Exploding out of their hometown of Toronto, JUNO Award-winning band MONOWHALES have been putting a new lease on the alt rock genre. In 2022, the band was awarded the JUNO for Breakthrough Group of the Year, toured the country as direct support to Mother Mother, and has been releasing a steady stream of unforgettable new music.

“Change###” set the tone for their brand new record, Tunnel Vision, produced by Dave Schiffman (Vampire Weekend, Pup). Hear Tunnel Vision in full here. 

Hook-heavy, but more groove-based, “Change###” pushes the boundaries of what a rock song can be. The focus track features an explosive rhythm-section in the guitar solo and lead vocalist Sally Shaar’s Robert Plant-esqe wailing of emotion carries into the final chorus.

Drummer Jordan Circosta explains, “We wrote Change### at a time when it felt like the world was spinning out of control. I’ve never seen so much division in my life. People were in a lot of pain, and the media was taking advantage of that, pitting people against each other like caged animals. Some of it was valid, some of it wasn’t, and at a certain point it became almost impossible to tell the difference.”

He continues, “The ‘tunnel vision’ mindset had us staring into the void through our phones, trapped in the echo chamber. But that same focus, when pointed towards music and our love for each other, helped us navigate hopelessness, nervous breakdowns, and worse. Like we say in the song, all we could do was focus on ‘keeping it straight, under the weight of all this Change###.’”

With appearances at some of the country’s most sought-after festivals and a Canadian headline tour this fall, MONOWHALES are showing no signs of slowing down. Find show dates here.

Welcome to the world of MOONBEAN. MOONBEAN is the character of Valentina Morelli (she/they), a queer, Toronto-based artist performing as an electronic duo with bandmate and co-producer Colin Harrington.

“rck vs ocn” is a song that explores relationship dynamics, intimacy and how imbalanced they can be. This track reigns in dark wave and synth-pop vibes with crashing percussive hits and soaring synth lines with a sense of urgency.

MOONTUNES is the debut heavy-hitting, experimental synth-pop release from MOONBEAN. It explores texture and tone through a wide selection of hardware synthesizers and driving drum machines. Paying homage to 80’s new wave, acid-house, techno and disco with a whimsical twist, this EP packs in a powerful combination of nostalgia and imagination.

The Jailbirds are a force of nature that you need to pay attention to. Not long after the release of their debut EP, The Black River, the band won the “Best Rock” category at the 2018 Mississauga Music Awards. They have molded the rock genre into something entirely their own while absorbing influence from all kinds of genres and eras of music. 

Recently the band went through a lineup change, and has emerged stronger than ever before, now featuring drummer Kevin Costa, and multi-instrumentalist Hayden Trafford, and founding members, guitarist & vocalist Myke Penney and bassist Liam Hills.

Their uneasy new song, “Sludge,” was inspired musically by bands like Soundgarden and Alice In Chains, grunge era type stuff, and features fuzz pedals galore. “Sludge” was just a working title at first, but it ended up fitting so well with the vibe of the song. Sludge was a perfect metaphor for the toxic behaviour that’s mentioned in the lyrics. 

The lyrics are almost like some creepy old dude giving you a warning about toxic behaviour, but it’s very vague and could even sound like a conspiracy theory to someone, but they warn that the sludge (toxicity) is in everyone, and you’ve gotta keep it in check or it will consume you and you will become a monster/slave to the sludge.

Luke Warm and The Cold Ones are sharing a nostalgic and reflective single, the alternative and folk rock inflected “Paradise Lost.” Written by lead singer Greg Chomut after visiting a friend he hadn’t seen in awhile, the song’s lyrics flowed out of him.

Emotive guitars, earnest vocals, and the violin skills of Dreamhouse Studios’ Kara MacKinlay create a melancholic overture which illustrates the importance of caring for what you have before it’s too late.

Luke Warm and The Cold Ones is a rock band based out of Thunder Bay, Ontario. 

As such, their music is reflective of the Northern experience of living in a small Canadian town.

The variety of influences which their five members bring to the band creates a sound that is familiar and new at the same time. Everything from punk to folk, metal, classic rock, and hip hop seamlessly blend into a refreshingly contemporary sound.

Much of their music focuses on the more painful side of the human condition, but in a fun way that gets people moving and having a good time in a therapeutic manner.

Running Violet is an eclectic collaboration of musicians. What started as an online ad for musical companionships resulted in hip shaking, tear-jerking, raging songs that soon occupied some of Toronto’s best live music venues and underground parties.

Their explosive new offering, “Who Needs Love,” takes an uplifting, hopeful look at growing up and the consequential traumas that shaped our futures. It features a punchy guitar solo by their guitarist Petr Balaz who fully produced, mixed and mastered the colourful tune about self-discovery.

Running Violet initially had its roots planted firmly in old school Rock & Roll with guitar licks, tones and solos ricocheting from ear to foot. Now, they incorporate sounds of the modern era while still holding on tightly to the styles that shaped them. 

Today, talented South Korean rapper and lyricist, Mushvenom, dropped the highly anticipated music video for his title track “SPACE MUSHIP”, which is also the album’s title, is now available on all digital streaming platforms. The full-length project is full of high energy anthems and showcases a unique futuristic style unlike any other, that exudes energy and passion with high-octane drops and verses for a never-ending party.

In his new music video, Mushvenom stars in an out-of-this-world retro space galaxy. It features an eye-catching universe of planets and extraterrestrial beings and within seconds of the video, fans are transported to a cutting edge Metaverse world; perfectly visualizing the chic, trendsetting energy Mushvenom effortlessly weaves into his music. Adding to the videos divergent undertones, Mushvenom wears a variety of cosmic inspired fashion with metallic colors and cyberesque materials, creating an atmosphere of novelty and curiosity throughout. It captures a mix of Star Trek and 2001: Space Odyssey, with visionary spaceships and extraterrestrials playing key roles in the ideology.

Continuing in the setting of a mind blowing, metaverse galaxy, Mushvenom is without a doubt highlighted as the leader of the space empire and surrounded by his extraterrestrial “fans,” as constant otherworldly backdrops keep the audience watching astonished with each scene. With the elements of futuristic design, extraordinary settings, and the mysterious space atmosphere, Mushvenom’s introduction to the Metaverse captures his innovative, unprecedented approach to rap. His quest for other galaxies is just the beginning of Mushvenom’s Metaverse.

Lee Tae-min, professionally known as Mushvenom, has starred in the Korean Hip-hop scene since 2019 from his striking performances on hit Korean TV show “Show Me The Money.” He is an independent artist who’s collaborated with other well-known Korean artists such as the composing duo GroovyRoom, rapper JUSTHIS and Korean superstar Jessi. He has over 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify that is supported by his strong social media presence that shares his every move to his enraptured fans.