Songs of the Week: May 19 - 25, 2025

May 26, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Colours of My Dreams” by Yukon Blonde

Yukon Blonde is back with a brand new single about the highs and lows of being in a band, called “Colours of My Dreams”.

Bassist & singer James Younger says “Playing in a band is like being in a family. It’s a cliché, but most clichés stick around because they’re rooted in something real,” but also adds “There’s the other side too: the fights, the quiet grudges, the cold stares when someone’s not pulling their weight during a snowy 2 a.m. load-out in Montreal.” Younger finishes by sharing, “Over the last decade, one thing’s stayed solid: when life goes sideways and the ground starts to shake, that damp room and this band have been the only place I’ve wanted to be. It’s the one thing that keeps setting me straight again.”

“Colours of My Dreams” is exactly the jam you would expect from the band, which you can listen to below!

Kirk

“Give It Up” by Royal Wood

One of Canada’s smoothest vocalists Royal Wood is back with a brand new single, “Give It Up”.

The raucous song is about tuning out the noise, with the singer/songwriter explaining: “This song is a message to myself to live to my fullest potential at a time when the world is all too scary and social media tells us to be like them. It's a call to action, a reminder to listen to the quiet voice within, make genuine art, and truly live the life I choose. After all, why else are we here?”

Check out the video below!

Kirk

“Finger” by Mother Mother

Well, the first line in this song certainly grabbed my attention immediately.

“Finger” is the latest track from Mother Mother, off their upcoming album Nostalgia, and explores double standards and gender roles. Singer Ryan Guldemond elaborates: “The song addresses several societal double standards: the stigma surrounding female promiscuity compared to the celebration of male conquest, the absurdity of the animal class system — why are some creatures considered food while others are viewed as pets? — and the feelings of shame that heterosexual men may experience when exploring sensual pleasures that are not traditionally considered masculine.”

You’ll have to check out the video — directed by Sterling Larose — to hear that opening line for yourself (I don’t want to spoil it). And mark June 6th on your calendars for the release of Mother Mother’s tenth(!) studio album, Nostalgia.

Kirk

“One More Dance Around The Sun” by Great Lake Swimmers

So excited that Great Lake Swimmers are back with their first new music since 2023’s Uncertain Country.

The timing of the release couldn’t be more perfect as “One More Dance Around The Sun” is the perfect summertime road-trip song - and the weather is starting to match that now!

Of the tune lead singer Tony Dekker says: “This song pinpoints a very distinct feeling for me. Riding around in the summertime with the windows down — maybe after a solid workday, maybe on route to an epic road trip, or maybe just seeing familiar surroundings with renewed vision. It’s about perseverance, new beginnings, and the searching that invites wisdom and perspective as the planet spins on.”

The band also announced a tour with Ontario’s Elliott BROOD but we’re going to have to wait until October 23rd to see them in Vancouver at the Biltmore Cabaret.

Christine

“If You're Gonna Change Your Mind” by Logan Richard

Last Friday, Logan Richard released his latest album Character Traits, as well as a video for the track “If You're Gonna Change Your Mind”.

The song is a funky jam that Richard co-wrote with his friend Chris Kirby, and he explains “We wanted to write a fun song that I could rip a guitar solo over, and we came up with this. I think it is groovy, and love all the sweet sounds that producer Josh Van Tassel threw on it.”

You can check out the chill park video below for that solo, and pick up Character Traits now!

Kirk

“Gher Bede (Sanguijuela)” by Empanadas Ilegales

Vancouver band Empanadas Ilegales is about to release their new record, Sancocho Trifásico, on June 6th and they’re celebrating with a record release party on the same day at the Hollywood Theatre.

The latest single “Gher Bede (Sanguijuela)” took inspiration from Swan Lake and reimagined it with “classical inspiration and Latin psychedelia”. Plus the title “Gher Bede” translates from Farsi as 'shake it,' 'groove,' or 'move your hips' - which you’ll definitely be doing when you hear them perform.

Christine

Songs of the Week: March 10 - 16, 2025

March 17, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Reservoir” (PUP Cover) by NOBRO

The Polaris Music Prize has been having nominees cover each other for many years now (Hannah Georgas coving Arcade Fire was a fav of mine) and this week they released a new one.

