Jason Kent’s debut first came out in 2006 – when times were simpler, the world seemed a safer place, and CD’s still reigned. Since then, Kent has continued writing and recording with his ensemble Sunfields, releasing four records. In addition, he has recorded and toured all over with an array of Montreal luminaires including Elephant Stone, The Barr Brothers, The Dears, Kandle, Évelyne Brochu, and Vulagires Machins.

New single, “Something More,” taken from his forthcoming sophomore Soft Commotion LP, is a nod to the current state of things with some rhymes thrown in for good measure and a backbeat you can sway to. In an age where everything’s a commodity, we are never satisfied.

Toronto band MONOWHALES make music that feels like a sonic gut punch. Propelled by an insatiable desperation for honesty, the group — vocalist Sally Shaar, guitarist Zach Zanardo and drummer Jordan Circosta — bring a warrior’s mentality to the rock and roll dream. Self-made and tour-hardened, MONOWHALES are a vision of rock’s future untethered by its past.

Now distributed by Warner Music Canada and internationally through LAB Records, the group have unveiled a fresh, industrial-infused pop-rock sound on “CTRL^^^,” the lead single from the highly anticipated, Dave Schiffman (Adele, Pup) produced new album, Tunnel Vision (out in 2022).

A declaration of independence, “it felt very honest and liberating to finally admit ‘I like to be in control’ and not be ashamed about it at all,” Shaar exclaims. “I feel like I have arrived at a place in my life where I can see what control can look like, the good, the bad and the hideous. With that clearness I’m learning to yield that power myself.”

The concept of AbsurdHero came to Bernard Sprenger in a question: “Why would I limit myself to one musical genre?” A multi-instrumentalist with a Bachelors in Music Composition, AbsurdHero blends his love for pop melodies and distorted guitars, wrapped in a cloud of atmospheric synths that take you on an emotional journey.

His new single, “Dear Friend,” was inspired by a friend’s struggles, approached with feelings of empathy, compassion, and hope. Blending pop punk and metalcore, it is a nimble yet epic sounding piece of songwriting.

AbsurdHero communicates the conflicting responses his anxiety brain receives when trying to help a friend: “I’m always wrong, I’m never right” / “I did the right thing, yet it made some people angry.”

Vancouver alt-pop group Ludic have just released “Judge Me,” the first single off their debut EP out in April 2022.

“Judge Me,” marks the first time that guitarist Ayla Tesler-Mabe has joined bassist/lead vocalist Max Cunningham on vocals, to create a velvety smooth duet. 

This song was written about feeling lonely in a relationship and feeling like you can’t do anything right. Your constant effort to try and change is not working and is instead being met with more criticism by your partner. While intended to be helpful, being constantly criticized also hurts.

“The song tackles what it’s like to recognize harmful patterns in a romantic relationship,” Max Cunningham explains. “And the determination to mend all that is wrong because you are committed to your love for that person.” 

This song is a step forward for Ludic – while it retains the quirky and offbeat sound of their previous releases, there is an undeniable maturity that permeates their new work. 

With nearly 30 million streams on their 2019 debut EP Bet on You, Canadian alt-rockers The Man Who have spent the last year honing their craft and are ready to return with their best work yet.
New single, “Money,” is a snapshot of how it feels to live in a capitalistic society. It’s from the perspective of the many, not the few. Sometimes it can feel like we’re all in a rat race to nowhere. Being distracted by the latest tech gadget or fad online, while the few get richer and richer and the global divide in wealth gets bigger. It’s about the diminishing middle class and the question of where is it all heading?

Anzola is a Toronto-based, Venezuelan-born recording artist and multi-instrumentalist, whose loop-based neo-psychedelic music incorporates elements of instrumental hip-hop, electronic, jazz, and Latin music. 

Layered with different textures of nature sounds and percussion to add to the swing of the beat, “Impressions” invites listeners to take a moment to slow down and embrace elegance.

Bodega was inspired by a constant back and forth of high energy and exhaustion. “These songs are fragments of memories and moments of my own story, my own growth, my failures and my losses,” Anzola explains. “Like a bodega, this album can be small and tight but you get everything you need.”