Montréal-based disco, funk and new wave purveyor, Kristian North (formerly of garage-punk group Babysitter), is a songwriter whose poetic wordplay and deep crooner voice lay the foundation for candid songs that strut down analogue lane, quaint confessions, cloaked desires and mythical references. Following up on his debut effort, The Last Rock N Roll Record, North is back with a sophomore full-length, Passion Play, to be released on April 30, 2021 via Mothland.

In tandem with the album announcement, North has shared its butter-smooth first single, “Fantasy.” With nods to George Michael who he listened to religiously for years, “Fantasy” positions North’s deep, lilting vocals alongside crystalline pop sensibilities and propulsive, disco-driven beats.

Lia Kay is a Canadian musician, singer & songwriter based out of Southern Ontario. A classically-trained pianist since age seven and a songwriter by 12, Lia went on to compete all over Russia, winning various competitions and festivals before relocating with her family to Canada where she continued her musical education through the Royal Conservatory of Music. 

Predominantly centred around pop music, Lia’s songs have an electronic element to them with confessional lyrics that tell a story. Her new single, “Walk Away,” is about loving someone so fiercely that you struggle to walk away from them, even though you know you have to in order for them to see themselves through your eyes; to see how extraordinary they truly are. 

Timaj Garad is an Ethiopian Toronto-based singer-songwriter and poet creating music with a genre-bending mix of spoken word poetry, hip hop, and r&b, soul, afro jazz, and dance. After 15 years performing and writing as a spoken word artist, she is returning to her roots in music, exploring themes about challenging injustice, unearthing truths, and healing.

“Black Gold,” the opening number of Timaj’s forthcoming debut Blooming at the Mouth EP (set for release on March 5), is an anthemic ode to and love song for Black Muslim women. Serving as both a celebration and a sanctuary, “Black Gold” shares the realities of Timaj and many others in an honest way, without sugarcoating the collective trauma, while simultaneously providing space for Black Muslim joy and glory. 

Born and raised in South-Central Trinidad, John Orpheus is a multi-cultural musical artist and published author. For the past year and a half, he has been writing his memoir called SAGA BOY which was released by Penguin Random House Canada on January 19, 2021. With the book scheduled to launch, John decided to return to music to release a companion album also entitled SAGA BOY. Both the book and the album are built on the same themes: searching for home, family, love and a fly coat to wear when you get there.

John Orpheus’ musical journey has taken him from the Caribbean bush to festivals across Canada and the US. He combines hip-hop swagger, Afrobeat energy and dancehall charisma to create a sound built on big catchy hooks.

His new single “FELA AWOKE (I WILL MISS YOU)” is the beginning of this new phase and introduces you to his deeply personal story.

Timid, the Brave is the solo moniker of Canadian songwriter Tim Selles. His forthcoming record, Vuja De (out this spring), builds on the communal transition first explored on 2017’s Fireside LP, featuring Nate Wall (King Park) on drums/percussion, Ethan Rooney (The Good Hunters) on bass, and Gareth Inkster on pretty much everything else. Vuja De chronicles the cyclical nature of life, exploring the possibility of finding new meaning in familiar experiences. 

His new single, “St. Maria,” was first penned a couple of years ago during one of the warmest November days on record – so warm that the rose bushes had woken back up and started blooming again. For Timid, the Brave, it felt like one of those moments that could be interpreted as a divine sign, where the universe is trying to tell you something. Afterwards, he started seeing meaning everywhere he looked.

Livia & The Rosebuds have just released their new single “Guess Ur Right.”

Livia is a seasoned performer and a musician who has studied guitar, bass, keys, and drums.  Her music has been playfully irreverently described as “Barbie-rock,” and that’s become a description she devilishly embraces. Livia’s songwriting doesn’t adhere to genres or formulas—she brazenly follows her muses. Her songs have swagger, big emotions, and exude both sass and sensitivity. They’re a culmination of all the rock, pop, soul, and blues she’s soaked up in her musical household and beyond, including her immersion in Memphis’s rich music heritage. She co-writes with bassist/guitarist Landon Moore, and she performs live with her band, Livia & The Rosebuds.

Her passion for music and her non-conformist outlook on life were both evident early on, and even nurtured in her musically-inclined and free-spirited home. Both of her parents have careers in design, and, outside of his day gig, Livia’s father is a dedicated and accomplished musician. Yet, her brazen independence was sometimes at odds with her private, Episcopal, all-girls schooling which often led to feelings of alienation.

These days, Livia maintains a write-a-song-a-week schedule and is always bursting to get back into the studio. When the pandemic lifts, she’s also eager to get back onstage to be where she feels most alive and dialed into the Universe. “When I’m on stage I feel like I’ve finally found a place where I belong,” Livia says. “In those moments, I feel empowered and free.”