On her sixth album, singer-songwriter Norma MacDonald explores new songwriting tactics, reimagines old demos, and conducts sound experimentations that expand her folk and country influences into 60s pop, Motown harmonies, and jangly early millennium indie-rock. MacDonald lives in Halifax and has earned multiple Music Nova Scotia and East Coast Music Award nominations for her 5 previous albums.

The opening chords of In Waves set the record spinning in January, but the mood is wholly autumnal: lush, then resolute. A harvest and a hope. In Waves may begin in winter, but it slips gently through the seasons. She and partner Chad Peck (of indie-shoegaze trio Kestrels) enlisted JUNO-nominated producer Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant, Fortunate Ones) at Echo Lake Studio in Nova Scotia.

“I didn’t realize I was writing about the pandemic when I wrote ‘Comes in Waves’ until probably a few months later,” she says about the latest track. “I think I had told myself that I just came up with this song about the desire to change everything about myself and feeling stagnant out of nowhere.”

MacDonald and Peck would challenge each other to write three songs in three hours to combat their anxieties and Netflix tedium during the pandemic when MacDonald worked as an ER nurse. Many of the songs speak to her experiences working in healthcare, and ultimately are about trying to move forward through uncertainty with lightness, and grace, and maybe a sense of humour.

Sun Junkies are a 4-piece band from Brantford, Ontario that formed in 2018. Cutting their teeth in the Southern Ontario indie scene, as well as touring the USA and Canada’s east coasts, the four best friends have had plenty of time to hone their songwriting abilities. 

Having just finished recording their magnum opus: Parachuting, the band’s sound and image are more realized than ever before. Sun Junkies’ sophomore LP discusses the toxic nature of overindulging in nostalgia, the existential dread that comes with measurable time, and the insane pressure of trying to make the most of fleeting youth. 

Although it’s mainly about time, Parachuting has many other recurring themes and deals with topics like the soul crushing monotony of the 40 hour work week, as well as the coping mechanisms and anxiety that come with such a mundane reality. Featuring an orchestral arrangement of pianos, violins and horns juxtaposed with growling feedback and distorted guitars, these songs will (hopefully) make you feel like you’re unreasonably sad at the most debaucherous party you’ve ever been to.

“The focus track ‘Stay 4 the Night’ was essentially me listing off a bunch of anxieties that were going on in my life at the time and basically telling them to fuck off,” explains Noah Carmichael, vocalist and rhythm guitarist. “I was struggling with the fact that I had lost touch with most of my old friends, not because of any kind of turmoil but just from distance and time. Like most of Parachuting, this is a song about facing your fears and well, the fact that the passage of time fucking sucks.”

Drawing influence from a diverse spectrum of artists, Toronto-based SWiiMS blends elements of ’80s new wave, ’90s shoegaze, indie rock, brit pop and dream pop together to arrive at a sound that is all their own. Singer Mai Diaz Langou and guitarist Colin Thompson started writing songs together in late 2018, uniting her elegant poetry, textured melodies and languid voice with his fuzzy, jangly, swirling guitar tones. Bassist Cian O’Ruanaidh joined shortly after, bringing a fresh voice, unique influences and hooky bass lines to the group.

Love, loss, loneliness, self-isolation, beauty, joy, nostalgia and remembrance: Into The Blue Night, was inspired by bits of all of these emotions and how they intersected during the pandemic. Produced by Josh Korody, this is their first full-length album.

Opening track, “In Puzzles,” serves as an uplifting introduction and encapsulates the sense of freedom, lightness and excitement in a blossoming romance. It’s optimistic, with the euphoric guitar riff hitting you right in the heart, the verses wrapping you in a cozy blanket and the chorus feeling like levitation. Stefan Loebus was enlisted as the drummer, offering a blast of energy.

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

This song is very special to us. We chose it both as an opener for the album and as our second single because it’s such a hope filled anthem. In terms of visualizing the lyrics into the video, we are telling a story of falling in love and diving in headfirst without thinking of any consequences – which is very freeing but risky at the same time.

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

We came up with the concept of someone’s attempts at courting a new lover being rebuffed and wanted to use something as the storyboard of their tale.  We decided that the shirt they were wearing would make a nice billboard for their failed attempts, with each gift being offered ending up smashed into pieces on the shirt.  The thought of telling the story in reverse was the final addition, from completely ruined to fresh and hopeful.  A story in rewind. 

3.What was the process of making this video?

We love being a hands on DIY band when it comes to our visuals.  Both Mai and Cian are very creative in the visual space and that allows us to keep the creative vision in the band.  Mai’s partner is a very talented photographer and has been helping us capture and edit our vision on film.   We like to try and make things visually interesting and use our city and its hidden spaces as the backdrop.  

