Vancouver-based modern-rock artist Charlie PS is back with her fiery new single, “Mouthpiece.” The track combines gritty guitars, confident vocals, and Charlie’s signature ‘play on words’ lyricism to deliver a satirical yet empowering anthem for the digital age.

“Mouthpiece” oozes fierce, alternative-rock energy while offering a nod of defiant satire to today’s increasingly opinionated and vocally indulgent crowd.

“Mouthpiece” is an homage to everyone who has ever given unsolicited advice or yelled out their opinion in a room full of people who just don’t want to hear it. The world feels like a noisy place these days, and in 2025, I’m setting boundaries with those who just can’t keep their thoughts to themselves. – Charlie PS

East Coast storyteller Robert Thomas and his talented duo, the sessionmen, release their heartfelt new single, “Beside You.” A poignant reflection on the challenges of life on the road and the deep longing for home, the track melds folk, Americana, and roots influences into an intimate and deeply relatable narrative.

“Beside You” captures the ache of separation and the profound gratitude for the one you love, offering listeners a tender yet powerful reminder of what truly matters. Produced by Catherine MacLellan, co-written with renowned musician Ray Legere, and set to a beautiful piano accompaniment performed by Terra Spencer, the song’s lyrical depth and haunting melody have made it a Live favourite, evoking memories and singalongs with audiences far and wide.

I wrote “Beside You” in the quiet of a hotel room, longing for home after years of life on the road. The chorus came to me in the middle of the night, fully formed: “To lie beside you, that is heaven, and there’s no place on the earth I’d rather be.” This song is a love letter to my wife and a reflection on the realization that no matter how hard we work or how far we go, the true reward is being with the person you love. – Robert Thomas

Ian North, the acclaimed Canadian folk-rock artist, returns with a spellbinding new single, “Antarctica.” Inspired by the harrowing tales of polar explorers who risked everything to venture into Earth’s most unforgiving terrain, the track explores themes of courage, isolation, and the human drive to endure.

Produced by Chris Gartner, “Antarctica” weaves Americana roots with ambient soundscapes, resulting in a modern and immersive take on North’s signature “Fallen-Angel Folk” style. The single also features stunning three-part harmonies by North’s wife, Jennifer Claveau, marking her return to music after more than a decade away.

The song is a cinematic journey from its opening chords, conjuring vivid imagery of icy tundras and sun-scorched deserts. North’s lyrics juxtapose stark landscapes with the inner struggles of the human spirit. The arrangement crescendos with echoing pedal steel and soaring harmonies, delivering a cathartic conclusion that underscores the resilience required to navigate life’s most challenging terrains.

“Antarctica” represents the courage it takes for all of us to face the unknown. It’s a reminder of the fragility of life and the quiet perseverance of the human spirit. This song draws on those tragic yet courageous stories of polar explorers and reflects the struggles we all face in our own lives. – Ian North

Hailing from Beamsville, Ontario, singer-songwriter Riley Michaels is known for his soulful voice, guitar mastery, and heartfelt composition. He has carved a unique space in the Canadian music scene by blending pop, blues, and adult contemporary sounds with an emotive touch.

His latest single, “Story of My Life,” is a raw, introspective exploration of creative struggle and personal growth. The song was born out of a period of artistic stagnation for Riley, as he candidly reflects on feeling uninspired and unsure how to reignite his creativity. “Story of My Life” captures this universal experience in a stripped-down acoustic arrangement that’s calming, chill, and perfect for a rainy-day playlist.
Unlike the arena-ready, high-energy anthems Riley is known for, this track takes a more subdued approach. Recorded with minimal production, “Story of My Life” embraces imperfection, featuring raw, one-take performances that mirror the honest, straightforward lyricism.

Toronto-based alternative metal act Monstrosa unveils their emotionally gripping and genre-defying new single, “778,” a guitar-driven alt-rock anthem that explores themes of self-empowerment, mental health, and resilience. Catchy yet heavy, the track encapsulates Monstrosa’s signature blend of metal riffs, emo rock, and melodic vocals while showcasing frontwoman Lauren Pryce’s deeply personal lyricism.

“778” serves as a reflection of Pryce’s transformative journey through her first experience living alone. The track explores the duality of navigating external dangers and internal battles, turning her initial frustrations into an introspective dialogue about self-love, artistry, and perseverance.

