Based in Brampton/Toronto, Canada, the band SICAYDA is a dense combination of genres that emanates a fuzzy, animating, and ethereal aesthetic; their high-powered live performances and unique sound pushes them from shoegaze’s shimmering-gloom roots into a blisteringly powerful sonic direction.

“KYG (KILL YOUR GOD)” their upcoming single, is a companion piece to previous release, “KYE (KILL YOUR EGO). While “KYE” focused on how some in the band’s circle are selling them out to who they perceive will grant them access, “KYG” is about those who artists are sold out to.

The music industry and scene that SICAYDA is a part of only has white people as gatekeepers and so the band has chosen to speak openly about the unfair treatment that non-white individuals in the industry face.

Sonically, “KYG” is a powerful alternative rock song which blends the band’s shoegaze influences with more direct and impassioned vocals. 

The song harnesses emotive anger to depict how those in positions of power within the music industry feel about themselves: huge symbols to worship yet they contribute nothing and tower over the artists that created them.

Les Cooper is an award winning producer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from the Greater Toronto Area. He was recently awarded Gold record status for his co-writing and production on the album Chances by Jill Barber. His productions have won JUNO Awards (Meaghan Smith, The Good Lovelies), as well as several JUNO nominations.

Turning to his solo project, Les is sharing “Stranger,” a lush and downtempo piece of songwriting which combines organic and electronic elements. 

You can check out the song here: 

Having spent a lot of time touring as a guitar player, Cooper encountered many wonderful people and in many cases they would all hang out together, regardless of who was famous and who wasn’t. “Stranger” reflects on the individuals who wouldn’t let go of this perceived divide.

“I think that it’s hard for some people to adjust to the reality of life as a regular person after they’ve felt what it was like to be adored and famous,” explains Les. 

This song was born out of a feeling of frustration and the need to “say the kinds of things you’re not really allowed to say to some of these folks.” The track begins calmly but there is a point where it all falls apart and the “real person comes out.”

Tidal Wave is a 7-piece art rock band known for their powerful soundscapes and diverse instrumentation. Their name accurately depicts the tone of an unrelenting force composed of rich textures of guitars and synthesizers, with a delicate balance between soaring string lines and strong vocal melodies.

Following the 2021 release of their self-titled EP, they share a melancholic new single. “‘This Cost Of Life’ is the pain of a relationship ending, but to truly live you need to experience these lows. It makes the highs oh so much higher and therefore is truly a cost of living your life, one that we must all feel from time to time.” —Tidal Wave

SUGARFUNGUS is an indie pop/indietronica band from Vancouver formed remotely in 2020. The 5-piece collective describes themselves as “introverts making dance music,” evoking a certain dream pop meets Pacific Northwest electronica sound.

The debut EP Letting Go, Moving Still out now, presents a set of warm and fuzzy tracks that blend bright guitar lines and atmospheric synths, all the while punctuated by pop-driven hooks that capture the feeling of drifting in and out of a state of sweet, mushroomy bliss. 

“What’s a Used One Worth?” is a song about feeling used and bitter regarding a past relationship. Illustrating a moody night out, spent trying to get your mind off that person and marinating in spite while you dance.

Melted Wings is the multi-genre musical project of Michael Wynn, guitarist and founding member of bands Trains of Winter and Vicky von Vicky. 

With a new concept album titled Cheer for the Deer slated for release this spring, he shares “Worthless Souls,” a song about redemption that calls out power and corruption, especially in political and corporate settings.

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/meltedwings/worthless-souls

Cheer for the Deer will journey into the past, specifically the ‘80s, introducing synths and sparse guitar work along with themes of acceptance and rooting for the underdog.

For The Trampoline Delay, the stage name of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Pete Marino, time away from the daily grind has given life to an album’s worth of eclectic indie rock; a chance for one artist to unpack life’s ups, downs, death, health and even fucked-up relationships. 

His upcoming release, “Don’t Let Go,” is about walking that fine line between desire and being faithful. It tells the story of two people on the cusp of a relationship that just can’t be.

Originally conceptualized as a rock love song, “Don’t Let Go” morphed as Marino wrote, delving into the struggles of relationships, lust, and temptations. This harmonious track is guitar driven and melodic, despite its darker undertones.

Listen for the track’s climax, heightened by the refrain “I’m walkin’, I’m walkin’, I’m walking a high wire” and a guitar solo that grapples with the chaos of the protagonist’s decision.