Willem James Cowan’s new single, “You Will (A Brief Reminder to Look Up),” is a warm, Laurel Canyon–inspired ode to optimism – a gentle reminder that no matter how heavy life feels, things will get better. Breezy yet reflective, the track blends folk, rock, singer/songwriter, and Americana influences to create an uplifting space that feels both timeless and personal.
The spark for the song came in an unlikely place – a movie theatre. “A couple months after ending a long-term relationship, my brother and I went to see the movie Beau is Afraid,” Cowan recalls. “The movie as a whole didn’t have a huge impact on me, but I was really inspired by the dream sequence about three-quarters of the way through where a woman is prophesying a character’s life. Each sentence starts with the phrase ‘you will’ as she details the events to come, and I really liked the way it sounded. I had to pull my phone out and write the idea down (against theatre etiquette – sorry everyone). I went home and wrote the lyrics with the same idea. This song is a reminder to myself and others that no matter how down you feel, things will get better.”
Toronto alt-punk rockers Excuses Excuses return with “Nothing At All,” an anthemic, defiant, and raw rallying cry that questions the impact of social media on our increasingly divided world. The track cuts through the noise to encourage listeners to reject the curated smokescreens algorithms present and reclaim an honest, individual perspective on life.
Delivering a searing commentary on conformity, the emptiness of regurgitated online opinions, and the loss of original thought in the digital age, “Nothing At All” serves as a reminder that we don’t need to feed into the game that media and politics try to push on us – we still have a chance to be ourselves and to be united in this world.
“‘Nothing At All’ directly calls out the effects of social media on our brains and the flaws in our resulting actions as a society,” explains guitarist/vocalist Kyle C. Wilton. “Though a lot of people either don’t see it or choose not to realize it, the truth is that we have been changed by this modern way of life. I think this song sheds a much needed light on the reality of the situation.”
At its core, “Nothing At All” is about breaking the cycle – refusing to be just another voice in the echo chamber, and instead striving for a more positive, authentic, and united future.
Toronto-based trio Next Week’s Washing make a bold statement with “Empty Pages,” their expansive, genre-blending new single. Drawing on elements of shoegaze, Britpop, and alternative rock, the track combines a nostalgic emotionality with forward-looking sonic ambition – pairing shimmering walls of guitar with front-and-centre, harmony-laced vocals. It’s a huge, euphoric number from a band you didn’t know you needed until now.
Written during their earliest sessions as a group, “Empty Pages” helped solidify the band’s collaborative spark. “It started with a nostalgic chord progression, and we built everything else around that feeling,” they explain. Lyrically, the track reflects on the idea of potential and perspective by seeing life’s “Empty Pages” as either a void or an invitation.
Engineered by Dylan Frankland (Tallies) and mastered by Noah Mintz, the song also highlights a rare sibling harmony moment between members Miles and Julian Duffy in the chorus, adding an emotional layer to the band’s widescreen sound.
Where do your thoughts go when the lights are out? In her deliriously raw new single, “Cold Little Fingers,” Hamilton-based indie rock artist Lisa SQ invites listeners into the restless space between dreaming and waking – a late-night freak-out where whispered voices, pounding hearts, and childhood boogeymen dance together in the dark.
“Cold Little Fingers” is where the shivers hide. “Cold Little Fingers” is tossing and turning. “Cold Little Fingers” is a dizzying whisper. “Cold Little Fingers” is making friends with the monsters under your bed. “Cold Little Fingers” is a late night thought spiral. “Cold Little Fingers” is trying to keep your composure on the verge of a meltdown.
The song’s inspiration came from Lisa SQ’s own life: her partner’s habit of talking, laughing, and flailing in his sleep. “I regularly wake up to him mid-conversation with me, unsure if he’s asleep or awake,” she says. “While disorienting in the moment, I find the whole thing pretty sweet and funny.”
Recorded live off the floor at Toronto’s Dwaynespace with an all-star crew of friends, the track captures the exhilarating chaos of a night terror in progress. Producer Tyler Kyte (Dwayne Gretzky) amped up the BPM to a heart-racing tempo, with drummer Michael Brushy (Dwayne Gretzky) delivering pulse-pounding beats, bassist Dave Dalrymple (Wax Atlantic) steering the track into Strokes-esque territory, and guitarist Jimmy Hayes (Harlan Pepper, Deseronto) slicing through with frantic, sharp-edged riffs. Engineered and mixed by Ian Docherty (July Talk), the result is a playful, panicked burst of indie rock energy.
Chaos Controlled Podcast, the raw and unfiltered show that has built a reputation for opening up conversations around mental health, has launched its 3rd season of this conversational interview show; out today on all platforms. Hosted by festival and nightlife boss Mikey Tableman and renowned character actor Danny J. Gomez, this new season of the podcast continues its mission of destigmatizing discussions about mental health while giving audiences a platform filled with honesty, vulnerability, and connection.
