While the pandemic-induced hiatus on performing kept Bill Wood from joining his bandmates in Bill Wood and the Woodies in a promotional tour for their early 2021 release, Radiola, it hasn’t stopped Wood from creating more new music.

Hunkered down in his home at Prince Edward County, he joined forces with producer Annelise Noronha to record and release When the summer comes.

Eye Eye was a Canadian rock band in the 1980s andIndustry veteran singer-songwriter Wood, the former lead vocalist for Juno-nominees EyeEye (Out on a Limb, Endless Night, My Sensation) has perfected his craft over four decades. The band had its roots in The Oh Nos, a Toronto band whose members included vocalist Bill Wood and guitarist Andy Ryan. After that band broke up, Wood formed the band Billy Club, while Ryan joined with drummer Mark Caporal to form Eye Eye as a duo, to which vocalist Michael Bell and bassist Doug Ruston were soon added. Both bands were finalists in Q107’s Homegrown talent competition in 1984, which Eye Eye won; the following year, Eye Eye were also finalists in CBC Television’s Rock Wars and the Rock Express/MuchMusic Talent Search.

Singer/songwriter/spoken word artist Elina Filice has released a new single in celebration of Pride Month — “Let's Get Lost”.

Check out the video “Let's Get Lost” here on YouTube:

The dance-pop anthem celebrates the coming out experience, and getting lost to find yourself. Elina hopes the song can help those struggling to come to terms with who they are, as well as all of those on the lifelong journey away from shame, and into love and pride.

The song departs slightly from Elina’s usual sound into a world of colourful synth-pop, driven by an irresistible disco groove. She says, “If I’m writing a queer anthem, it’s gonna have to be a little gay.”

Chart-topping, award-winning alt-rocker Joey Nowyuk has released his newest single and video, “Pray”.

Check out “Pray” on YouTube here:

Produced by Thor Simonsen (Kelly Fraser, Aasiva), and Dale Penner (Nickelback, The Matthew Good Band), “Pray” is the latest preview for the Nunavut-based artist’s forthcoming debut, Tumitit. Set for release this July via Hitmakerz, the album also features Inuit throat singing performed by JUNO Award-nominated band Silla + Rise’s Qattuu Evic; the video for “Pray” was directed, filmed, and edited by Paris-born filmmaker, Aïda Maigre-Touchet.

Marc LaFrance New Single “Northern Lights” is available now and can be ordered as a download on iTunes from which all proceeds will be donated to Canadian Forces families via Support Out Troops.

All the links are now available at his website: MarcLaFrance.com

The latest work from LaFrance and long-time musical collaborator Roger Frankham, 'Northern Lights' evokes the experience of someone separated from and missing their homeland. The song's narrator, who has been living and working outside his own country for years, has his spirit restored when he can finally return home.

In singing the part, Marc drew on his experiences from the road, entertaining the Canadian Armed Forces in remote locations around the globe. “The dedication that these men and women in our military bring to their jobs every day is truly inspiring. Yes, we were there to entertain, but we also stayed with them, ate with them, learned their stories firsthand, many were real eye openers. I came away from each tour with a totally new respect for how they help serve and protect, while they and their families often sacrifice so much.”

Michael and Laranah (from The Sun Ra Arkestra) and Kevin (from Barenaked Ladies) have released song in honour of world unity week — including greetings in extra-terrestrial tongue.

Watch and listen “Hello Hello (One Planet !!) on YouTube here:

How do you say ‘hello’ in extra-terrestrial? In a sonic pairing where not even the sky is a limit, jazz funk afrofuturists Cosmic Krewe’s ‘Cosmic Couple’ and award-winning multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn aim to unite the masses with the release of their new single, “Hello Hello (One Planet)”.

Alt-rocker Cory Williams — the man behind the collar of White Collar Grunge — is bringing audiences to their knees with the outfit’s new single, “Capitulation” and eponymous album.

Check out the video “Capitulation” by Cory Williams on YouTube here:

The debut release has been a lifelong dream for this lifelong musician who began tickling the ivories as a child. It was the fate of having Nirvana’s Nevermind gifted to him that changed the trajectory of his music, and ultimately his life. Now having founded the group, and fostering the ten tracks that made the final cut of the album, Williams is reveling in seeing his conquest come true.

Alt-pop indie rocker Apricity ushers audiences into a dim and grim post-apocalyptic world with the release of her sophomore single and video, “The Fear”.

