Canadian alt-rockers The Midnight Echo are defying gravity and shattering sound waves with the launch of their latest single, “View of an Astronaut” – check it out on YouTube here:

The four-piece from Vancouver are an electrifying pop-punk throwback of 2000s nostalgia. Featuring the high octave and octane vocals of Joel Lalonde, seemingly effortless lead guitar of Tyler Rayman, inspired bass lines and vocal harmonies of Matt Gibson, and dynamic and entertaining beats provided by Aaron Passek, the group hook listeners track by track, show by show.

Having formed in 2016, The Midnight Echo exploded on the scene with their debut album Voyager in early 2017. They followed up the release with their sophomore effort, Dichotomy in 2019, followed by a string of singles including “How To Escape Reality,” “Paris in 39,” and finally “Carbon Copy” in 2019, and 2020 respectively.

Relax. Take a break. Breathe in the air around you. Plug your headphones into your device and walk into the ethereal new song offering from folk singer/songwriter Tim Withano, “High Wire” – check it out on YouTube here:

The Finnish-born, Australian-based singer/songwriter is back with a brand-new song that reaches into your soul and promises to understand everything you’ve got going on around you.

It’s the song that plays over the final credits. The track that rolls with you down an empty highway. The melody that pierces the very part of where you know you want to be — and finally have found solace in hearing it.

“None of us are spared moments when the turmoil of life leaves us balancing on a precarious path where the destination is unclear or unknown,” Withano says. “‘High Wire’ emerged because I finally found time to catch my breath and take stock.”

Borrow from tomorrow, and get a Strange Advance on a “Perfect Day”. The legendary Canadian prog-rock-pop indie group from those heady days of 80s MuchMusic have got the inside track on a throwdown with their latest single — available now! And it’s as exciting sonically as it’s a hat tip to the yesteryear of pop influence.

Check out “Perfect Day” on YouTube here:

While the band was initially formed in the late 70s by Drew Arnott, Darryl Kromm, and Paul Iverson, the lineup would shake into its current existence of Arnott joined by Ian Cameron, Ross Friesen, Rob Bailey, Sean Dillon, and Alexander (A-Train) Boynton. Together, the culmination of individual talent, meshed with their like-minded influences in pop and prog rock, Strange Advance has continued and maintained their unique eclecticism of sound and song.

There are few things in this world sweeter than sultry Latin guitar mixed into an 808 and drum beat, and Toronto’s The Royaies know this. So well, in fact, that they’ve created the perfect blend of these elements in their new single, “This With A Kiss I Die” – check it out on YouTube here:

“We blended electro-esque beats, soft R&B vocal textures, and soft rap,” member Elijah Royaie shares of the track. “Each verse paints a picture of desire and wants — all contradicted by misery, a sense of loss, and a dark sense of regret.”

A sultry yet inebriating production, “Thus With A Kiss I die” takes the listener on a journey through heartache and regrettable desires. The Royaies built on this concept when writing the song, finding the mood of the music should match the lyrics.

While his previous single asked if you’ll “Dance With Death,” Canadian alt-electronic artist Rick Christian now gets up close and personal with more macabre-meets-music themes in this, his new single, “Contagious” – check it out on YouTube here:

No stranger to the thrill of horror-savvy songs that invite listeners into a dark realm of fantasy-meets-nightmare, “Contagious” is plucked from the twisted inner workings of Christian’s mind to both taunt and tease with danger.

He has, in his words, “escaped from the depths below to spread his Dark Jams into your mind in an attempt to regain a soul” and admitted to tapping into the dark recesses of his mind while penning the track.

“I decided to write a song that was very honest for the listener,” Christian says. “In that process, I’ve exposed my emotions in a vulnerable way…

World-renowned guitarist Joe Satriani recently announced the upcoming release of his 19^th studio album, The Elephants of Mars, set for release April 8, 2022. Now, he unleashes his newest single, “Pumpin’,” via his new label, earMUSIC, the international rock label of entertainment group Edel.  

Pre-orders continue to be available for fans and include a special limited digipack CD release featuring seven double-sided cards of original artwork by Satriani representing each song from the album. In addition, several colored vinyl options will be available as well to pre-order including orange, pink, and a special purple version sold through Guitar Center only.

New single, “Pumpin’” showcases the band's funky fusion party side, as Satriani describes “Pumpin’” as a high-energy, funky celebration about the visceral side of being alive. “Heart pumpin’, living large, moving fast and feelin’ good!”

Check out “Pumpin’” on YouTube here:

Packed to the brim with emotion and strife, Chris Caulfield’s newest single “Feelings” is hauntingly delicious in all the best ways.

