Inspired by everyday life and the vast intricacies of being human, Montreal-based indie-folk artist Vikki Gilmore’s empathic insight and wisdom beyond her years resonate in her songs. By drawing on authentic experiences, she crafts meaningful narratives that ring tenderly relatable, backed by soulful, generally acoustic instrumentation.

New single, “Little Red,” is inspired by the story of Little Red Riding Hood but with a twist. What if the fable was written as an empowering song instead? What if the girl was tired of the wolf’s predatory behavior and decided to set a trap? From there, Gilmore visualized a Wild West saloon-style face-off and decided to go in a country-folk/Americana direction for the lyrics, genre, and production.

Faiyaz and the Wasted Chances are a POC fronted Toronto punk group that have been described as a raw garage pop band with virtuosic protopunk influences, cheekily modded for today’s listeners. Their sound falls somewhere between Warhol pre-punk and the Toronto DIY indie that they flowered in.

Following roadkill stoner pop hit “Dead Animals” and the video for “Glow” which earned 15000+ views, Faiyaz and the Wasted Chances mean business with a cautionary letter  “antisocial” addressing young artists. The heavy single speaks to the mental health issues born from industry pressure and self-destructive tendencies as one tries to make ends meet while still having fun. 

The Lagoons are the DIY musical project of Southern California-raised, jazz-trained, multi-instrumentalist brothers Ryan and Joey Selan. The duo writes, produces, and records their music out of their home studio. They released their debut album, Midnight Afternoon, in 2020, notching millions of streams alongside praise from fans and critics alike.

Energetic new single, “Madness,” was inspired by all of the craziness happening across the globe over the past year. A more rock driven tune for The Lagoons, “Madness” is defined by a powerful guitar hook and reflective lyrics.

Toronto dream pop duo, Twin Rains, are about to release their sophomore album, Unreal City. 

A hard fought battle to create through physical and mental health struggles, the first glimpse of this record comes via “The Garden,” a kaleidoscopic and lush exploration of the patterns in human relationships.

“Gardens are rich in symbolism: they can represent fertility and abundance, but also entropy and decay,” says singer Christine Stoesser of the track. 

“This song is a story about the bittersweet nature of love and beauty, and how I can’t seem to experience either without an awareness of their inevitable breakdown. But the mood isn’t sad; instead, it celebrates this mystery.”

Following the success of their Somedays EP, Lost In Japan return with their newest single “Red Line.”  Inspired by tour life and being away from loved ones, “Red Line” begins with an incredibly upbeat and punchy drum groove that is soon accompanied by some infectious indie-pop melodies. 

Though inspired by a story of band life, Lost In Japan’s metaphorical lyrics provides listeners with a relatable depiction of love without sacrificing the likeable elements of their past releases.

As one half of Toronto, Ontario’s alternative duo, USS, Human Kebab has seen his DJ career take him across the world over the past-decade. Affectionately known as the “after party before the party,” he scours the world for the best rock and alternative remixes before blending them into an hour-long dance smashup.

His upcoming EP focuses on different aspects of office culture, with second single “Office Romance” detailing a sexually tense workplace relationship. A minimal house loop and repetitive bass line take centre stage in the tongue-in-cheek video complete with Zoom, VR headsets and a cubicle dance party.