Pearls & Bones is an alternative hip-hop band based out of Toronto and Montreal. The trio write and perform music inspired by discordant influences, from metalcore and PC music to backpack rap and pop-punk. Since forming in 2012, the band has released five EPs and two full-length albums. Their third record, Cool Uncles, culminates a two-year period of technical and aesthetic development just dropped on May 28.

Focus track, “Sawed in Half,” was originally inspired by the movie Kill Bill and the contrast of Uma Thurman spraying viscera and pulling out eyeballs paired with a psychedelic colour scheme. The song ironically pairs some pretty horrific lines and gnarly concepts with a radio ready, power pop melody. 

As a project, Graeme Cornies’ Kodiak Arcade is a hi-fi homage to the lo-fi sounds of the past. It’s a set of sonic landscapes, where the humanity of the organic performances are intertwined with sounds that can only be created by modern tech. 

Cornies teamed up with Joshua Van Tassel (Great Lake Swimmers, KIRTY, Dream Date Studios) for brand new single “Dumb,” about the kind of uncomplicated, unconditional love that dogs and babies give away so freely. A tribute to non-verbal friendships as well as the kind of love that often makes us want to abandon our adult selves, and get lost in mindless play. 

How can we refresh our capacity for wonder while the supersaturation of endless change dulls our senses? FHANG—the upcoming debut collaborative album between Mishka Stein and Samuel Woywitka—channels the energy of pandemic-induced uncertainty into thunderous grooves and cinematic soundscapes with the gravity to absorb your entire attention.The duo’s new single, “Something Real,” showcases an explosive chemistry and the musicians’ commitment to exploring unexpected textures and grooves. The immersive rhythm and textures invite listeners to leap inside to a shared landscape of awe. 

The song has been paired with a surreal visual.

Toronto born artist NOA’s music blends vibrant, catchy melodies with resonant emotional themes – from relationships to female empowerment and self-realization. In just over a year, NOA has garnered over two million streams on Spotify worldwide, and has just shared her debut Honeymoon EP on June 25th.

New single, “Alright With Me,” is a chill, feel-good pop track about meeting someone who starts to show you what love should be like, starting to fall in love and hoping that they stick around. 

Malcolm Burn first made his musical mark in the ‘80s with Boys Brigade who scored a top 20 hit in Canada. Next, Malcolm connected with Daniel Lanois to record and produce Yellow Moon with the Neville Brothers and Oh Mercy for Bob Dylan. Stretching out on his own into the ‘90s, Malcolm produced the landmark album Living With The Law by Chris Whitely, as well as American Caesar for Iggy Pop and Human Wheels with John Mellencamp. His production for Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Girl earned him a Grammy award.

Now, he’s gearing up to release his own collection of material, with a renewed enthusiasm for creating unusual and evocative sonic landscapes filled with continuing left turns. His musical roots follow folk and classical genres up through rock, country, and experimental music. 

“Wand’rin’ Star” is a song for the wandering heart, the restless soul who gets itchy feet when they’re tied down in one place for too long. 

His contemporary version of “Wand’rin’ Star” from the film Paint Your Wagon is western musical music for the new century, with his resonant vocals at the forefront.

Ottawa ensemble Silla and Rise come together to blend the traditional Inuit throat singing of Silla (Cynthia Pitsiulak, Charlotte Qamaniq and Charlotte Carleton) with the global dance floor mixology of Rise Ashen. Both of their LPs were JUNO Award nominated, the debut for Indigenous Music Album of the Year and sophomore for World Music Album of the Year. Their accolades include another nomination by the Indigenous Music Awards for Best Inuit for Indigenous Language or Francophone Album, and winning the Stingray Award at Mundial Festival.

Electronic track “Pandemonium” is the first release from their forthcoming third album. On “Pandemonium,” Inuit throat singing meets futuristic dance floor beats and perfectly conjures up the madness of the pandemic.

Watch the unequivocally Northern video here, with watercolour imagery depicting important contemporary themes of resource extraction and Indigenous sovereignty.