Canadian indie singer-songwriter Andrew Spice swaps fury for farce on his charming new track, “Terrible Date.” Following the cinematic drama of his previous singles, “Rage Stage” and “Gentle Sentinel,” this whimsical indie waltz turns the awkwardness of a romantic flop into something melodically melancholic and universally relatable.

Written by Spice and produced by two–time JUNO nominee Matthew Barber, “Terrible Date” is a playful detour into romantic misadventure. The song features strings, synths, and a lilting piano rhythm that mirrors the emotional chaos of an evening gone sideways. Acclaimed musician Mike Tompa contributed a madcap string arrangement along with additional keys and guitar, helping to capture both the charm and cringe of a date best left in the rearview. Spice’s husband, Miss Moço, directed, filmed and co-starred in the accompanying visuals – an ironic, full circle moment for a song about a “Terrible Date.”

A “Terrible Date” is something most of us have gone through. Although it can be a crushing experience, a little time and distance can help us look back and find some humour in it all. This song is a whimsical and melancholic ode to a Saturday night with a person I will never see again (and I’m sure we’re both okay with that). – Andrew Spice

Hamilton, Ontario baroque-pop quartet Superstar Crush share their latest single, “They Keep Calling,” a bombastic power ballad rooted in female rage, emotional exhaustion, and mutual care. Tugging at the threads of pop rock melodrama, the track is the latest preview of their debut album, Way Too Much, due August 5th, and a vivid portrait of creative camaraderie and burnout survival.

Written from the perspective of lead singer Marzieh Darling – by her partner and bandmate Sam Hansell – “They Keep Calling” is a love letter in reverse: one that says “I see you,” when no one else does. Inspired by the overwhelming sense of obligation she carried as a confidant, friend, and university Resident Advisor, the song chronicles a descent into psychic static, with Marzieh as its electrified centre. “I didn’t really know how to help,” says Sam. “So I wrote a scenario where she finally stands up and asks to be heard.”

The song’s unique production – equal parts polished and chaotic – came from a delirious overnight session at their old middle school. Sam and drummer Truaxe Fox set up a DIY studio in the forest-fringed building and tracked into the early hours, chasing ideas with semi-filled wine glasses and sleepless abandon. The next morning, bassist Chloe Butler-Stubbs and Marzieh arrived to add their voices, turning the sonic mess into something crystalline. “Our friend Lenny McGowan (Irresponsible Purchase) dropped by for coffee,” says Truaxe. “We ended up asking them to record a dream tap dance solo which you can hear at the very end of the track.”

Lyrically desperate and sonically layered, “They Keep Calling” is a Frankenstein of references: tremolo vocals à la Capital Steez, Motels-tight drums, Mike Dean synths, and Bangles-style string drama courtesy of violinist Helen Faucher. It’s a song stitched together by mutual admiration, inside jokes, and deeply felt emotion. “A lot of our songs are like that – inspired by each other,” says the band.

Lebanese-Canadian artist Raphaela unveils a new side of herself with “Muse,” a light, romantic indie-pop single that captures the giddy glow of a love so deep, it becomes your inspiration. It’s a sonic exhale – warm, cinematic, and effervescent – marking a bright step forward from the moody introspection of her earlier work. This is a song about ease after ache, about finally finding the kind of love that doesn’t ask you to shrink, change, or chase.

Written on a sunny summer afternoon, “Muse” is all soft light and open-hearted ease. It’s a celebration of the kind of love that feels natural and grounded – the kind that makes you feel seen, steady, and full of joy. Produced with a new pop-forward polish, “Muse” balances Raphaela‘s signature emotional honesty with a more playful tone: sunlight on your shoulders, dancing in the kitchen, a song you want to get lost in.

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

I wrote Muse after a string of heavier, more introspective songs. I was craving something lighter — something that felt like sunlight on your shoulders. Warm, giddy, effortless. This song is a celebration of love that doesn’t come with drama or confusion — love that’s simple, grounding, and quietly inspiring. The kind of love that becomes your muse.

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

Muse feels like a summer daydream, so I teamed up with my friend and talented videographer Almyr Jules, who came up with the picnic concept. It was soft, playful, and intimate — like a love letter wrapped in golden hour light. Every detail had to reflect that energy, even down to the clothes I wore. I was so happy to find a brand — For Love & Lemons — whose aesthetic matched the song perfectly. They even use the word Muse in their branding, which felt like a beautiful coincidence that tied everything together. It wasn’t about grand gestures — just two people in their own little world. That’s what Muse captures, and what we tried to reflect in the video. The picnic felt like the perfect visual metaphor: peaceful, intimate, and unhurried. It’s the kind of moment where you forget the rest of the world exists — where everything slows down and all that matters is the connection in front of you. 

3. What was the process of making this video?

We shot the video at Fletcher Wildlife Garden in Ottawa on a beautiful spring day. The team brought the romantic picnic setup to life, and it honestly felt like stepping into one of my own daydreams — but made real. Everything from the lighting to the details in the setup felt soft, intentional, and full of heart. It was such a fun, easygoing shoot, and I’m so grateful to the team for capturing the exact feeling I had imagined when I wrote Muse.

