Toronto rapper and singer Nue is a true creative – pushing boundaries, fitting square pegs in round holes. His music is vibey, edgy, with pop, electro and rock elements, and big on melody. You could say he has an underground sensibility with global accessibility. He’s smashing up parameters, but writing some of the catchiest songs you will hear this year.

Dreamy new track, “Thousand Times,” is about Nue’s lifestyle where the party never ends. With a spaced out, grunge feel, “Thousand Times” also features string melodies that evoke classical vibes.

Twin Rains are ushering in the release of Unreal City, their sophomore LP, with “All of the Angels,” a bright and danceable track about how we as people don’t really know that much.

“A situation that first appears bad might turn out favorably, and conversely, a situation that starts out great might eventually ruin you. You don’t get to know how it pans out,” the band explains.

The synths and vocals of this song float along dreamily, while the beat and guitars are infectiously feel-good.

Album title, Unreal City, refers not necessarily to a physical place, but to a state of consciousness. If you’ve ever deluded yourself to avoid unpleasant facts or spent any time fantasizing about things you only wish would come to pass, then you’ve seen the unreal city, too.

The achievements of rock ‘n’ roll heavyweights The Trews are many and mighty, highlighted by multiple radio hits drawn from seven critically acclaimed studio albums plus several EPs, a pair of live records, and a retrospective. Who could have predicted that electrifying recording sessions begun in Nashville in December 2019 with Black Crowes guitarist and long-timeTrews friend Rich Robinson would be curtailed by an unprecedented Canada/U.S. border closure, resulting in just three songs being completed? Amid the global pandemic, The Trews completed their forthcoming new full-length, The Wanderer, at home in Canada with producers Derek Hoffman and Eric Ratz. Now, they emerge with their fiercest and most accomplished set of songs to date.

Attentive listeners might notice that the buoyant, pealing new single “Enemy” features not Colin MacDonald on lead vocals but John-Angus, a Trews first.

After initial plans to record their record fell through due to the pandemic, Edmonton-based duo Altameda (æl-tah-MI-da) were provided with a window to continue the writing process. The feeling of isolation during this time led to the dream of a “Wheel Of Love” as a tangible concept for which somebody could spin, and generate a feeling of warmth and security during uncertain times. 

Over a few years of touring, Altameda amalgamated some super 8 footage that suitably juxtaposes with footage of the pair performing “Wheel Of Love” while isolated in separate places during a previous pandemic lockdown.

Eliciting feelings of warmth and hope, subtle instrumentation blooms into a soaring string arrangement.

It’s not every day that a long-dormant experimental noise project reappears as an elite electronic-pop outfit intent on burrowing into your subconscious and unearthing deep-seated memories of a time when we could congregate freely without worry. 

In 2014, the duo known as Allegories began to experiment across genres, melding eclectic soundscapes with pop inclinations. Gathering further inspiration from DJing house and hip-hop nights around town, Allegories went onto create electronic music that shifts throughout the over/underground spectrum. 

Case in point is the LCD-illuminated “Pray,” which reaches its strobe-lit fever pitch as the song’s most serious sentiment is delivered — can’t you see my heart is breaking in two!— in a bizarre, over-the-top, pitch-shifted exhortation. Every Allegories composition is created from moments of spontaneity, and trying to stay true to the state that you’re in whenever you’re recording. A menagerie of feelings. 

earth2zoe is a Canadian indie pop artist who is both charming and disarming – with her mesmerizing vocals, memorable lyrics, and hard-won confidence. Her sound is a cool mix of pop and melodic, soulful restlessness. Her voice is rich, unique and honest. Born and raised in a suburb north of Toronto, earth2zoe was born Zoe Katzberg. Her first name originates from the Greek word for “life,” and that’s exactly what she is – edgy, quirky, fun, and full of life.

Her relatable new single “Hallie’s Song” describes a strong friendship that faded away, a vulnerable reflection of this relationship that shaped her as a person.

earth2zoe writes songs that reveal painful truths about love, loss, and loyalty. Her youthful insights will remind you to find a place where you belong – because life is hard, and you do not need to struggle alone.