Like a flower rising through the ashes of a burnt forest, Montreal’s Dylan De Braga‘s debut single, “Hold The Door,” blooms from devastation into something achingly beautiful. Written in the aftermath of a painful, heart-shattering breakup, the folk-infused track captures raw emotion with a tender, unguarded honesty.

Unable to even touch his guitar for nearly two months following the breakup, De Braga eventually found the courage to sit with his pain and within minutes of picking up his guitar again, “Hold The Door” emerged. “Without this song I wouldn’t be where I am, and I certainly wouldn’t be who I am,” says De Braga. “It will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Pairing confessional lyrics with a soaring, powerful vocal performance, “Hold The Door” transforms personal grief into a universal meditation on loss, healing, and resilience. The result is a song that feels both deeply intimate and widely relatable, inviting listeners to find their own reflections within its stirring lines.

1. Tell us the story of this performance, why did you choose to capture this song specifically?
I chose to record hold the door specifically because of all the songs I’ve written, it has done more for me than all of the others combined. Before I wrote this song, I was lost, heart shattered and completely empty. I didn’t even touch an instrument or sing for a good 2 months. The first day back I picked up my guitar, and this song basically wrote itself out of thin air. Later I decoded the meaning and realized it was an homage to the very girl who broke me 2 months prior. Since writing the song my life has changed in so many magical ways and it has (no pun intended) opened doors for me that would have been locked without it. Doing an acoustic live demonstration of the song as it was written only felt fitting before releasing the real song.

2.What were you feeling inspired by the day of this performance?
On the day of the performance I was thankfully able to tap into some of the raw energy and emotion that the song was written from. Even 2 years after the event in my life which led to Hold The Door, the pain and damage is still very easy to access through a time portal of music.

3.What was the process of making this video?Creating this video was a deeply immersive and emotional experience. I had the privilege of working with two incredibly gifted videographers who brought not only technical brilliance but also a profound sensitivity to the process. They transformed what began as a chaotic, nondescript studio into something that felt sacred, a space filled with warmth, intimacy, and a quiet kind of magic. That environment allowed me to connect with the emotional core of the song in a way I hadn’t anticipated. It felt less like performing and more like surrendering, letting the music and the visuals guide me to a place that was raw and honest. I truly believe that energy is captured in every frame of the final piece.

Following the soul-stirring release of “Crazyglue and Skeletons,” The Bapti$$, the boundary-pushing musical rebirth of multi-instrumentalist Joseph LaPlante, returns with “My Father’s Sins,” a raw, introspective new single taken from his just-announced debut album, Pop Cult(ure), out September 26th.

Anchored in aching guitar and a deep 808 heartbeat, “My Father’s Sins” is a confessional offering that digs deep into the scars of lineage, masculine silence, and the fight for spiritual freedom.

“I wholeheartedly believe in Generational Curses and contracts made with the Spirit World,” LaPlante reveals. “I took it on myself to break my family tree free of those shackles that have caused so much pain in my blood line.”

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically? 

I come from a long line of hardened individuals who have grown to love the life of sin they inherited. That didn’t sit right with me, so I chose to use my Art to shed light on the topic and break generational curses with my music.

2.What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)? 

It tells a story that too many are familiar with, Lust, Addictions, Violence and the battle we have with ourselves between light and dark. 

3.What was the process of making this video?

A lot of people are using AI but myself and Dark Shawn when we team up we want to do it a tasteful way. We have a good balance of old style film and AI generated story telling. 

From the heart of Orlando, Carrabelle invites listeners to join them on a new sonic journey with the release of their latest single, “We Can Fix You.” This track emanates a poignant yet playful exploration of human vulnerability, offering a balm for those who’ve ever felt shattered, misunderstood, or in need of something to stitch their soul back together. “We Can Fix You” is a melody woven from Carrabelle’s signature blend of emotional depth, shimmering guitar-driven hooks, and a bright, pop-infused glow. It embraces the essence of pop-punk’s youthful heart while gracefully stepping into a more mature and polished sound. It’s as if the reckless energy of the mid-2000s has matured into something softer but no less powerful, like the kids who once found solace in All Time Low have grown into adults, still carrying the same hunger for connection, but with a touch of wisdom.

This single stands as a testament to the band’s growth, both in sound and spirit. It serves as an ode for the ones who have stumbled yet continue to reach out, yearning for a way forward. A song that feels both timeless and fresh, it speaks directly to the soul, reminding us all that no wound is too deep for healing. Fans can catch Carrabelle live at Harbour & Friends ‘25 on August 9th at The Abbey in Orlando, where they will be joined by Abby Holiday. The performance promises to be a reflection of everything the band has become: vibrant, heartfelt, and connected to the audience in a way only Carrabelle knows how to achieve.

Carrabelle is an indie rock band from Orlando, blending emotional lyricism with punchy guitar-driven hooks and bright, pop-influenced melodies. Known for their vibrant energy and down-to-earth charm, Carrabelle writes songs that feel both personal and universal, whether they’re fixing broken hearts or introspectively looking within. Their latest release, “We Can Fix You,” showcases their signature mix of wit, warmth, and raw honesty, delivering a playful yet heartfelt anthem for anyone who’s ever felt broken.sty, delivering a playful yet heartfelt anthem for anyone who’s ever felt broken.