The official music video for “778” marks Monstrosa’s first foray into visual storytelling. Directed by Tiffany Wice and featuring handmade masks by art director Brittany Rose, the 70s-inspired horror aesthetic amplifies the song’s themes of self-confrontation and empowerment. This visual shift also introduces the band’s new theatrical stage personas, with the masks becoming a staple of their live performances.

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

“778” was written about my first solo apartment. I started with a guitar riff and was fooling around with vocals when I came up with the repeating intro line “don’t follow me home, I live alone”. But as I continued to write, the lyrics started to shift in perspective from the fear of strangers (and about my lived experiences of danger from said strangers) to the fear of myself. My mental health history and diagnosis lent my healthcare practitioners to believe I would not be able to live alone. But despite preconceived notions, living alone ended up being the most empowering time in my life. I learned to embrace my inner demons and that experiencing emotions, even the extremely intense ones, was a safe thing to do.

I chose to visualize “778” specifically because it represents a shift both in sound and in appearance for the band. My band is now made up of mythical demons as I am embracing a more theatrical and metal persona going forward. As well, the new EP was written while living at the apartment that “778” is about, so it felt like such an organic decision to create a video for it.

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

There were two huge inspirations behind the video; my obsession with visualizing my mental health disorder, and director Tiffany Wice’s love of horror films. Tiff and I had been talking for almost two years about doing a music video for Monstrosa. When I emailed her the demo of “778”, she sent me an absolutely brilliant music video pitch and we moved quickly from there.

Monstrosa’s name is inspired by a cricket I studied in undergrad called Cyphoderris monstrosa. “Monstrosa” in latin means monstrous, and I have always loved the idea of reclaiming monstrosity, especially as a queer woman with a highly stigmatized mental health disorder (BPD). Tiff’s talent and film-making abilities are extensive, but she has always had a love for the horror genre, writing/producing/directing many horror shorts of her own. I was excited when she approached me with this campy, 70s-slasher inspired, cinematic video as it portrayed my complex relationship to myself so beautifully. The campy tone took a rather serious song topic (being a danger to myself) and made it theatrical, approachable, and fun for viewers. I want my disorder to be demystified and destigmatized. I love getting to play with a band of my demons as it represents the self-empowerment I have taken my whole life to develop. The video also represents a key shift in my artist image as I now play live with the same demons you see in the video.

3. What was the process of making this video?

The first (and one of my favourite) steps was creating the masks for my bandmates to wear. Art director Brittany Rose conceptualized and handmade the four masks you see in the video. We brainstormed what the different demons would look like, using some of Monstrosa’s album artwork by Emma Embur as an inspiration. The bassist’s mask is inspired by the single art for our song “Youth”, the drummer’s mask inspired by Noh theater and my love of insects, and the guitarist’s mask inspired by the girl on the single art for our song “Axes”, who is a recurring character in Monstrosa’s visuals. Britt’s attention to detail and ingenious execution of the masks was a huge part of the video’s success. 

Tiff reached out to cinematographer Emily J. Zhang who we were lucky enough to have on the project as the Director of Photography. The two of them assembled a team of 15 incredibly talented individuals for two days of shooting, one of the days being in my childhood home! Tiff not only directed and produced the video, but also handled all the post-production and edited the video beautifully.

With their debut single, “Tell Me All Your Secrets, Pt. 2,” Halifax band Strange Plants push the boundaries of the psychedelic rock genre. Seamlessly fusing a Gap Band-inspired rhythm section with biting rock vocals, the song delivers an energetic yet introspective exploration of fractured relationships and hidden truths.

Produced by Robbie Crowell (Sturgill Simpson, Deer Tick), “Tell Me All Your Secrets, Pt. 2” embodies Strange Plants‘ commitment to blending retro tones with modern sensibilities. Recorded at the iconic Creative Workshop Studio in Nashville, the track’s lush analog production showcases the band’s dedication to creating music that feels both timeless and forward-thinking.

This song was born out of a relationship with someone who didn’t open up a lot and seemed to lead a double life. The frustration of not having any answers.  When it ended it inspired this song; the idea being now that it’s over you may as well “Tell Me….”

2.What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
Our friend Aaron Martin of the band Okey Dokey is an awesome artist and we just let him cook. We think he nailed it. 

3.What was the process of making this video?

Shared the music with Aaron and told him what the tune was about. He really did a great job of making it feel like a fantastical journey; searching for answers and how our imaginations can run wild.