Song of the Day: May 30, 2020 - "Intermittent Heart" by Jenny Banai

Earlier this month, Vancouver's Jenny Banai released her new single "Intermittent Heart".

With her soft voice lilting over the dreamy strings, she says the song "started as a poem about the philosophical and theological discussions I find myself in. I always feel emotionally involved in these conversations because they are, oftentimes, with people I deeply care about - people who used to think or believe in God, or hold certain values and truths, but no longer do. But I do. I wonder about the synchronicity of our intuition, and how to carry myself when ours don’t meet.
I was very weepy through the process, fresh out of a relationship I thought I had moved on from, which involved a lot of discussion about faith. I sing about closeness and the longing for that closeness when core beliefs are fundamentally different. Is closeness enough? Is love enough if your worldview clashes? In hindsight, I wondered if I wrote a song about my relationship’s end… I tried to write it differently, not wanting to trust my intuition."

Have a listen below, OR You can also watch “a poetic narrative short film of a sort of behind-the-making" of "Intermittent Heart" above!

Song of the Day: May 29, 2020 - "Prudence" by Mani Khaira

I loved this new track “Prudence” from Mani Khaira, and when I read the story behind the song, I knew there’d be no way I could write anything that’d do it justice.
So I’ll put it here in full and you can listen to the song that officially premiered today!

”I wrote 'Prudence' shortly after an old friend had a photographer take my photograph. She had a photo of me blown up onto a 48/36 inch canvas, and then she painted on top of it. At first, she wouldn’t show me this painting and when I saw it the first time, I was like, "Oh, my skin colour is a little darker." She put a hat on me to cover my bald head, and there were glasses on my face and a cigarette in my mouth--totally not how I was when the photo was taken. I thought to myself: that’s her perception, it’s what she sees in her artistic mind.

The second time I saw the painting I noticed my skin was lighter and I was still wearing the hat, but the glasses and the cigarette in my mouth were gone.
It was very bizarre to watch someone else do this to my face, my image. Kind of like someone scribbling over pictures in a yearbook.

I sat at the piano and started blurting out how I felt, and this song came from these experiences.

Now, the song has taken a lyrical meaning of its own that I believe relates to everyone. We all wear these ‘masks,' showing our best selves first. 
Some people get us and some don’t and some create their own version of who or what they think you are.
I think this song is an inspirational piece reminding to reveal your true self at all times--no matter which angle you may shine.”

Song of the Day: May 28, 2020 - 'Living A Lie" by Royal Canoe

Earlier this year (in The Before Time), Winnipeg’s Royal Canoe decided to embrace their city’s reputation as the coldest place on the planet, and played an outdoor show.
In January.
In Winnipeg.

And if that didn’t already sound bonkers enough, they decided this live show would be played on ice. Not like Disney On Ice, but played on ice, as in, every instrument the band played would be made out of ice, making it look like they were playing in the middle of the Fortress of Solitude.

Some of the results of the live show is not only going to be available as a live EP tomorrow, but they’ve also put together a documentary called Glacial which debutes TONIGHT (5p Pacific) on YouTube.

Check out the video for “Living A Lie” below!

Song of the Day: May 27, 2020 - "Survivors" by Tim Baker

After an amazing debut solo album last year, Tim Baker is poised to release a follow up EP entitled Survivors, due out July 10.

The title track is the lead single, and alludes to the fact that the songs were written during run up to the last album. Baker says "I’ve always made twenty songs to keep ten, and the Forever Overhead sessions were no different. You’ve maybe heard some of the songs that didn’t make it, on the Side Door Sessions. Or you’ve maybe heard some other survivors at a live show. Well, some seemed so relevant to the current moment that they basically stood up and demanded to be let out. Being no tyrant, I dusted them off, smoothed their lapels, and resolved to send them on their way, on this new EP."

And speaking of Side Door, Tim Baker has a couple online performances coming up, on May 29 and May 30!

Song of the Day: May 26, 2020 - "Relaxing Apartments" by Ten Kills The Pack

Ten Kills The Pack has released a song (“Relaxing Apartments”) and new video, from their debut EP Force Majeure.

He’s coined the genre “city folk” and “city-songwriter”, which is my new favourite coin-ing since Corb Lund claimed “Agricultural Tragic” (or Ag Trag). The recording sessions for the album were done in several Toronto high-rises, where “the sights, sounds and shapes of the city were woven into the music”.

Check out the new track below!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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