Watch "The Fear"- Apricity Music Video here:

For those newly enchanted under Apricity’s cast of spells, be prepared for an audio and visual storybook of epic tales — literally and figuratively. “The Fear”s official music video is set in a steampunk world with dashes of Walking Dead and comic book escapism for good measure, and the release also features a stunning graphic novella to well-buckled boot.

“After searching far and wide in a post-apocalyptic world, I find my companion, Jason, only to discover he is now being used for sport to fight the captured zombies,” Apricity reveals of the multimedia project’s plot.

Chart-topping and award-nominated Canadian country artist Bree Taylor channels her superwoman vocals with new single, “Kryptonite”.

Check out “Kryptonite” on YouTube here:

Recently nominated for a 2021 Mississauga Arts Award (MARTY) in the Music: Solo Vocalist — Emerging category, the Ontario-based singer/songwriter has been churning out classic country tracks for the better part of the past two years.

With “Kryptonite,” she’s granting an all-access pass to fans with this contagiously upbeat, diary-reading track about a love that’s so wrong, it feels so incredibly right.

Since the age of six, Taylor has been harnessing her impressive vox onto stages and in recording studios. The up-and-comer has worked with the likes of vocal coach to the stars, Bob Garrett (Los Angeles), and Lorraine Lawson (Toronto), notable for her work on CTV’s “The Launch.”

Nearly seven months after his last single, the enticingly frightening “Chosen One” — where he pays homage to veterans, living and fallen, by delving into his own harrowing memories of serving time in the military — Jeremey Meyer, front man for MDMP, has appropriately returned to the alternative rock scene with a brand-new single, in which he discloses more of the torments he’s faced throughout life. Fittingly, it’s called “Kneeling Scars ”.

Though the lyrical content of this brand-new original is not as vividly agonizing as that of “Chosen One,” “Kneeling Scars” is one of MDMP’s most-personal tracks to date. Check out “Kneeling Scars ” on YouTube here:

This is evident in the songwriting; multiple times throughout the song, Meyer is heard singing, ‘All I do is cry / ‘Cause I miss you,’ and clearly reflecting on an impactful absence in his life.

Canadian artist Ethan Flynn cuts to the heart of existentialism and love with the unveiling of his single, “Somebody To Love” and his recently released sophomore album, The Pumpkin Club — watch the video on YouTube here:

The genre-bending feel-good ditty either leaves you desiring someone for yourself, or remembering the beauty of what it was like to be in want. “People tend to think love songs are cliche, but I think love is the most powerful, honest, raw, and healing thing in the world,” Flynn offers. “And there are so many kinds of it!

“I tend to long for beauty in life, in general, so that’s just how I usually think,” he continues. “It’s beautiful to have somebody to love. It’s beautiful to want love.

Canadian artist Ethan Flynn cuts to the heart of existentialism and love with the unveiling of his single, “Somebody To Love” and his recently released sophomore album, The Pumpkin Club — watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/If1h4rtB5YE

The genre-bending feel-good ditty either leaves you desiring someone for yourself, or remembering the beauty of what it was like to be in want. “People tend to think love songs are cliche, but I think love is the most powerful, honest, raw, and healing thing in the world,” Flynn offers. “And there are so many kinds of it!

“I tend to long for beauty in life, in general, so that’s just how I usually think,” he continues. “It’s beautiful to have somebody to love. It’s beautiful to want love.

For many of us, “Catch a Falling Star” is a classic Perry Como song. For acoustic storyteller Bobbo Byrnes, it also describes a once-in-a-lifetime experience the Anaheim-based artist had that led to the creation of his new single tribute to his female contemporaries, “Queen of the Party”.

Check out “Queen of the Party” on YouTube here:

“We were there to see the Sin City All-Stars and waiting at a bar in Los Angeles when I saw the person next to me trip and start falling,” Byrnes recalls. “I caught her and stood her upright. She thanked me and was on her way. It was then I realized I had just caught Lucinda Williams in my arms.”

Settling soundly within this month of “June” comes Canadian folk-rock recording artist Deanna Drudge’s new single, video and album, Killing Time.

Check out “June” on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/PZsTFz6B4Iw

At eleven tracks strong, the release is woven together with a lifetime of earnest experience left bare between the bars of song. The indie singer/songstress hails originally from Ontario farmlands, but has found herself among the wooded scenery of Squamish, British Columbia — a juxtaposition she says she leans on in her lyrics.

Dare to learn something new when you take a spin of Canadian country artist Laurie LeBlanc’s new single, “I’ve Never Known” single.