With a groove-laced pulse and evocative lyrical abstraction, “Belladonna” marks a transportive new chapter for artist and songwriter Ev. G. Taken from his debut album, And Then I Go Up (out September 23rd), the avant-pop track merges asymmetrical rhythms with ethereal textures and subtle hip hop swagger to conjure a lush, hallucinatory atmosphere. Fittingly named after the infamous poisonous plant, “Belladonna” leads listeners down a curiously oblique path – somewhere between dream and distortion, clarity and mystery.

The single began with a simple piano loop and drum pattern from producer Brock Geiger, which later inspired a mumble-vocal demo from Ev. G. That raw seed evolved into a fully immersive sonic world shaped by Geiger, Will Maclellan, and a cast of standout musicians, including Gabe Noel (bass), Kane Ritchotte (drums), Ethan Gruska (ambient loops), and Clea Anaïs (cello). A vocoder-style vocal layer, first introduced by Maclellan, brought unexpected texture and set the tone for the rest of the track’s evolution.

“It deals with some of the feelings you get when things are still just unfolding in those early stages of a relationship,” shares Ev. G. “That strange awareness of all the uncertainty, and the excitement that comes with it.” Inspired equally by emotional ambiguity and the layered history of the belladonna plant – from ancient witchcraft to Renaissance-era cosmetics – the track explores dualities of danger and beauty, hope and delusion. “We rarely live in absolutes,” Ev. G notes. “Except my cat, Pinot. He absolutely rules.”

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically? 
Belladonna began as a lofi piano and drum loop my producer Brock Geiger put together, and all of the lyrics and vocal melodies were written to that. When we started building out the production, Will and Brock started to expand the chord progression and that immediately brought new dimensions and moods to the song. The song is about some of the feelings you get when things are just unfolding in those early stages of a relationship. That strange self awareness of all the uncertainty, and the excitement that comes with it. The symbolism being played with is inspired by the layered history of the belladonna plant – from ancient witchcraft to Renaissance-era cosmetics – the track explores dualities of danger and beauty, hope and delusion. This

 is my debut release as Ev. G, so we were psyched to hit the ground running and make a music video to accompany the track. The original concept was a simple silhouette performance, but when we started dreaming up ways to bring it alive with our collaborator Mitch Nybo, we got excited about the depth of working with layered projections that could contribute other images. 

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

The initial inspiration and concept was a simple and understated silhouette performance. When the idea to mess around with layers of live projections came into play, that opened up a lot of possibilities for symbolism and colour experimentation. We did it all in one day, and were kind of “live sampling” the footage we wanted to then project back in as a layer for another shot. Incorporating imagery alluding to belladonna, we brought in eyeballs and pupils dilating. Those are all our iris’ shot on a cool macro lens. 

3. What was the process of making this video?

We shot this all in one day in a small art studio in Calgary- just three of us, Brock, Mitch, and I experimenting and building scenes on the go. All the lighting, colour effects, and image layering is done in camera with a series of back lights and projectors. It was all about vibe… subtle colour combinations, soft motion. We liked blurring the line between the slick and polished fashion film aesthetic and the grimier DIY art school world of filmmaking. We basically shot a ton of performances of the song with different iterations of the compositions we were setting up with our lights, projectors, and screens. Mitch really brought it all to life with a super choreographed edit.

Toronto-based rock and roll revivalists Original Pairs unleash “Star Guitar,” a dark and defiant anthem to DIY spirit and six-string glory. Fueled by a caveman riff and retro-psych energy, the track is equal parts glam rock snarl and garage band grit – a love letter to every barstool shredder with something to prove.

Written in homage to the final days of Toronto’s storied Dakota Tavern, the song captures the bittersweet end of a beloved venue where the band once played regularly. “They stopped giving bands beer, the doorman disappeared, the sound tech ghosted – we knew it was over,” says guitarist/vocalist Andrew Frontini. “But we plugged in anyway. Because the show must go on.”

Recorded live off the floor at Lincoln County Social Club, the band powered through four tracks in one day. Exhausted and unraveling, they built in four silent beats to bridge two takes – only for keyboardist Jon Loewen to forget and play through the pause. That happy accident became the final cut, later crowned by a synth solo tracked in one take on John Dinsmore’s vintage Moog, giving the song its warped, nostalgic edge.

Billboard-charting pop artist BAYLA is back with a powerful new single, “Anxious.” Known for her anthemic sound and fearless vulnerability, BAYLA continues to inspire fans with music that breaks stigma and speaks truth in and outside of the LGBTQ+ communities. In support of the release, proceeds from “Anxious” will be donated to Canadian mental health organizations, further highlighting the importance of awareness and support.

“Anxious” offers an honest take on the often hidden reality of living with anxiety. Rather than framing it as something sad or shameful, BAYLA infuses the track with upbeat production and quirky energy, crafting a pop anthem that’s more theme song than tragedy. “I didn’t want the song to feel sad in any way,” she shares. “I wanted it to reflect the experience of anxiety in a real, empowering way because even when it’s hard, we’re not alone.”

“Anxious” is a raw, heartfelt track that explores the emotional rollercoaster of living with anxiety – a subject I know intimately and wanted to address with honesty and empowerment. It’s about not being ashamed of your mental health – it’s a part of who we are. – BAYLA