I happen to be on the jury and definitely wanted to hear NOBRO covering PUP (or the reverse) and we were blessed with a banger. NOBRO went with “Reservoir” - an oldie from PUP’s self-titled debut album.

Holy hell does the guitar solo go hard. I’ve listened too many times to count already - now it’s your turn!

Christine

“Make Believe” by Mother Mother

On their 20th anniversary as a band, Mother Mother is not looking to the past, but the future with a brand new song, and album announcement!

“Make Believe” is the first single off their upcoming album Nostalgia, a frenetic song that singer Ryan Guldemond says: “I indulged a bit in my own life-philosophy on this track. Magical thinking, interconnection, cosmic gallivanting.”

Nostalgia is the band’s tenth(!) studio album, and you can pick it up on June 6th, but in the meantime, check out the lyric video for “Make Believe” below!

Kirk

“Made For This” by Hotel Mira

Even though Hotel Mira is throwing a Pity Party, they still have cause to celebrate with the release of their latest studio album.

Frontman Charlie Kerr explains “The album title ‘Pity Party’ captures the genre and concept of the songs — the feeling of cycling between extreme joy, excitement and excess (party) and the impending depression, hangover and paranoia (pity). Being so caught up in the self-obsession of ends of this spectrum that you neglect to give yourself to anything of use.”

You can have a listen to lead single “Made for This” below, or grab the album in all the usual places!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: January 15 - 21, 2024

January 22, 2024 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Mind Reader” by David Vertesi (ft. Jill Barber)

Last week David Vertesi announced his brand new album, and dropped his latest single, “Mind Reader”.

The new track features the lovely voice of Jill Barber, pairing excellently with Vertesi’s own smooth vocals, for a heartbreaking song. Vertesi explains, “Throughout the pandemic, many of my friend's longtime relationships began to crumble. Problems they had ignored for forever seemed to come to a head when they were stuck inside together for the lockdowns. This is loosely based on one of those stories.”

In fact the new album, Fictionalized, is essentially a concept album “on the collective spiraling of the pandemic years”, and aside from Jill Barber, features songs with Jordan Klassen, Haley Blais, and Sam Lynch.

Fictionalized is out February 27 on Tiny Kingdom!

Kirk

“True Love Waits” by Adaline

It’s officially two months until the new EP Hymnal from Adaline is released, and we have a new track from it to celebrate.

Of “True Love Waits”, Adaline says “This song draws inspiration from the evangelical purity culture movement of the 1990s, specifically 'True Love Waits,' which advocated abstinence as a means to honour God. This song explores the underbelly and dysfunction of this kind of teaching.”

As someone that went through Catholic school in the 90s and 2000s, and saw some of the damage and consequences that abstinence-only teaching can do, this resonates with me.
And on top of this it’s a beautiful song with gorgeous vocals and strings to boot.

Christine,

“Nobody Escapes” by Mother Mother

Last Friday, Mother Mother released their latest single, “Nobody Escapes”, but the even bigger news was the tour announcement which included a show here in Vancouver at Rogers Arena(!!)

The new song is the latest off their upcoming album Grief Chapter, and starts pretty chill before descending into a fever dream. Ryan Guldemond explains “we sing cheerily about the indiscriminate nature of death and how, regardless of status, good looks or physique, the reaper comes for us all. The animated video that accompanies our rollicking and blasphemous album opener follows suit, depicting a sinister factory where conveyor belts and machinery crudely sort through freshly fallen souls.”

Check out Grief Chapter when it’s released February 16th, and catch Mother Mother (with Cavetown) at Rogers Arena on June 15!

Kirk

“Lost Without You” by Shred Kelly

I was VERY excited to hear that Shred Kelly was heading out on the road to celebrate the release of their album Blurry Vision.

In February, March and April, the band will be jaunting back and forth across the country, including a stop here in Vancouver on March 29th at the Biltmore Cabaret, with Vancouver’s Hyaenas in support.

And while we wait for that magical day to come, they’ve also released a beautiful and wonderfully fun video for their track “Lost Without You”, that they partnered with cinematographer and animator Kenta Kikuchi from Pender Island to create. Check it out!

Christine

“So What” by JEEN

Want another February release? Then JEEN has good news for you! Her latest album, Gold Control, drops February 2nd, and last week she gave one last tease before its release.

