The best music creators are one part mathematician, one part mad scientist. They need to know how to get the right sounds out of their instrument, but also delight in mixing all of it up into an exciting, sometimes boundary-pushing concoction. The unbridled joy of skilled experimentation is evident in this, The AltoRays’ groove-driven new release “Lift” – check it out on YouTube here:

“It took a pandemic!” Austin, Texas guitarist, composer, and producer Mitch Watkins says, giving silver-lining credit to the two-year, global health crisis for allowing him and Montréal-born-and-raised, now Austin-based vocalist Dianne Donovan enough time in their schedules to finally create their long-planned duo album, Back to the Light, released late last year.

Niagara Falls, Ontario has been harbouring some sensationally psychedelic soul in the form of Canadian band Road Waves and their funkalicious new single, “Hometown” – check it out on YouTube here:

“Hometown” is a groovy composition that meticulously meshes aspects of psychedelic rock, jazz, and soul to create a song you can dance to with mesmerizing instrumental depth. The song was written on a hot summer day in 2020 and is a message to fans about the anticipation of connecting again soon through the magic of live music and audience interaction.

Listeners are treated to a delightfully rich sound that evokes an emotional musical response that transports the senses with a robust horn presence and an enviable rhythmic relationship between drums and bass that flourishes effortlessly.

Canadian folk-rock group Village Manor tells a musical tale of being lucky enough to find that unique someone in our lives with their catchy new single, “Special One” – Check it on YouTube here:

The latest Village Manor song is a heartfelt story that naturally fits the uplifting instrumental arrangement and speaks to the rhythmic chemistry of the band. Bright guitars and splashy drum fills are seamlessly interwoven with warm vocals to create a sound that is recognizable yet distinctly different.

In tandem with the smooth vocal work, the lyrics convey the trials and tribulations that come with keeping the “Special One” in our lives happy.

With handclaps, rock and roll, electric riffs, and a sonic breeze sending you into an audio oasis, Canadian / U.S. rockers Stereobabe are rolling through town like a “Tumbleweed” with the release of their new single and video – check it out on YouTube here:

The song is the call and answer for good vibes, classic music, and, as the video shows, quite literally the soundtrack for having the windows rolled down and the radio cranked up.

“While in pandemic lockdown, we started jamming a riff together,” says Stereobabe — aka the magic duo that is Leann Banks (The Von Bondies) and Ted Lamont (Blasternaut). “We ultimately thought the word ‘Tumbleweed’ fit really well, and gave us a lyrical direction to take the song.

“It also gave us a direction to drive!” they continue. “So, we finished writing the song and started planning a road trip to the American southwest to film the video.

Delivering powerful riffage and remarkable vocal performances, there is no strain too much to push through for Saint John, N.B. alt-metal rockers Sonic Detour. And nowhere is this made more abundantly clear than in their new single and video, “Dolls” – check it out YouTube here:

A power-metal ballad filled with introspective lyrics masked by the gritty chugs and vocal performance accommodating them, there’s an intentional attempt to redirect the listener’s interpretations of the lyrics, creating an air of mystery, while also encouraging a replay.

“I don't like to say what any of the songs are specifically about,” lead singer Goose shares. “I want the work to stand on its own. I want to leave it open to both interpretation and misinterpretation.

“I'm just trying to make the listener feel something.

If you’re Son of Dave, that’s not just a hope, that’s a promise. The international blues mover and shaker, also known as Benjamin Darvill, is heralding his return home to Canada with the get-in-yer-bones new single “Someday Soon” — available now alongside his much-anticipated 10th album, Call Me King.

Check out “Someday Soon” on YouTube here:

After 24 years of living and making music in London and relentless global touring, this one-man harmonica and beatbox party is back home again in his native Winnipeg and ready to blast out his unique brand of less-is-much-more, funky and inventive rhythmic blues. That blues thump bump and wiggle are back in his stride on his 10th album of classic Son Of Dave harmonica beatbox bluesman vibes. The ten, self-written tracks on Call Me King are a tasty, groove-laden buffet of meaty rhythms punctuated by Son of Dave’s stellar harp riffs and melodies. 

Skid Row and earMUSIC join forces to announce the release of the anticipated new studio album, The Gang’s All Here on October 14^th, 2022. This announcement coincides with the launch of the iconic hard rock band’s Las Vegas Residency (as the Scorpions’ special guests) on March 26th, as well as the debut of their brand-new single, the title track “The Gang’s All Here.”