Among the latest to emerge from a Texas psych-rock tradition that goes back more than fifty years, Houston’s Cactus Flowers announce the November 17th release of their sophomore full-length Elation with the new video for  “Dead Moon Rising.”

Watch the video here:

Once again, frontwoman/bandleader Jessica A.M. channels the power of a live volcano through her guitar rig, her tone pouring through your speakers like scorching lava. Meanwhile, her mystical lyrics convey a dreamlike, starry-eyed romanticism spiked with a bite of attitude. Raised by a mom who photographed bands for Rolling Stone during the magazine’s counter-culture heyday, Jessica was, believe it or not, a late bloomer when it came to playing rock music. Originally, her path seemed to point in the direction of her formal violin training. But once she discovered the electric guitar in college, the die was cast. And when she met drummer and musical soulmate Mark Carcamo, a chemical reaction catalyzed, giving rise to Cactus Flowers’s intoxicating cocktail of psychedelia, fuzz, doom and classic rock.

“It took me like 7 or 8 years to craft my sound,” Jessica explains. But once it clicked, there was no turning back. Recorded by Grammy-winning producer Steve Christensen (Khruangbin, Steve Earle), Elation is a super-charged, almost monolithic realization of the band’s vision, which now includes bassist John Griffin (who produced the band’s debut full-length, 2019’s Incantations). Fittingly enough, the band wrote the bulk of Elation on numerous desert drives from Texas to the West Coast. Taken together, the songs take the listener on a fuzz-soaked musical journey of inner self discovery.

From the scenic state of New Hampshire comes this band that defies simple genre labels, blending pop, alternative, and indie influences into their dynamic sound. Their musical style draws comparisons to iconic acts like Bare Naked Ladies, Weezer, and the popular Harry Styles, yet they’ve crafted a sound that’s uniquely theirs. Their musical journey has earned them the prestigious New England Music Award, a testament to their undeniable talent and creativity.

Their new EP, “If It Feels Right,” released today, provides an intriguing insight into the band’s collective vision, bringing it to life.

Onstage, this remarkable band has shared platforms with a range of accomplished artists, solidifying their status in the industry. From captivating performances alongside Matt Nathanson to collaborations with The Guess Who and Jason Derulo, they’ve established themselves as a versatile and sought-after act.

Their music often explores the relatable landscape of high school experiences, evoking a sense of nostalgia that resonates deeply with listeners. Through their lyrics and melodies, they transport audiences back to their youth, addressing the universal issues faced during those formative years. Their songs aren’t merely notes but powerful narratives that connect on a profoundly personal level.

Their stage presence is an explosion of high energy. Known for their electrifying performances, they leave audiences exhilarated and craving more. Each song they play exudes a captivating energy that holds the crowd spellbound, proving that music has the ability to break barriers and create unforgettable moments.

As this band continues to evolve and shape their unique musical identity, they stand at the cusp of an exciting journey filled with new heights of creativity and innovation. With a devoted fan base and a reputation for powerful live shows, the future holds endless opportunities, and their musical journey is one eagerly awaited by all.

The latest release from Night Wilds, the progressive alt-rock band, is their track “Control,” a charged addition to their eagerly awaited debut album, “All That Should Have Been,” set for release in Spring 2024. This musical piece plunges into the intricate corridors of the human mind, weaving a captivating tapestry of light and shadow while expanding on the album’s enthralling storyline.

“Control” guides listeners through a gripping narrative of a fractured mind in search of peace. The song unfolds a haunting dialogue between a young boy and the shattered facets of his inner self, grappling with an offer of solace that comes at an extraordinary cost. It’s a profound tale of decisions made for survival and the haunting echoes of those pivotal choices.

Much like their previous track “Confusion,” this song embodies the band’s commitment to storytelling through music, blurring the boundaries between entertainment and enlightenment.

Night Wilds’ debut album, ‘All That Should Have Been,’ a 17-track rock opera, narrates the story of a boy trapped in a brutal circus, performing under the command of a deranged ringleader. It’s a cathartic journey of healing and self-discovery, echoing the band and lead songwriter Seth’s dedication to authenticity and personal growth, akin to the themes explored in “Control.”

In “Control,” the music resonates with cinematic drama, offering an intense and captivating experience. The rock ‘n’ roll energy propels the narrative forward, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the grandeur of the music.

“Control” by Night Wilds transcends being just a song; it’s an immersive experience, a poignant testament to music’s power in exploring the intricacies of the human mind and offering hope, even in the darkest moments.