“So What” is a hazy, dreamy tune that JEEN says is about “never-ending uphill battles, and wishing you could freeze time to stay with someone you can’t enough of.”

Check out the lyric video below!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: October 30 - November 05, 2023

November 06, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“So Small” by Talia Schlanger

Super exciting news this week that Toronto musician Talia Schlanger has announced her debut album, Grace For The Going, will be released on February 2, 2024.

Her latest single “So Small” is a beautiful little track, with a soothing arrangement behind her smooth vocals. And I’ll let her speak about the song itself:

“Right now, like so many of us, my thoughts are consumed by the horrors of war,” says Talia. “My heart is consumed by collective grief.”
“So Small” was written and recorded as the pandemic years engulfed the globe in a different sort of trauma. The urgency of the song, offers a philosophical view on humanity and a perspective on our space on this planet that is deeply relevant to world events today.

“'So Small' is about finding a way to hold many truths at the same time,” explains Talia. “The idea that each of us is at once as big as the universe itself and smaller than the smallest speck of dust. This is a concept that appears in a number of traditions/faiths/systems of belief. My first window into this way of thinking was through the Jewish teachings I grew up learning as a kid. And it’s an idea I continue to cherish and explore as an adult through the western interpretations of Buddhist texts by teachers like Pema Chödrön, Joseph Goldstein and Tara Brach. For me, this sense of perspective has been life-saving.
'So Small’ addresses 'the war outside me and inside me.' I share it along with my prayers for peace, outer and inner, for all.”

Christine

“Part Two” by iskwē

iskwē is not slowing down; last week she released the fourth new single from her upcoming album.

“Part Two” was written along with producer Damian Taylor and Ali “Willa” Milner, and iskwē shares: “This is a song about my broken heart after a rocky relationship finally came crashing down, We should have known, and we probably did, that things would end as passionately as they began. We ran the other to the ground while simultaneously pulling each other back to our feet, but the landing got slipperier and slipperier with each recovery, until enough was enough.”

Still no word on when the new album will be out, and sadly, iskwē had to postpone the Vancouver show that was supposed to be later this week. But have a listen to “Part Two” below!

Kirk

“Hold My Head Up Higher” by JEEN (feat. Ian Blurton)

We’re still a couple months out from her next album, but JEEN has released the third tease by way of “Hold My Head Up Higher”, which was co-written with the prolific Ian Blurton.

The new song is a slow-burn that is the second track JEEN has colaborated on with Blutron — who has also produced her last few albums — and she elaborates, “When we were in pre-production for Gold Control, Ian and I bounced an idea he had back and forth for a couple weeks long-distance before really solidifying the song in studio rehearsals. It’s always fun collaborating with Ian, so I'm really happy we got the chance to do it again on this album.”

Gold Control is out on February 2nd, next year.

Kirk

“Who The Hell Am I” by NOBRO

I needed a banger to wake me up this Monday morning and “Who The Hell Am I” by NOBRO did the trick.
The band’s new album Set Your Pussy Free (or SYPF as you’ll probably see it printed, lol), was released on the 27th, and it’s non-stop rock and roll throughout.

No Vancouver tour date listed as of yet, but hopefully there’s one on the horizon, because I want to hear these live!

Christine

“The Matrix” by Mother Mother

Mother Mother is back! The alt-pop group has announced a brand new album, and celebrated with the release of the new single “The Matrix”.

The new tune starts in the most Mother Mother way possible with the lyrics “Baby love, baby child, you’re gonna die”, before going on to a chorus that defiantly proclaims “Fuck no!” to living in The Matrix.

Grief Chapter will be the band’s ninth album, and is out on February 16th, but you can check out the trippy video for “The Matrix” now!

Kirk

“Renegade” & “Can I Get Your Name” by Bend Sinister

Not only are we getting another two songs from Vancouver’s Bend Sinister, but we’re also getting a little more info on their upcoming album!

“Renegade” & “Can I Get Your Name” are two more tracks off their upcoming yet-to-be-named release, which will be out spring of next year, and follow the same boisterous, 70’s influenced groove as their last few singles.

With “Renegade”, the band says “Dog is man's best friend. We played with that metaphor in this song, starting with that relationship in mind and how perhaps it can relate to more than just our K9 pals.”

