Songs of the Week: May 17 - 23, 2021

May 24, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Yung DiCaprio” by The Zolas

As we creep closer to the release date for Come Back To Life, the latest album from The Zolas, we’re getting yet another tease; this time with the video for their latest song “Yung DiCaprio”.
Lyrically inspired by DiCaprio himself — specifically, his role in Baz Luhrmann’s ‘96 take on Romeo + Juliet — and sonically inspired by the same era of Britpop, the pulsing song is exactly what you need to get pumped for the week.

Kirk

“Windermere (feat. Dan Mangan)” by Yaehsun

Toronto multi-instrumentalist & producer Yaehsun (aka Jason Haberman) has collaborated with a long line of Canadian rockers, including Zeus, Jason Collett, Yukon Blonde, and The Wooden Sky to name a few. His latest song "Windermere" is a dreamy, wistful track that features vocals from Dan Mangan.
He says “When I first wrote the instrumentation to this song I was envisioning long drives at night, moving quite quickly. After Dan sent me his vocals with the chorus line “slow down” I felt a bit altered. My daily ritual while working on this song changed shape, day into night this bizarre perception of time circled around me - and still does. Devouring seasons, gathering hope, pondering subtle breezes that turn to rapid growth and repetition. All in time - go easy on yourself.”
Have a listen below!

Kirk

“Song” by Lydia Ainsworth

Just ahead of releasing her new album, last week Lydia Ainsworth shared a new video for her latest single “Cosmic Dust”. Animated by multimedia artist, director and producer Eli Welbourne, the video brings to mind the planetarium laser light shows, fitting not only the title of the song, but the spacey, ethereal vibe the track gives off.
So lay back and have a watch, and if you like it, be sure to pick up her new album, Sparkles & Debris, which came out this past Friday!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: March 08 - 14, 2021

March 15, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Crab Walking Home In The Rain” by Jason Collett

Not only are we getting a brand new song from Jason Collett — the first in nearly 5 years — but we’re getting a brand new song from Jason Collett that was arranged and produced by Andy Shauf.
The awesomely titled ”Crab Walking Homer In The Rain” sounds exactly as good as you would expect from the pair, and is the first single off Collett’s upcoming Best Of album. The album is out at the end of this week, March 19, and along with the new single, features a dozen songs spanning the singer’s two-decade career.

Kirk

“Another Dimension (feat. Cadence Weapon)” by The Zolas

Over the last year or so, The Zolas have been releasing a slow drip of new songs, with the latest being described as a post-pandemic anthem (as opposed to their usual post-apocalyptic anthems).
“Another Dimension” features a chest-thumping bassline that can’t wait to get out of the house, along with a verse by none other than Cadence Weapon. Have a listen for yourself below.

Kirk

“Machine” by Mani Khaira

Vancouver musician Mani Khaira released a new video this week for his song “Machine”. The track comes from his latest EP Face First, and if features actor and dancer Brennan Clost from Netflix’s 'Tiny Pretty Things'. Beautifully choreographed, the dancing and mood match the powerful song perfectly. Have a look below!

Christine

“Don't Wait” by JEEN

“Don’t Wait” is a fitting title for the latest single from JEEN. Released only few months after her self-titled album from last October, the song is a tease to her newest album, scheduled for this coming October.
Featuring vocals from bandmate and co-producer Ian Blurton, “Don’t Wait” is a raw anthem that needs to be cranked loud.

Kirk

“Just What I Needed” by k-os

k-os covering “Just What I Needed” by The Cars is literally JUST WHAT I NEEDED this week.
I think that’s enough said.

Christine

“Hold On” by Justin Bieber

Okay, Kirk may shoot me for this, but Bieber made a love letter video to my favourite hockey team with his new song “Hold On” and it put a HUGE SMILE on my face this week. I miss live hockey and watching in the bar with other fans so this hit me in the feels.

Christine

Song of the Day: February 11, 2016 - "Swooner" by The Zolas

February 11, 2016 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

If The Zolas keep releasing songs at this rate, we're gonna hear the whole album before it even comes out!

Just a month ahead of the release of Swooner, we get an aural taste of the title track. Zach Gray says:

"Swooner is about those high-functioning women we all know who somehow manage to be the quarterback of their squad and the best at their job and politically engaged and the most fun person to have real talk with over beers. I don't know how you do it but we salute you.”

Pick up Swooner March 4th on Light Organ Records.

Song of the Day: January 20, 2016 - "Get Dark" by The Zolas

January 20, 2016 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

I remember when The Zolas sang about Vancouver, and The Biltmore. Now they're too cool with songs about falling in love with New York, and getting dark in Toronto.

Jokes aside, the new song "Get Dark" is an upbeat, poppy tune, and judging by this song (and a few others I've heard live), this new album is going to be as much of a departure from Ancient Mars as that was from Tic Toc Tic.

Swooner will be out March 4th on Light Organ Records.

Song of the Day: October 18, 2015: "Skeleton" by Unalaska

October 18, 2015 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

Sometimes when two friends from other bands come together to form a side project, you get something that doesn't quite live up to either band. But other times, you get Unalaska.

Zachary Gray of The Zolas and Brasstronaut's Edo Van Breemen have a pretty long history of friendship and collaboration, and now they have taken that to the next level by teaming up for a new project full of eerily haunting synth and catchy guitars; just about the perfect marriage of their two respective bands.

Their debut EP, simply titled Unalaska, came out this past Friday on Light Organ Records and is something you should probably put in your earholes as soon as possible.

(Also, that "If They Mated" photo of Edo and Zach is going to haunt my dreams for weeks)

Song Of The Day: September 22, 2015 - "Fell In love With New York" by The Zolas

September 22, 2015 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day

Exciting times today, we get a new single from The Zolas, whose new EP comes out on October 2nd, and a show announcement for November 5th at the Imperial here in Vancouver.

The opening line of "Fell In Love With New York" sets the tone of the song - "You're always surrounded, you're always alone" - illustrating the big city.
It makes me picture leaning my head out of a cab window watching the city lights go by or sitting in a cafe people watching.

Wino Oracle comes out in just over a week via Light Organ Records, and you can catch The Zolas on tour this fall, including the date at the Imperial. (For a full list of shows click here.) Take a listen to "Fell In Love With New York" below and download it for free!

Song of the Day: September 13, 2015 - "Molotov Girls" by The Zolas

September 13, 2015 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

I'm gonna be honest here, the first time I heard the new track from The Zolas, "Molotov Girls", I wasn't sold. It sounded like Zach and Tom had really joined the pop movement and put their dance pants on.

But the more I listened, the more I warmed to it. It's as catchy and clever as The Zolas ever were, and especially if you consider their single from last year, "Invisible", seems to be following their natural progression. (Though I still prefer piano over synth)

I'm looking forward to hearing more new stuff from them, hopefully even TODAY at Queen Elizabeth Park, where they are taking part in a free show to celebrate the park's birthday, because we definitely need to celebrate parks' birthdays, right?!