Faiyaz and the Wasted Chances are a POC fronted Toronto punk group that have been described as a raw garage pop band with virtuosic protopunk influences, cheekily modded for today’s listeners. Their sound falls somewhere between Warhol pre-punk and the Toronto DIY indie that they flowered in.

Following roadkill stoner pop hit “Dead Animals” and the video for “Glow” which earned 15000+ views, Faiyaz and the Wasted Chances mean business with a cautionary letter  “antisocial” addressing young artists. The heavy single speaks to the mental health issues born from industry pressure and self-destructive tendencies as one tries to make ends meet while still having fun. 

The Lagoons are the DIY musical project of Southern California-raised, jazz-trained, multi-instrumentalist brothers Ryan and Joey Selan. The duo writes, produces, and records their music out of their home studio. They released their debut album, Midnight Afternoon, in 2020, notching millions of streams alongside praise from fans and critics alike.

Energetic new single, “Madness,” was inspired by all of the craziness happening across the globe over the past year. A more rock driven tune for The Lagoons, “Madness” is defined by a powerful guitar hook and reflective lyrics.

Toronto dream pop duo, Twin Rains, are about to release their sophomore album, Unreal City. 

A hard fought battle to create through physical and mental health struggles, the first glimpse of this record comes via “The Garden,” a kaleidoscopic and lush exploration of the patterns in human relationships.

“Gardens are rich in symbolism: they can represent fertility and abundance, but also entropy and decay,” says singer Christine Stoesser of the track. 

“This song is a story about the bittersweet nature of love and beauty, and how I can’t seem to experience either without an awareness of their inevitable breakdown. But the mood isn’t sad; instead, it celebrates this mystery.”

Following the success of their Somedays EP, Lost In Japan return with their newest single “Red Line.”  Inspired by tour life and being away from loved ones, “Red Line” begins with an incredibly upbeat and punchy drum groove that is soon accompanied by some infectious indie-pop melodies. 

Though inspired by a story of band life, Lost In Japan’s metaphorical lyrics provides listeners with a relatable depiction of love without sacrificing the likeable elements of their past releases.

As one half of Toronto, Ontario’s alternative duo, USS, Human Kebab has seen his DJ career take him across the world over the past-decade. Affectionately known as the “after party before the party,” he scours the world for the best rock and alternative remixes before blending them into an hour-long dance smashup.

His upcoming EP focuses on different aspects of office culture, with second single “Office Romance” detailing a sexually tense workplace relationship. A minimal house loop and repetitive bass line take centre stage in the tongue-in-cheek video complete with Zoom, VR headsets and a cubicle dance party.

Jacob Weil (pronounced Wheel) is a road-worn singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based out of Vancouver, B.C. Floating purposefully between the genres of folk, Americana and alternative music, Jacob’s songs often leave the listener reminiscing of a not so distant past, like a lost memory obscured by the trials of the present moment. 

Fresh off his first solo tour across the USA, Jacob releases a love song yearning for life on the road. “The Next Show” looks back on the early days of performing in nostalgia of the beautiful moments in each small show.