Danielle Alma Ravitzki’s musical project Mifarma has delivered a mesmerizing sophomore single with “Somnambulist,” further cementing her position as an artist capable of creating deeply atmospheric and emotionally resonant soundscapes.
The track begins with an almost imperceptible whisper before Ella Joy Meir’s delicate piano composition gradually emerges from the silence. What follows is a masterclass in tension-building – Ravitzki’s ethereal vocals float like specters above the minimal instrumentation, creating a disquieting sense of being suspended between consciousness and dreaming.
“Somnambulist” excels in its sonic storytelling. The production, helmed by two-time Grammy nominee Carmen Rizzo, demonstrates remarkable restraint. Rather than overwhelming listeners with excess, the track breathes in negative space, allowing Ravitzki’s haunting delivery to convey the disorientation of moving through life disconnected from oneself. The result is a listening experience that feels cinematic and deeply personal simultaneously.
Following her well-received first English-language single “I Left the Room Without My Hair,” this track continues to explore themes of dissociation and identity, but with even more nuanced emotional depth. Ravitzki, previously known for her Hebrew-language releases, seems to have found a new artistic freedom in this linguistic shift, delivering some of her most vulnerable work to date.
“Somnambulist” signals exciting possibilities for Mifarma’s forthcoming self-titled album. The track’s haunting quality lingers long after it ends – much like the half-remembered fragments of dreams that inspire its name.
On her latest single “Someone to Call,” Austin-based singer songwriter Roxana Labatt delivers an achingly beautiful ballad that speaks directly to the heart of human loneliness.
Produced, mixed and mastered by Kfir Gov at Evil Snail Studios, the track pairs intimate, soaring vocals with polished modern pop production.
Drawing from a deeply personal place, “Someone to Call” captures the sharp ache of realizing you have no one to lean on during life’s most pivotal moments. When you look down at your emergency contacts, and realise nobody is there to call on except yourself.
Inspired in part by a moment in Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana documentary and a memory from her own life – waiting alone at a doctor’s office after a frightening diagnosis – Roxana transforms these painful experiences into a universal song for anyone who has ever felt isolated at a time they most needed connection.
The song opens with a gentle, melancholic atmosphere that allows Roxana’s voice to take center stage. The vocal performance is stunning. Rich with emotion but never overdone, carrying a natural weight that makes every lyric feel lived-in. As the track builds, layers of harmonies and instrumental textures swell around her voice, amplifying the emotional stakes without ever drowning the vulnerability that defines the core of the song.
With the lyrics, Roxana exhibits many of the same strengths that have earned her acclaim since her debut in 2020 – vivid storytelling, visceral emotion and a strong ability to articulate complex feelings with clarity. Every word in “Someone to Call” feels purposeful. And it is very much the product of Roxana’s background not just in music, but also in years of expository and creative writing.
“I was inspired to write a song about that feeling. I think it is often during our highest highs and our lowest lows that we feel that lack of someone to call most acutely (that’s the idea underlying the chorus lyric in my song “shouldn’t there be someone to call . . . to cheer me on whenever things got good, and when I thought they never would”). The themes reflected in “Someone To Call” – of feeling alienated/isolated from other people and of being in a lot of pain on the inside when things maybe look pretty great from the outside – recur in a lot of my songs.
As for the production of the track, I had for some time been wanting to produce songs with a more commercial pop sound, without losing the emphasis on lyrical content and dramatic musical moments that are characteristic of my songs. When I wrote this track, I immediately had the feeling that, out of all of the songs that I’d written up to that point, it was the one that had the most potential to achieve that goal. So, I hired a Producer in Austin who I had read had experience in that type of pop production (Kfir Gov at Evil Snails Studio) and we produced this track. Songs I especially looked to for inspiration in deciding how to approach the production of this track were P!nk’s “Turbulence” and “A Million Dreams” and Céline Dion’s “Ashes.”
And while the subject matter of the song is heavy, there is a thread of resilience that runs throughout. By confronting lonliness head on, Roxana ultimately offers listeners a quiet hope, a reminder that feeling isolated doesn’t mean you are truly alone. Also, that the ache for connection is something that binds us all.
“Someone to Call” does showcase a more modern pop sensibility for Roxana , while still staying true to her indie roots. The balance of programmed elements with live instrumentation, especially the clever interplay of rhythmic tectures, creates an expansive backdrop for the emotional narrative to unfold.
With this latest release, Roxana Labatt continues to establish herself as a distinctive voice in indie-pop storytelling. She is not afraid to dig deep, expose the raw places and remind us that even in our loneliest momentswe are seen and heard.
