Winnipeg’s Tyler Del Pino has a pure passion for songwriting and an honest sound infused with starry-eyed narratives; a hybrid of Rock-Pop, Americana, and East Coast folk-rock that stays true to the roots of timeless tunes. File him beside James Taylor for his classic songwriting, Sam Roberts for his roughed-up Canadiana style, Mumford and Sons for their anthemic sing-alongs, and Strumbellas for their thoughtful themes and rosy melodies, born and bred in Canada. Backed by his new band The Brasstronautz, audiences will leave with earworms in their heads and hearts full of optimism. “The inspiration for ‘The Solution’ was born at a time when I found myself caught in a whirlwind of thought and contemplation, deeply concerned about the state of our world,” explains Del Pino about the focus track from his new EP, Out of a Clear Blue Sky.

Since 2015, The Dream Eaters have evolved from a dream pop band into a full-on video art project with an extensive catalog of weird and darkly humorous music videos of their catchy pop songs, growing a cult fanbase. The duo started working together after vocalist Elizabeth LeBaron, originally from Calgary, started working at the same bar as singer/songwriter Jake Zavracky, originally from Boston, in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. 

At face value, “mood pills” simply refers to a pill one takes to enhance their mood. The song deals with what that does to a relationship – how it affects the overall dynamic of a relationship when one person is taking a mood-altering drug and the sexual dysfunction that comes from taking psychiatric drugs. 

“I was diagnosed with depression in 2021 and it took a few tries to figure out what medication worked for me,” explains Elizabeth LeBaron. “Those first few months of navigating how it affected my relationships felt a lot like what this song is saying.”

Mellohoney is a post-punk/garage-rock duo hailing from some noisy garage east of Toronto. No stone is left unturned when the two of them step foot on stage to create a wall of sound much larger than their member count.

In 2023, Mellohoney began recording their debut EP Genuine People with producer Dave Schiffman (PUP, NOBRO, The OBGMs) at Dreamhouse Studios in Toronto. The result was the most energetic, and impactful musical experience both live and recorded for the band. 2024 will see the album release of Genuine People, through which the band never shies away from turning down, as much as they like to crank it up.

The pair’s music centers around post-punk, but often will veer into oncoming traffic, colliding with rock, ska, hip-hop, folk, and reggae, creating a mix that will have your head turning toward the sound of screeching tires to catch a glimpse of the maniacs behind the wheel.

Latest single, “Coward,” was written with “a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the political system, particularly with politicians and the government. A desire for change and accountability.”

“Coward” is our most aggressive and dynamic release to date. It kicks off a new era of Mellohoney that shows off our ability to write memorable hooks amongst the sonic chaos.”

A Filipinx-Canadian multi-instrumentalist and loop artist, Alex Maher’s solo performances combine genre-bending mashups with passionate originals to showcase his musical instincts. Fusing classic soul influences, funk, electro-pop and jazz chops, his songwriting explores human connection in the modern age.  

The song “Red Planet” is a metaphor, using the image of the barren and desolate planet Mars as a parallel of what becomes of us when we allow depression and frustration to linger unaddressed instead of letting the light of love in. 

“Every night as I commuted back to my temporary home in Calgary, I was aware of a constant companion just above the horizon: the planet Mars. Out of that came a metaphor, for when we give in to helplessness and self-isolate” says Alex. “This song is about getting out of that orbit, being accountable, and proactive. I hope this song encourages self-reflection.”

Canadian singer/songwriter Tara MacLean has been an internationally renowned and award-winning recording and touring artist for over 25 years. She’s written and recorded six solo albums and two with her JUNO-nominated band Shaye. In 2008, Tara took a hiatus to focus on being a full-time mother, but she never stopped writing music. Her memoir, Song of the Sparrow, and accompanying soundtrack, the Sparrow LP, was released earlier in 2023. 

The new song “Kiss In December” is a rare collaboration between Tara and her fellow singer-songwriter, Catherine MacLellan, who co-wrote and produced it. It’s about a winter love, a real life kiss in December that changed Tara’s life many winters ago. The song originated as a poem. It paints a picture of warmth and of cold at once, but in the end it’s a bit of a sad song.

Hailing from Toronto, The Effens deliver a dark, razor-sharp grunge-glam sound, channeling the raw energy of ’90s grunge and the defiant spirit of early-aughts indie-rock. Infusing their music with honeyed pop melodics and contemporary post-punk creativity, they craft a gripping and wild musical experience. In one of the coolest collaborations, The Effens teamed up with Denz Mcfarlen from the Canadian punk band, The OBGMs for “Someone’s Gonna Get You.” Not only did Denz complete the song with his vocals, but he also shared lyrical input when they were coming up with the concept of the song. It’s about the fear and paranoia that people are contending with right now, living online.