a huge (and incredibly catchy) tune that takes the band’s sound to new heights.

Singer Danielle McTaggart says "Stardom is alluring and fascinating. It can also be toxic, destructive, and entrapping. Just before writing this song, I actually deleted all social media from my phone. It felt like a small act of rebellion against the anxiety and pressure I felt. In our digital age where anyone can blow up overnight, or one can buy followers and validation, what does notability mean? “Fake Fame” is our attempt to answer to this question. It examines our addiction to technology, social media culture, fast fashion, and the tension between desiring and despising fame.”

While there’s no specific date for Danielle & Drew’s upcoming third album, they tease it will be out early next year.

Kirk

“Strong” by Arkells

Do you have your tissues ready?

Arkells are on the verge of releasing their new album Blink Once on September 22nd, and after bangers and bops, this week we got a ballad.
”Strong” is written for/about their college friend Dr. Barbara Tatham, reflecting on the period of time while she was battling cancer. It’s a beautiful song about resilience and finding small moments of joy where you can.

Christine

“I'm Your Man” by The Tom Fun Orchestra

My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw there was brand new music from The Tom Fun Orchestra — mostly since we haven’t heard much from the Nova Scotian band in nearly a decade.

But if “I’m Your Man” is any indication, the group hasn’t lost a step since their 2012 album Earthworm Heart. Ian MacDougall’s growl still blends perfectly with the lovely voice of Breagh Potter, as the song builds to a bombastic finish.

Along with the single, the band put out the following tease, and I really hope it’s the latter:

“Is this just a one-off single release for a lark; or a sign of more to come? It is almost probably one or the other. Who knows. Whatever happens, we hope you like it.”

Kirk

“Chew Quietly / Clean Slate” by Megan Nash & the Best of Intentions

Last week, Megan Nash dropped a brand new song in advance of their latest album, Soft Focus Features.

“Chew Quietly / Clean Slate” is a gorgeous song that breaks down into a melancholic second half, with Nash describing the song as about “anxiety and hope and dating after a divorce and just wanting things to work out this time. It's about longing for intimacy and stability. It's about that twist in the gut when you see your crush. It's about feeling unbelievably awkward. It's about trying again.”

Soft Focus Features is out November 3, and take a look at the impressive video for the songs below, shot entirely in one take!

Kirk