Watch and listen to “Feelings” on YouTube here:

Despite the wave of new musicians crashing on the shores of 2022, Caulfield stands above the noise with introspective lyrics and evocative melodies, using engaging compositions as the foundation for his tightly woven mix of alternative, emo rock, hip-hop, and more.

Playing in bands around the Toronto area exposed Caulfield to the production side of music at a relatively early age — however, nothing was solid yet. He spent a good chunk of his early twenties managing his own businesses and starting a family and, while he may not have taken the plunge into music yet, he was constantly exposed to situations that would eventually fuel his songwriting.

While many romantic relationships have not survived throughout the global pandemic, many have thrived, begging the question of what’s behind love lost and found during this unprecedented time in human history. Vancouver, BC-based rock group Son of James is exploring these two sides of love from a personal perspective with back-to-back singles and videos, “I Need You” and “Have You Been in Love.”

Both “I Need You” and “Have You Been in Love” were borne out of pandemic-inspired introspection and creativity for Son of James’ lead vocalist and songwriter, Shon Wong.

Check out the tunes on YouTube here:
“I Need You”

“Have You Been in Love”

Beach season is soon upon us, and Vancouver-based pop artist Sarah Tolle has a new body-positive anthem titled “Like It Or Not” at the ready. Available now, the song’s message? Acceptance. “Like it or not/This is how I look naked.”

The track begins with that lapel-gripping line, followed by a driving, danceable disco beat. Tolle then takes us on a relatable journey of both liking and loathing her body — and trying to accept the body she inhabits on both good and bad days.

Check out “Like It Or Not” on YouTube here:

The idea came to her by accident, she shares.

From burgeoning rock that rolls into a thrashing metal anthem surging with the fire of enough 80s synth to power 100 suns, Dallas-based dark wavers NITE take the day with the release of their new single, “Good Boy.”

“Good Boy,” the band — aka the twin mastermind duo of Kyle and Myles Mendes — says is an anthem about saying no to addiction and unhealthy relationships.

Check out “Good Boy” on YouTube here:

“Since the instrumentation set up the song to be more grungy, we wanted the lyrics to be playful — almost vindictive,” NITE explains. “Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’” was a reference for how we wanted the chorus to sound; we wanted to repeat a strong and spiteful message.

Holding on to a slice of childhood innocence should never be ill-advised as it can enhance the sweet moments in our lives, and make the inevitable sour times easier to swallow. With that in mind, JUNO Award-nominated Canadian jazz vocalist Mary Lou Sicoly is serving up a deliciously spicy take on romantic naivete with the release of her new single, “Blame It On My Youth” – check it out on YouTube here:

Written by Oscar Levant and Edward Heyman in 1934 and recorded throughout the decades since by the likes of Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Nat King Cole, Connie Francis, Chet Baker, Holly Cole, Aaron Neville, and Jamie Cullum, “Blame It On My Youth” has stood the test of time as a relatable tale of guileless love.

If I expected love when we first kissed
Blame it on my youth
If only just for you I did exist
Blame it on my youth

Encapsulating a personal, edgy, and inside view of her perspective on the world, Alexis Lynn lays it bare on her latest single, “Fall Apart” – check it out on YouTube here:

Unafraid to be vulnerable, raw, or emotive on the latest release, the honeyed pop diva with a story to tell is back with a dreamy, up-tempo dance-floor bop that moves listeners in her catchy hooks, ear-worm melodies, and a message that resonates with us all.

“It’s about being everybody else’s rock, and putting their needs before your own,” the West Coast-based artist explains. “I wrote it at a point in my life where I felt like I was constantly balancing everyone else’s needs, and making sure everyone else was good — disregarding whether or not I was good.

Dramatically different from its predecessor, award-winning electronic artist and producer Jay Slay’s new rendition of Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping hit single, “Shape of You,” hits all the right notes with a sweet after-taste left behind.

Slay’s version of “Shape Of You” features gritty guitar and Latin-flavored percussion elements that lend an air of sensuality to this dancehall-inspired cover song. Featuring Scarlett Darling’s sultry vocals that pay homage to the original version of the song, long, sensual syllables tie into swift and seductive lyrics — captivating the listener and forcing them into a solid groove.

Check out “Shape of You” on YouTube here:

“I wanted to move away from strictly making original music,” Slay shares. “I wanted to expand into making the occasional cover song, having fun creating entirely new instrumentations and harmonization to well-known tunes.

We’ve all known — at one point, in some way — a heartbreaker in a one-horse town… And now, Americana crooner Kelly Pardekooper pays tribute with an infectious mix of sincerity and swagger to the one knockin’ all those local boys down in his new single “Someday Someone,” from his new EP, Autumn – both available now.