“I’m beyond excited for Season 3 because we’re diving into some of the most powerful and eye-opening conversations we’ve ever had,” says host Mikey Tableman. “Mental health is something that impacts everyone, and this season is packed with incredible guests who are ready to share their stories, their struggles, and the tools that have helped them overcome.”
Since its debut, Chaos Controlled has stood out for its ability to bring candid stories to the forefront, with a nuanced focus on highlighting the struggles of men and how they express their mental health battles. Tableman and Gomez have cultivated a space where people from different walks of life feel empowered to share their struggles and triumphs, reminding listeners that it’s not only okay to talk about mental health, but also necessary for growth and healing. By drawing out authentic dialogue, the show has become a trusted resource for anyone navigating their own challenges.
Season 3 of Chaos Controlled is shaping up to be the most impactful yet, featuring some of the biggest guests the show has ever featured from a variety of talents, including notable actors, musicians, and prominent lifestyle influencers, starting with multi-talented performer and viral sensation Josh Killacky. Dropping new episodes every Wednesday, the show will continue to balance raw storytelling with hope, leaving listeners with insights they can apply in their own lives.
Listeners can follow along with Season 3 beginning September 17th on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all other major platforms. For behind-the-scenes content, updates, and community interaction, the podcast can also be found on Instagram at @officialchaoscontrolled.
Audiences tuning in can expect even deeper conversations about resilience, emotional health, and the tools people use to overcome adversity. With its bold approach and elevated, influential lineup of guests, Chaos Controlled continues to remind us that healing begins with a conversation.
When MASSEY unleashed his blistering new single “BOOKIN’” it immediately felt like more than just another funk-rock cut.
Co-written with longtime friend and guitarist Charlie Lerant, “BOOKIN'” explodes with blues rock riffs as it tells the story of two lovers racing toward each other and towards tragedy. It’s full throttle passion and heartbreak set to music, a rush of guitars, horns and syncopated rhythms that makes you feel the chase in your bones.
But MASSEY’s vision didn’t stop at the audio. To bring “BOOKIN’” to life visually, he turned to fine artist Lionel Thomas, a painter he has admired for years and who created the artwork for his upcoming debut album Reason for Being.
Thomas’s decision to hand draw each frame of the “BOOKIN’” video in manga style animation is virtually unheard of today. The result is an action drama that mirrors the intensity of the track – a woman on a train, a man in a car, villains, storms, battles and, at the heart of it all, a love story barreling toward a cliff.
We caught up with MASSEY to talk about how “BOOKIN’” was born, and how Lionel Thomas transformed one of MASSEY’s most intense songs into a rare, hand drawn visual experience.
Watch the Official Music Video:
1.Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?
As the lyric writer and singer, as soon as my collaborator on this one, the amazing guitar player Charlie Lerant played each lick, hook and attack of the guitar part he wrote, I knew what this song was about: full-throttle, possessed passion, two people drawn like high powered magnets yet forced to chase, forced to race, towards inevitable catastrophe.
And the first word that came immediately to mind, for the title, and the chorus hook: BOOKIN’!
The general story or arc of the song came to me quickly from there, and the lyrics rolled from the story board I built in my mind.
2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
Well, the video was the complete work of the visionary fine artist Lionel Thomas.
His paintings are one of a kind. I have been a fan, patron, and owner of his work for more than 5 years. We brought him on to paint the commissioned cover of the soon-to-be-released MASSEY debut album, Reason For Being, dropping in a few weeks on October 24th.
And we were so blown away by the album cover he painted, that we commissioned Lionel, once again, to create what is pretty much unheard of in this moment: a hand drawn manga anime music video for the entire 2 minutes and 44 seconds of BOOKIN’!
I knew he would do the most fabulous job, and gave him free reign to conceptualize, storyboard and present the story he felt matched the energy. So, as Lionel explained to me, he quickly started seeing the story, with story-board outlines in his mind’s eye: – an over-the-top action film, ala Mission Impossible. There’s a train, a heroine, a villain and a hero racing down the highway to catch them.
The heroine fights, the hero races …
They ultimately embrace …
Yet it doesn’t end well …
3. What was the process of making the video?
As it was described to me by Lionel, his conceptualizing of the video was similar to how, as soon as I heard the music from my songwriting partner, Charle Lerant, I felt what the song was about, and then wrote the lyrics.
Lionel told me, after a couple listens to the song, he knew the story he wanted to tell. He saw a Mission-Impossible like action adventure plot line, with a woman as the hero, done in a Japanese manga animation style.
From that vision, he drew more and more detailed storyboards. He presented a draft of a segment, to be sure we liked his progress. Yet we wanted more story development.
After drawing it out more, we worked to be sure the action was syncing with the drama of the music and attack of the song. The result was better than we could have imagined! A masterpiece final product, with classic cinematic-style credits, too! We are out of our mind in love with Lionel’s work, merging the drama of the song with a visual extravaganza, matching and enhancing that drama.
Modern Mystery 
You must be logged in to post a comment.