While “Can I Get Your Name” is “about that fairytale romance that stems from two strangers meeting in the crowd and finding love. With dating apps and the online world is it even possible to find love the old-fashioned way?”

We’re now heard a half dozen new songs from the album, and I can not wait to hear the rest of it!

Kirk

Path Of The Heel EP by The Halluci Nation

Okay, this is damn cool.
The Halluci Nation have released the first part of their new project: “The Road to Halluci Mania.” What’s that you ask? Well…

"The Halluci Nation's Bear Witness and 2oolman have always had a deep interest in Professional Wrestling ever since they were kids – loving the complex story lines that play out week after week, and seeing the underdog overcome adversity and have their chance to shine.

…Themed around one of the main character archetypes in professional wrestling – "The Heel" (a.k.a. the bad guy) – Path of the Heel follows a faction of this group, called the ALie Nation. The creator of the ALie Nation has gone from being curious about The Halluci Nation – the champion "Baby Face" tag team wrestlers – to becoming obsessed with taking them down at Halluci Mania, aiming to do so by recruiting two wrestlers into the ALie Nation.

The story unfolds through the album openers, Tree of Woe and ALie Nation (Interlude), both of which feature powerful vocals written and performed by Damian Abraham [of Fucked Up]. The theme then expands with Eater of Worlds and Atomic Drop, featuring long-time collaborators, Northern Cree, and fulled by fast paced beats with complex basslines, all brining the Halluci Nation’s classic sound into the present and beyond.

Just, wow. These songs are so good, and I can’t wait to hear this whole project start to finish!

Christine

Songs of the Week: July 03 - July 09, 2023

July 10, 2023 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“My Old Mistakes” by Wide Mouth Mason

Last week, venerated Canadian blues rockers Wide Mouth Mason gave us another peek at their upcoming album. The newest single “My Old Mistakes” is classic Mason, with a few lyrics that may be familiar to longtime fans.

Of the new album, drummer Safwan Javed says "We're pushing our boundaries, exploring new musical landscapes, while staying true to our roots. The new material reflects our growth as artists, and we hope it resonates with our fans as much as it does with us."

Late Night Walking is out September 8th on We Are Busy Bodies, and they’re also reissuing a limited vinyl run of their debut self titled album, and the acclaimed Where I Started on the same day!

Kirk

“Just The Once” by Metric

A little ironic that Metric is announcing the follow up to last year’s album Formentera with a song called “Just The Once”. Exactly one year after that album’s release, the Toronto band has dropped the news of the unexpected companion album, Formentera II.

The new single is described as “regret disco”, with Emily Haines clarifying“It's a song for when you need to dance yourself clean. Beneath the sparkling surface, there’s a lyrical exploration of a simple word with many meanings. Once is a word that plays a game of opposites. Once can mean once-upon-a-time and refer to a moment in the past, or it can mean someday, once something happens. And as for doing something only once versus doing something once in a while, well, I think we all know how vast the difference is between the two.”

Have a listen below, and mark October 13 on your calendar for the release of Formentera II!

Kirk

“Nothing For A While” by Shred Kelly

Another new track from Fernie’s Shred Kelly, and an album announcement.
“Nothing For A While” is the latest tune from their 6th album, Blurry Vision, which is due out October 20th.

The song is about the world changing at a fast and overwhelming pace, and the video does a great job at showcasing it. In it, singer Tim Newton is running furiously around their hometown of Fernie, BC - almost as furiously as he plays his banjo during an epic solo mid-song.

The band is on the road doing their usual summer music festival route, but they’ll also be on tour late September/early October with Elliott BROOD, and will be making a stop in Vancouver on October 6th!

Christine

“Normalize” by Mother Mother

Ever since blowing up online a few years back, Mother Mother has barely slowed down. And now they’re back with the new single “Normalize”.

The song has the chaotic alt-pop energy we love from the band, with singer Ryan Guldemond explaining it’s about “the metaphorical death which occurs when we’re not being ourselves; the deadening of the spirit when trying to appease some external framework of so-called normalcy. Ideally, it’s an anthem for the outcast. We’re very fortunate to look out at our audience to see such a wealth of uniqueness. This song is our way of telling our people to keep being themselves, whatever that means to them. What is normal? We don’t know, and I’m not sure we care.”

