Nico Paulo – Warrior
Nico Paulo’s mournful voice and delicate guitar work have a timeless feel, strikingly evident on “Warrior.” Combining her own roots of Portugal with the influence of her new home in Newfoundland, the soothingly enchanted product speaks for itself. (Read more…)
Garrett Mason – Song of the Summer (Don’t Resist Paradise)
The ever-elusive Garrett Mason wields a vintage energy and nostalgia that plays summers past like a slideshow on “Song of the Summer (Don’t Resist Paradise),” Impassioned guitar work and a nodding, bounding drive will have you longing for a love that will live forever.
Moira Bren – Already Homesick
Frankly, there has never been a more hilariously relatable lyric than Moira Bren’s plaintive plea of “who’s going to file my income taxes?” as she woefully laments the impending doom of moving away for school on “Already Homesick.” (Read more…)
Aaron MacDonald – Gonna Get There
Aaron MacDonald was in the right place at the right time with “Gonna Get There.” Released during the emotionally crippling winter of an already impossible year, MacDonald came through with a catchy tune promoting solidarity, community and ridiculous amounts of positivity, right when we needed it. (Read more…)
Dennis Ellsworth – Bound by Love
Going for big nostalgic vibes in the lowkeyest of ways on “Bound by Love,” Dennis Ellsworth gently eases us through a wholesome vignette of his childhood, framed in the light of classic albums. (Read more…)
Dillon Ryan & The Dream Romantic – The Story
Dillon Ryan hasn’t let go of the ’80s. He’s thriving in the footsteps of The Cure, The Smiths, Joy Division. Within that glossy, heavily shoulder-padded bubble, though, he’s crafting hits with producer John Mullane (In-Flight Safety) and, in the case of “The Story,” spinning yarns about a pair of lovers who have lost the thread of their relationship. (Read more…)
Adam Young – Corned Beef and Garbage
Combining recklessly joyful ragtime energy with one of the slyest track titles of the year, Young’s “Corned Beef and Garbage” is a jaunty burst of New Orleans jazz that will have every steamboat swaying this summer. If that doesn’t quite float your boat, there’s also an extended trad folk version of the song! (Read more…)
Gabriel Minnikin – The Downtrodden Jubilee
Blaring down the door before taking you on a strange dance, “The Downtrodden Jubilee” is a bizarre, bopping adventure brimming with joyous movements, ominous vocalizations, and wild instrumentation. It’s a journey you won’t soon forget. (Read more…)
Keeper E. – Leaf In A River
With a subdued sound that packs a big punch, “Leaf In A River” tells a story of independence and personal power. Keeper E. expresses how she isn’t slowing down or waiting up for anything or anyone in life; she is fulfilling her journey on her own terms. (Read more…)
Loviet – Jawbreaker
Loviet seems destined for the stars. The only problem is that success in the music industry, like outer space or a “Jawbreaker,” can feel pretty empty. The single covers the flip side of ambition and the inevitable drive to chase whatever is next. (Read more…)