Her next chapter includes new music set for 2025, but for now, “Someone to Call” stands as one of her most moving releases to date.
Victoria, British Columbia-based singer-songwriter Mikayla Menzies’ new single, “Misery,” is a powerful and poignant anthem about the complexities of physical and emotional pain, resilience, and the journey of reclaiming personal freedom.
The song stems from a harrowing road trip across Canada, where Mikayla found herself grappling with a mysterious illness while navigating the winding, often painful path toward healing. “Misery” captures the feeling of being trapped in one’s own body, while still searching for moments of solace amidst hardship.
The song’s title speaks to the challenging journey Mikayla faced as she endured long stretches of highway, dizziness, muscle aches, and confusion while clinging to the hope of reaching her destination—Tofino, a small surf town on Vancouver Island. Through the pain, she discovered a deep, unexpected strength within herself, and “Misery” is her cathartic expression of that personal evolution. The track’s lush production and flowing singer-songwriter and alternative pop-inspired sound embody the bittersweet mood Mikayla experienced during her painful summer, which later evolved into autumn.
Montreal-based artist borza unveils his latest single, “Toujours”—a hypnotic, introspective track that calls for self-awareness and reconnecting with one’s true essence. Blending electro-indie-rock and French pop influences, the song weaves deep bass, simple keyboard lines, and electrifying guitars into a vibrant, thought-provoking atmosphere.
Inspired by a radical change of events in his life, borza channels his personal evolution into “Toujours,” using music as a mirror for emotional transformation. The track serves as a reminder to resist the pull of routine, embrace authenticity, and listen to the signs the universe provides.
Music is a reflection of our emotions and experiences. “Toujours” is a call to self-awakening—a reminder to reconnect with our essence, embrace self-love, and live life fully. – borza
Vancouver-based alt-rock duo Dear Rouge unveil a poignant reimagining of their breakout single with “Black To Gold (Stripped),” a raw and reflective version that strips the song back to its emotional core, placing the spotlight on its lyrics of resilience, self-worth, and rising through adversity.
Written during a quiet drive across the prairies of Saskatchewan, the lyrics for “Black To Gold” were inspired by C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – specifically the character Edmund, whose redemption arc mirrored the emotional undertones the band wanted to capture. The stripped version offers a moment of deep introspection, shedding the original’s bold gloss in favour of acoustic intimacy.
We’ve always had grit and gloss in our DNA. “Black To Gold” was the first track to really connect with a wider audience because it’s irrefutably who we are. The stripped version reminds us of why we wrote it – to share the hope that even when you’ve made mistakes or lost your way, love is still the answer, and strength can still be found.
I remember driving across the prairies of Saskatchewan when the lyrics of the song came to mind. I had just finished reading one of my favourite childhood stories – The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Edmund made me feel sad – sad that he lost his way, sad that he was the one to make Aslan die. And yet, he was vital to the kingdom getting free. From day one, Dear Rouge has always believed hope is around the corner. That our hearts beat the sound of hope. –Danielle McTaggart
Kingston, Ontario’s Kasador are thrilled to announce the release of their brand new EP, Kasador I. Featuring a powerful grunge anthem, “Butterflies,” the EP ushers in a bold new era for the band, blending raw energy with introspective lyricism.
This collection of songs marks the band’s strongest and most confident work to date, following their successful 2023 album Youth and years of touring across Canada and the US. With Kasador I, the band embraces creative freedom, allowing their personalities to shine through their music in its purest form.
The album’s focus track, “Butterflies,” is a thundering grunge anthem that showcases Kasador at their most powerful. Inspired by frontman Cameron Wyatt’s experience with tachysensia, a condition that distorts reality and causes time to feel like it’s moving quickly, “Butterflies” embodies the struggle of hiding inner turmoil while trying to carry on.
“Everyone has difficult emotions and struggles, but finding the strength to be vulnerable and forthcoming about personal struggles can be so, so difficult,” says Wyatt.
“You’ll find yourself in beautiful and unexpected places when you give yourself total creative freedom,” Wyatt shares. “The quicker you can figure out the identity of a song and what makes it special and then commit to serving that, the better.”
Kasador recorded Kasador I with a newfound sense of camaraderie and creative confidence. “It was the easiest and most enjoyable experience we’ve had to date [recording],” the band reflects. “We went in with a strong collective vision and a trust in ourselves and each other.”
The band’s commitment to authenticity and raw energy shines through on Kasador I. “We have a stronger identity and self-belief in what we’re doing, and that confidence is what has allowed us to break free from some of the rules we might’ve imposed upon ourselves in the past,” Wyatt explains.
Modern Mystery 