Canadian indie artist Joe Lapinski unveils his bold and deeply personal new album, New Day, a genre-blurring exploration of identity, community, trauma, and healing. At the heart of the album is its theatrical and liberating focus track, “Set Free,” a passionate plea to break cycles of addiction and self-sabotage in the name of love.

Produced in close collaboration with longtime creative partner Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Gord Downie’s Country of Miracles), New Day is Lapinski’s most sonically adventurous and emotionally resonant release to date. Across its tracks, Lapinski channels life-altering transitions – opening a studio, becoming a father – into songs that wrestle with what it means to surrender to growth.

“Set Free” stands as a powerful centerpiece, blending indie rock punch with glam-era theatricality, calling to mind early Bowie and Bahamas in its fearless emotional range. It plays like a duet between two people desperate to connect, but haunted by inner baggage – a raw, slow-burn anthem made for anyone who’s ever felt like their past keeps them from the love they want.

“Set Free” is a passionate scream – a cry to be free from your baggage, your addictions, your fear so you can finally let love in. It’s about pushing past what’s holding you back, not just for yourself, but for someone you care about. A thread that runs through New Day is “letting go.” If we let love rule, we’ll find a deeper happiness, as well as a deeper connection to the people around us, and our community. – Joe Lapinski

Toronto indie/pop singer-songwriter and producer ARK IDENTITY returns with his latest single, “Still In Love”—a hypnotic track that explores the emotional limbo of heartbreak that refuses to fully fade. 

“Still In Love” is the latest taste of ARK IDENTITY’s just-announced second EP, Deluxe Nightmare, a collection of dynamic, genre-bending indie pop songs slated for release on October 24th.

The song itself takes you on a journey, blending dream pop textures with indie sensibilities, hints of alt-R&B, culminating in a psychedelic finale. The song pulls listeners into a dreamy, otherworldly space where the past and present blur. “This song came from that weird space between holding on and letting go,” says Noah Mroueh, the artist behind ARK IDENTITY. 

“It’s about still being in love with someone who’s already moved on—feeling pulled back into their orbit even though you know it’s not good for you.”

“Still In Love” articulates the emotional contradiction of missing someone you’re better off without. “It’s about the kind of love that lingers even after it’s over,” Noah explains. “I was trying to capture that push-pull—being obsessed but detached, wanting someone’s presence but not their attention. It’s messy, and that’s the point.”

The lyrics are laced with poetic longing, delivering lines that echo in the heart like unanswered questions. “It’s about chasing a feeling you can’t recreate,” Noah continues. “Being still in love with a version of someone that might not even exist anymore—and wondering if they ever really did. It’s heartbreak disguised as a dream.”

Musically, “Still In Love” floats between genres, never settling into one form—echoing the unsettled emotion at its core. “It lives somewhere between dream pop, indie, alt-R&B, with a sprinkle of psychedelia,” Noah explains. “The sonics aren’t trying to fit one box—it’s more about chasing an emotion and letting the production follow that.”

“I liked the idea of love existing in another timeline—like maybe we ended up together somewhere else, in some alternate dimension,” Noah reflects. Perhaps that dimension is the 1980s. Fittingly, the official video is a throwback to the late ’80s, opening with the flicker of a worn VHS tape in a VCR. ARK IDENTITY and his live band perform in soft focus and retro lighting, channeling the spirit of a classic MTV video. The song itself nods to that era too—blending shimmering synths with timeless hooks.

For ARK IDENTITY, “Still In Love” continues the artist’s exploration of emotional nuance, internal conflict, and the search for meaning within the haze of memory. It’s a dreamy anthem for anyone who’s ever been stuck in love’s rearview mirror.

With siren-like vocals, delicate guitar, and emotional depth, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Erica Knox returns with “Kerosene,” a folk-tinged pop single that turns heartbreak into healing. The track, originally written in 2018, finds new life and deeper resonance after being recorded live off the floor at London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios.

“It’s a full circle moment,” Knox shares. “I wrote it after my first trip to London, and my first heartbreak. Coming back, and recording at Abbey Road, it feels like the perfect time for this song to be heard.”

Written for a college project on metaphor in music, “Kerosene” weaves poetic double meanings into its sparse, four-word chorus by balancing simplicity with profound emotional weight. The track explores the shame and longing that often follow a first heartbreak, and the fear of being “too much.”

“The lyrics and picking pattern hold a lot of space so we didn’t want to overcrowd it during production”, Knox says, and adds “there’s something about this one that feels like it’s been waiting for the right moment to be heard.”

The final studio version of “Kerosene” stays true to its live roots. Recorded in Studio 3 at Abbey Road and later polished in Toronto with producer Tal Vaisman, the team used AI isolation software to retain the original live guitar and vocal takes – preserving the track’s raw beauty while enhancing it with ambient layers.