No word yet on a new album, but you can check out the video for “Normalize” below!

Kirk

“Fake Happy” by Hannah Georgas

Another beautiful (and sad) new song from Hannah Georgas from the album I’d Be Lying If I Said I Didn’t Care, due out August 25th

The song is about a drifting apart of a relationship, and of it Hanna says: “Over the years we grew apart and trying to maintain a connection had begun to feel uncomfortable. I think sometimes we cling onto what’s left of friendships even if our values no longer align and we’ve changed as people. I don't know if it's a getting older thing but I've come to realize how important it is to focus my energy on the people who support me and are positive sources in my life.” I think we’ve all be there throughout the years - I know I have.

She’s also announced some November Canadian tour dates, but no Vancouver show yet - but I’ll keep my eye out!

Christine

Songs of the Week: August 22 - 28, 2022

August 29, 2022 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“The People” by GLDMTH

You probably know Ryan Guldemond from Mother Mother, but the songwriter recently unveiled his brand new solo project, GLDMTH. Pronounced “Goldmouth”, the new project will be a blend of Guldemond’s music, photography, videography, & poetry. The first glimpse of that we’re getting is the new single, a dark, piano-driven tune called “The People”

Ryan says "This is my favourite song on the album. The chords and the mood opened up a space where I felt like I could be really honest about who I am, which like everybody, I imagine, is a lot of different and contrasting people. 'A drugger, a drinker, a monk up on a hill in Nirvana.' I’ve been through all of those phases, and though I may not be living some of them out any longer, the voices of those characters are still very much alive and vocal in the darker spaces of my mind."

Check it out below, and mark down September 23 for the release of the selt-titled debut.

Kirk

“Orpheus” by The Beaches

Following up on their tune “Grow Up Tomorrow” and all its summer vibes, Toronto band The Beaches have released “Orpheus”.
In an ode to the Greek mythological figure, The Beaches reimagine their lover as the ill-fated musician of the same name.

The tale goes that Orpheus was so in love with his wife that he tries to bring her back to life - only to lose her again. The Beaches on the other hand, learn from his mistake of turning back and instead, they choose to push forward.

Christine

“Sweet Oblivion” by KINLEY

Coming up on the release of her new album, KINLEY released the second single from Daylight last week, “Sweet Oblivion”.

The new song is an indie-pop jam, and KINLEY says it’s “all about summer vibes and feeling free in nature. It’s about self-acceptance and being happy where you are and having no worries in the world when you’re in paradise (aka Prince Edward Island beaches).”

Along with the new album, KINLEY has recently released a music instruction book, ‘Violin with KINLEY’. Available on Amazon, the book is designed to support her website Violin With KINLEY where you can learn to play from the comfort of your own home!

Check out the book & website now, and the new album when it’s out on November 4th!

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: June 07 - 13, 2021

June 14, 2021 by Kirk Hamilton in Song Of The Day

“Sick of the Silence” by Mother Mother

Fresh off an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Mother Mother drops another new single, “Sick of the Silence”. The frenetic song is the latest off their upcoming album Inside, which is due out next week (June 25) and they’ve also booked not one, not two, but four hometown shows at the Commodore, (December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th) heralding the return of live music!

Kirk

“Show Me Everything” by Said the Whale

Forget the MCU, we’re starting to see the STWCU form (okay, doesn’t quite roll off the tongue the same).

The latest video from Said the Whale continues the narrative from their last video “Everything She Touches is Gold to Me“, seeing mountain man Krock Dynamo (Ben Worcester) breaking down while being haunted by the ghost of the local reporter (Tyler Bancroft) that he shot with an arrow.

The song itself is a gorgeous indie-pop jam featuring a string section that includes members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. It’s off their forthcoming album which doesn’t have a name or date yet, but at the rate they’re releasing new music, we might be hearing the whole thing sooner rather than later (hopefully?)

Kirk

“Feels Like Summer” by Left Field Messiah

I don’t think I’m going to have to sell you on this new song by Left Field Messiah, but here goes.
It’s titled “Feels Like Summer” and it actually FEELS like summer, and there is a massively awesome saxophone solo in it.
That’s the pitch. What else could you possibly want?!

Christine