The latest release from his recent full-length offering,  When It’s Right, It’s Right, the East Coast cowboy crooner stares love straight in the eyes on this track, humbly confessing that this — this feeling — this is beyond all comprehension.

A delicately strung together single, it gets right to the heart of the matter from the first chord. Unabashedly slow and melodic, “I’ve Never Known” is a transpiring tale of finally finding the one.

Check it out on YouTube here:

What the world needs now is love. And same as me. And the reigning queen of pop-infused hip hop’s new single, “Stand Up”.

Check out “Stand Up” on YouTube here:

In a love letter to a broken world, and in an effort to reunite us all, the Edmonton-born, Toronto-based singer/songwrtier, producer and rapper same as me is her own mighty mecca of music.

From the production, to the vox, to the rap, to the visuals, the artist takes creative command from every lyric she pens, every note in her insanely wide range, to every treatment of her videos. Unsurprisingly, the indie songstress from Hollywood North is getting picked up for what she’s putting down. And it’s a whole lotta – you got it – love.

Ottawa, ON-based bluesman Steve Marriner is ushering a decidedly more roots-rock Americana sound to the forefront with the release of his new solo album, Hope Dies Last.

Crafted through COVID — and inspired by years on the road, and back — the 10-track full-length is available this July 2 via Stony Plain Records. It explores not only an evolving sound for the ever-busy artist, but an ever-expanding skill set as well.

Check out “How High” on YouTube here:

“I like to be on the move,” Marriner shares, who took on engineering the project. “To me, standing still feels the same as walking backwards; not only is it a survival mechanism, but it truly is my passion to have my hands in so many different projects. There’s just so much to learn, and it’s that learning that sustains me as an artist.

Toronto-based acoustic folk group Samways sets poetry in musical motion again with their new single, “The Mother,” and debut album, Untrodden Ways.

With previously released singles “The Wind of Death” and the album’s title track, “Untrodden Ways,” serving as previews to the 10+2-track LP, the Toronto-based innovative quartet unveils another intriguing mashup of turn of the century poetry in “The Mother.”

Check out “Untrodden Ways” on YouTube here:

Not this century, but the last one… Complete with a soundscape that is totally today; the song is ancient prose living in perfect harmony with modern folk.

With poetic lyrics steeped in his British roots, Canadian artist Chris Ronald captures his signature blend of folk and rock reminiscent of 60s-era revivalists and 70s-era singer/songwriters in this, his fifth and latest album, Light & Dark.

Leaning towards a decidedly rootsy sound, Ronald’s powerful vocals and accomplished musicianship in guitar, harmonica, and ukulele serve up a delicious folk-Americana, roots-rock release that lands just where he and his long-time collaborator, award-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist John MacArthur Ellis, set their sonic sights a few years ago.

“After showcasing at Americanafest in Nashville in 2018 — and really soaking up the vibe of the Americana music scene down there — John and I knew which direction to take this next album,” Ronald recalls. “Where my most recent album, Fragments, was more on the folk-side of Americana, Light & Dark has more of a contemporary roots sound.”

Extraordinary vox and melodic sensibilities combine for Ottawa-born, Toronto-based pop singer/songwriter Amir Brandon and his debut single, “champagne”.

Check out “champagne” on YouTube here:

Having gained early accolades from chart-topping Billboard singer/songwriter JoJo, Amir Brandon has performed headlining showcases at Canadian Music Week, shared the stage with Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo, and amassed more than 2+ Million streams on YouTube for his stunning takes of R&B greats.

At the crossroads of a child’s wonder at discovery and an adult’s grief over what’s been lost stands Canadian singer/songwriter Kele Fleming’s song-of-the-times, “Vanishing of Bees”.

Fleming re-released “Vanishing of Bees” accompanied by a new live video featuring her full band to continue the efforts of the UN World Bee Day. Additionally, 100% of digital sales of the single via Bandcamp will be donated to the David Suzuki Foundation.

With the double whammy of a worsening climate emergency damaging our planet and a worldwide pandemic ravaging our population, there’s no time like the present for this clarion call-to-action that Fleming also describes as “a beautiful lullaby for a time passing and a way of life that is threatened”. 

In what the Vancouver Sun’s Stuart Derdeyn calls “a lush pop ballad boasting a soaring vocal on the chorus”, “Vanishing of Bees” powerfully juxtaposes a nostalgic, youthful world view with the harsh reality of today’s global environmental crisis.