Check out “The Gang’s All Here” on YouTube:

“The Gang’s All Here” is an oath of triumph, exploding with powerful energy that makes us hunger for more. It is the logical next-generation leap of the band’s trademark sound that stomps out new ground — with singer Erik Grönwall (formerly of H.E.A.T, one of the best frontmen of this or any hard rock era) joining the family.

With dueling juxtaposition between saving the world and merely surviving, International experiential alt. hip-hop collective Lazy Habits’ newest release “Waves” most closely resembles a cinematic production for the apocalypse.

Available now, the track lands ahead of the London, UK-based band’s forthcoming album, Vermillion Sands, and serves as a call-to-action, so to speak — however, the agenda is up to the listener.

Featuring spirited brass crescendos and driving string staccatos, “Waves” is toxically euphonious. Inspired by a collection of Short Stories by JG Ballard, Lazy Habits set out to create an immersive soundtrack for utter catastrophe and, in “Waves,” they don’t dare to hold back.

Check out “Waves” on YouTube:

Multi-award-nominated New Brunswick-based Indigenous singer/songwriter Mike Bern pays tribute to those who came before him with the melancholy new single, “Ancestors”.

Listen to “Ancestors” here on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/72SFipftPSHRrVXVLppGnj?si=e9d99719acc348d7&nd=1

Hailing from Tobique First Nation, “Ancestors” is a song inspired by a visit Bern made to an Angel Reader — a person who can communicate and receive an angel’s words and visions.

Bern visited while grieving a family passing, and a message was received; it was a call to action to use the power of song to honour those who came before. “Ancestors” is Mike Bern’s dedication to the sacrifices of generations of a family whose shoulders he rests upon.

An ethereal soundscape with lush guitars, anthemic vocals, and catchy synth harmonies, “Ancestors” tells this story of pride while a range of musical influences is complemented by bold lyrics that draw on the strength of Bern’s forbears and the connection to his ancestry.

JUNO Award-winning and four-time nominee Reggae legend Kirk Diamond knows what it takes to create powerful stories laden with prolific melodies. His most recent single “Ruler (feat. Slim Flex)” is no exception to this rule – check it out YouTube here:

The singer, songwriter, producer, and social activist’s music is laced with messages of unity, inclusion, and love joined by the Movement of Ahryel. Since its formation, the band has opened for international reggae powerhouses and performed on global stages.

With a rich and polished career in the music industry, it’s no surprise Kirk Diamond can muster up such euphonious productions. “Ruler” is a great reflection of Diamond’s prowess and influence on modern-day Reggae. Fusing current production methods and the traditions of Reggae, the track features tasteful synths paired perfectly with pulsing percussion and slamming strings.

Saddle in to be “Devoured” by the latest single from alt-rockers Gardenhead – check it out on YouTube here:

The thrashing metal anthem from the Finnish four-piece slams out your speakers with a mission: keep the listener wide awake, horns in the air as the band — Jonne Nyberg (vocals & guitar), Antti “Andy” Silkelä (drums), Eero Silkelä (guitar) and Antti Lammi (bass) — pound your musical pallet into submission.

“‘Devoured’ was initially a bunch of Eero's riffs and a couple of Jonne's melody ideas we played around with at the end of rehearsals,” says Andy. “One night I walked out of the void that we call our practice space and thought of a quote from Stephen King that our late friend would've wanted to get a tattoo of: ‘Monsters are real, Ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.’

J Morris, also known as Ya Favourite Lightskin, has enough energy to power a fleet of hybrid cars, enough soul to raise a church roof, and enough music in his blood to contaminate the average man. And, featuring IAMSOULFUL and Mischa, the Canadian hip hop artist harnesses it all into his latest single, “Lockdown” – check it out on YouTube here:

Drawing on his years of music and entertainment experience and stories to tell, J Morris’ latest track is a fiery hip-hop collaboration that keeps its foot on the pedal the entire way. With hard-hitting lyrics and a mesmerizing hook, “Lockdown” swims between the lines of upbeat to mid-tempo hip-hop. J Morris lays the foundation with a clear-cut lyricism that upholds his stance on maintaining his passion for the art in a world that tries to hold you back.

Alongside its gripping and story-rich new music video, Canadian singer/songwriter jsin tells an uplifting story of positivity and self-acceptance with an uptempo edge on his latest single, “I Choose Love” – check it out on YouTube here:

Groovy from the get-go, “I Choose Love” is the rocking new release from the Toronto-based artist’s eclectic new album, Surrender (2022). The close-out track to the six-song EP, it draws on the pop-rocker’s emotional complexity and compositional strength to construct an anthemic sound embedded with deeply personal ideas.

