Though much of Toronto rock band A Short Walk to Pluto’s success is owed to their social media engagement, it is their genre-defying original music and energetic live performances that have generated a loyal, consistent, and far reaching following. This young and professional-sounding foursome is prepared to deliver a show that concert goers will remember for a lifetime. 

Unique and cathartic new single, “Outcast,” is a tribute to Canadian Rock heroes. Written in the style of Rush, The Tragically Hip, Alanis Morissette, and Big Wreck, this song pays tribute to a long history of Canadian rock music. Lyrically, the song has undergone many iterations with the final version being an expression of depression due to social ostracization and the feeling of loneliness in a relationship.

“Outcast” has no silver lining, no positive message, and no inspiring ending. It is simply an expression of pain through loneliness. We hope this song brings comfort in that everyone experiences loneliness from time to time but through art, one can ease the pain of feeling outcast.

Henry Taylor is a Kitchener-Waterloo, ON based singer-songwriter with five studio albums under his belt and recent co-writing credits with award-winning songwriters in Nashville, TN. Henry’s music is mostly considered Americana – a mix of rock, blues, folk, and country. He’s currently working on his sixth studio album between Kitchener-Waterloo and Nashville where he and longtime songwriting partner and lyricist Monique Montgomery are co-writing with renowned Nashville songwriters Cory Lee Barker, Mark Barnowski, and Ri’chard Trest. 

Latest single, “I’ve Got The Guns,” is an upbeat and playful romantic track. “This song is clearly about Henry,” says Montgomery. “He’s often trying to impress me with his manly physique, and he is quite a manly specimen. I thought I would poke a little fun, since he’s also very tender and gentlemanly. I guess we all want to be appreciated for more than just ‘the guns’ – but, in the end, you’ve got to show off your most impressive assets.”

Ways in Waves is the brainchild of Brian Raine, a multi-instrumentalist and music producer living out of Edmonton, Alberta. With malleable form and the spirit of experimentation at its core, the group began as a live duo, and eventually expanded to a five-piece live band with Raine picking up vocals as well as guitar and keys parts. 

Their upcoming album is set for release next month (September 2024) and combines aspects of rock, art-pop, and electronic music together into a mixture that propels the listener through controlled chaos. With drums engineered by Quinn Cyrankiewicz of Royal Tusk and performed by Joel Joeske of Whale and the Wolf, the newest releases from Ways in Waves (including “Who in War,” “Everything Taken,” and “Ovum Nova”) are explosive and driven while maintaining an ethereal backdrop. 

Latest single, “Death of Others,” was written in the midst of Raine losing several platonic relationships. 

There’s a lot of breakup songs out there, but most of those are about romantic relationships. The feelings that came out of feeling this distance growing between myself and people I used to love was very painful, and made me contemplate just… starting over, imagining leaving everything and everyone behind and beginning life again as a new person, with no ties to anyone or anything. – Brian Raine

Johnny Polygon’s ongoing journey of recovery is evident with the release of his new single, “Step 2.” Following the impactful “Step 1,” where Johnny first confronted his addiction, “Step 2” delves deeper into his personal narrative, embracing the notion of a power greater than himself guiding him towards sanity.

“Step 2” is a raw and introspective track, showcasing Johnny’s unique ability to turn deeply personal experiences into compelling art. The song opens with a melancholic yet hopeful melody that perfectly sets the tone for his exploration of surrender and the acceptance of external guidance in his recovery journey. His poignant lyrics capture the struggle between self-reliance and the need to trust in a higher power, all conveyed through Johnny’s evocative vocal performance that resonates with the pain of his past and the hope of his present.

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This release marks another significant milestone in Johnny’s evolution as an artist and as a person committed to sobriety. After years of battling substance abuse—a struggle compounded by a heart disease diagnosis in 2018—Johnny courageously sought help, embarking on a transformative path. “Step 2” is a testament to the growth and healing he has experienced along the way.

Johnny’s journey from Ohio to Oklahoma, and ultimately to the coasts of Los Angeles and New York, has been marked by a refusal to conform to industry norms, carving out a distinctive niche in the music world. With “Step 2,” Johnny continues to push boundaries, offering his audience not just a song, but a piece of his heart and soul. This single, like its predecessor, is a reminder that recovery is an ongoing journey—one that requires both self-awareness and the acceptance of support from beyond oneself.