Ahead of his upcoming 2022 LP, The Story That Lived Here, Edmontonian songwriter Ben Sures is sharing “Boring People,” a piece of acute folk introspection that wrestles with the zeitgeist.

“I was trying to be honest, asking myself real questions. So much of what we tell ourselves and others is just to navigate society, to get along, to function, to not be outcast, and so much of it can be at the expense of our own truth, our emotional and mental health,” says Sures.

Ben shares:

Here is  my song ‘Boring People’, for some of my fans it’s their favourite song in the whole wide world. This is actually the third recorded version but for me it is the definitive version.

Who are we? Is this all there is, does anything we do or that happens matter? In the developed world we get hung up on fate, destiny and things that we think we’re meant to be while a larger part of the world is hunting for clean drinking water or trying to escape impossible conditions. So the question is ‘does any of it matter? I’m just posing the question, that’s my job as a songwriter I don’t have an answer.

“Boring People” explores how so much of what we tell ourselves and others is just to navigate society, to get along, to function and to not be an outcast. Much of this can be at the expense of our own truth, including our emotional and mental health.

Connection is at the heart of this song, Sures speaking plainly about the honest realities of human nature. Recorded live in the studio, his acoustic guitar is complemented by upright bass and violin.

Born in Italy, raised in Montreal, and having completed his university studies in Rome and Bruxelles, GION (born Gionatan Catalano) started releasing music with his first EP (Loved You Since College, Act I) in 2020.

Reflecting on a six year long relationship, his first and second EPs have been cathartic explorations of coping with love and heartbreak. GION is now readying his third EP, What We Thought We Were (Act III), which features lead single, “RUIN IT FOR THE NEXT ONE.”

“‘RIFTNO’ is the conclusion to a three part trilogy of EPs that were written about this singular relationship that when it ended, felt like the equivalent of the world ending as well,” GION explains. 

An upbeat, guitar inflected pop track with instantly singalongable lyrics, “RUIN IT FOR THE NEXT ONE” is a song which reflects on growth and moving forward.

Canadian singer-songwriter, Jon Rivera (2M+ streams prior as JT Soul), re-introduces himself after a year hiatus where he changed his life and sound. After starting to take care of himself and, more notably, losing 100+ pounds, the artist took his time to figure out how he was going to grow as an artist. He now presents himself as Jon Rivera, a name derived from his own name, a homage to his Portuguese roots. 

Standing out from the typical city kid, Jon Rivera’s metropolitan upbringing leaves an unmistakable mark on his songs while his attraction for pop sonorities naturally contrast his introspective songwriting and tough yet soothing tone.

Fresh new track, “Americana,” explores the universal desire to go out and make something of yourself. We know what we want and deserve but sometimes settle for something else – not necessarily good or bad, just different.

Toronto alt rock duo, USS, is back with their thank-you album for the fans, The Science and Artfunkel Victory Lap, a compilation of unreleased b-sides and rarities released in conjunction with the band’s final tour. 

After winning 8 awards (4x CASBY, 2x COCA, 2x INDIE), being nominated for a JUNO Award for Best New Group, and earning a Certified Gold record (Yin Yang), USS is leading the release of their new compilation with “Follow (Trans Lunar Ejector Maneuver),” an anthem of warts-and-all self acceptance. 

Written with Travis Wood and Gavin Slate, “Follow” features a singalong chorus paired with earnest acoustic guitar and direct rhythms. The song channels the mood of that moment when you decide you’ve had enough and need to break old habits, catching your own eye and seeing through your own twisted rationalizations.

Fleur Electra is a Toronto based singer-songwriter, producer, and performer. Since first writing music as an impressionable pre-teen, she has developed an ever-evolving sense of musicality that has shaped her sound into what it is now: punchy alternative pop, paired with dreamy ambience. 

Her debut single, “Lucky Penny,” is the first single off of her new record coming in 2022, entitled In Technicolor. 

“Lucky Penny” is built around the idea of taking the time to challenge what you already know and understand what matters to you. A bright, synth based pop track, this track follows a story of self-realization where the song’s protagonist really comes into their own identity.

A year of isolation, and soul crushing anxiety has sent Forester’s DIY approach spiraling down the rabbit hole. “Can’t Sleep” fights back, lashing out lyrically with a vengeance. Written by the band, but blasting a brighter mix packed full of vivid ‘ear art’ thanks to Sam Guaiana (Silverstein, We Were Sharks), their new single marks the first time the band has brought outside ears into the studio.