“Someday Someone” is a galloping guitar-driven romp along a dusty, dirt-road trail of broken hearts. “A trail of tears to the county line/ Someday, someone/ Is gonna do you like you’ve never been done,” Pardekooper sings with a voice like velvet.

Check out “Someday Someone” on YouTube here:

The narrator isn’t bitter, however, and seems to ultimately regard the heartbreaker’s game-playing as a challenge; the song ends with “Someday someone/ Gonna love you like it’s never been done/ Gonna win you like you’ve never been won.”

Canadian art-rock quartet AUS!Funkt want you to “Set yourself free” with the release of their fiery new single – check it out on YouTube here:

Fresh from their newly landed EP, Human Response, the track offers a straightforward message through its unconventional mash-up of the Toronto-based band’s signature blend of post-punk surf-rock, psychedelia, and electro-funk.

“This song came together pretty quickly, and was one of the first we wrote together as a group,” the band recalls. “Michael Wallace of Preoccupations helped produce this track, and added some percussion and tape-delayed vocal effects.”

Change is hard, letting go is even harder, and often the best way to deal with both is to simply rock. Canadian alt-country band Foreman & Co. know this deep in their bones and it shows on their infectious, head-bopping new single “Sun Still Rises” – check it out YouTube:

Fresh from the Grenville Sur La Rouge, QC-based band’s 2021 nine-track album, Waiting For A Sign, “Sun Still Rises” is a toe-tapping rocker heavy on Americana flavor. It’s got twangy guitars, an easy-rockin’ beat, and it’s full of that push-forward lament that makes country such a great genre for getting through tough times.

“Sun Still rises is the story of letting go, be it a relationship that’s failing, or a band that is collapsing,” the band says.

There are times in life when the past and present collide in such a way as to be surreal, and that’s what Canadian folk-rocker Taze Kozak captures in his new single, “Painted Pistols,” from his new album Paper Airplanes.

“Painted Pistols” evokes a lonely highway long after midnight, the center lines lulling you into near-hypnosis, and the dead of the night taking on its own shape and character.  The Comox Valley, BC-based artist sings with the plain-voiced candor of Johnny Cash over acoustic guitar that alternates between dark and plucky, and the lyrics take us on a journey from gangs fighting in the streets of Los Angeles, to the narrator soaking in a bathtub and drinking whiskey at noon, to a country boy jealous of other men flirting with his wife.

There’s the sense that none of it, and all of it, matters; Kozak describes his state of mind when writing it as: “Feeling strong, weak, helpless, a helper, a father, a loser, a winner, warmth, cold, insight, and outsight.”

There are two kinds of nature: the world around us and the world inside us. After musically addressing our global climate crisis with his most recent single, “Mother Nature,” Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Kalmakoff is turning his attention inward to aspects of human nature with his achingly beautiful interpretation of Jim Cuddy’s “You Be The Leaver”.

Check out “You Be The Leaver” on YouTube here:

An original work by one of the five celebrated Canadian songwriters that Kalmakoff chose to pay homage to on his newest full-length album, Nature, released last November, “You Be The Leaver” is a story of love that faded and two lovers who drifted apart but, to Kalmakoff, it has a bigger scope that opened up some deep self-reflection too.

At any time — but especially now in 2022 — love, support, and inspiration for our fellow human beings can never be in big enough supply. That cup can always use a top-up and, in support of and in tribute to all the amazing Paralympic athletes competing in the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games, Canadian singer-songwriter Paul DeRosa created powerful new theme songs in both English and French to help propel our competitors toward gold medal glory. “Champion” and “Toucher Les Étoiles” are both available now,

“Champion” on YouTube here:

Both theme songs are part of the coverage for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games on CBC/Radio-Canada, and various streaming platforms, climaxing two years of a creative journey during which the lifelong Toronto musician and songwriter felt a personal renaissance.

Painting a vivid picture of a mysterious figure with profound, drifting thoughts on an open road to nowhere, the psychedelic stylings of Canadian rock trio Of Nature are on full display with the release of their new single, “Midnight Drive” – check it out on YouTube here:

Silky-smooth bass grooves and electrifying guitar riffs transport the listener across a smoky desert highway — the falling sun clear as day in the rearview. The seductive sonic energy on “Midnight Drive” is accompanied by soaring vocals sure to awaken the demons that come out at night.

The twilight enchantment of “Midnight Drive” is greatly enriched by lyrical imagery that tells a story and inspires listeners towards a deeper understanding of our emotions.