Reflecting on his own experiences, jsin conveys his unique perspective through his silky-smooth vocal stylings and a multi-rhythmic approach to instrumentation that fills the ears with delight; rich melodies and a catchy hook are the vehicle for his ideas of self-reflection and the journey toward self-forgiveness.

Canadian artist JSJ (Joshua Säde James) has “Gone” into an utter whirlwind of euphoria with the release of his newly minted single, and audiences shouldn’t wait to say ‘same.’

Oozing with R&B finesse, the insta-classic is an ode to the ex-lover caught in a tryst, causing lunacy for whoever is left behind in their trap. 

“This song is my ‘Cruella has entered the chat’ moment,” JSJ reveals. “It’s the Gemini's lament to love.

“‘Gone’ is a sonic roller coaster that hurls you up and down as love battles hatred.”

Check out “Gone” on YouTube here:

Canadian singer/songwriter duo Fresh Breath take a stroll down memory lane in an autobiographical tale of love and excitement with the splashy new single, “When We First Met” – watch it on YouTube here:

The latest single off of Fresh Breath’s dazzling EP, How Did I Get Here, “When We First Met” is part of the collection of six original tracks with hints of creative influence from artists like The Allman Brothers Band and Alanis Morrisette.

The single came together as a regular love song at first, but was quickly repurposed to tell the true story of how this married singer/songwriting duo first met. The idea dawned on Katie Pascoe, one half of Fresh Breath, as she was listening to Paul Simon one day; she began to hum the melody into her voice memos app and decided it was the perfect song to talk about the origin story of her and her husband, the other half of Fresh Breath, Josh Pascoe.

Dutchman brings a statement to their sound in directions that make you Rock, make you Roll, and keep you hanging along for the ride. Always feel at home with their groovy piano-based ballad, “Going Nowhere” – check it out on YouTube here:

It’s the “Hear You Me” of Jimmy Eat World. The “My Immortal” of Evanescence. It’s the “Good Riddance” of Green Day and the “Broken” of Seether. “Going Nowhere” is the vulnerable counterpart of Dutchman's signature rock and roll. And it leads the listener down a soundscape of fondness for looking back.

It takes a deep reserve of courage, conviction, and self-love to leave everything you know to start a new life in a new country when you feel trapped in the one you’ve been living. JUNO and CFMA winning jazz-rock fusion artist Dominic Mancuso has a dear friend who successfully did just that, and is the inspiration behind this, his powerful new single “Her Simple Truth” -

“Her Simple Truth” is the lead single from Dominic Mancuso’s new release, Dances in My Mind — his fourth album, and one celebrating his 25-year career in music and his symbiotic relationship with Italy. This new project has this consummate storyteller with a passion for collaboration teaming up with renowned Italian pianist/arranger Vittorio Mezza — who plays piano, celeste, and rhodes throughout.

Canadian folk singer/songwriter Dany Horovitz soothes the soul with a touching tale of true romance on his delightfully charming new single, “Free Tonight” – watch and listen on YouTube here:

The latest single from the Toronto-based artist’s debut album, Free Times, out April 8th, 2022, Horovitz draws on his literary inspirations and personal experience to deliver music with meaningful messages easily transmissible across social boundaries. As Horovitz puts it,  the album — including “Free Tonight” — “is a carefully curated collection of stories about love, loss, and life.”

There’s no denying the bat signal in the audio sky. It’s Canadian artist Danny Blueberry flying high on his latest single, a cheeky homage to the dynamite duo of the Superhero universe —   “Batman and Robin” – Watch the video here:

“I loved everything about the show,” Blueberry says of the Batman series. “From the opening song to the brightly dressed, campy characters and intense wild storylines…

“But what really caught my attention was the Batgirl/librarian character played by Yvonne Craig,” he continues. “I fell in love with her character and was always astounded at how Batman and Robin always seemed to ignore her as they spoke about the crimes they wanted to prevent and the Bat-toys they would use.”

If change is the only thing that doesn’t change, then resistance to change is certainly futile. This is the universal truth rising Saskatoon acoustic rocker Blaeser explores in his thought-provoking new single, “Potential Paths” – check it out on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Wuez_885Ghc

Even though the choices we make and the paths we walk are unique to each of us, we all share the fact that change is unavoidable and can happen when we least expect it. For Blaeser — Taylor (T.J.) Lang — the global pandemic that changed everything for all of us two years ago is also what launched the creation of “Potential Paths.”