8 Tracks

April may be just about over, but this month was full of stellar new singles from artists of every genre. We’ve got eight of our top picks to share with you – check out the mini reviews and artist’s words, and then turn these up & add ’em to your playlists!

Jeremy Voltz – “Baby This Is Worth It”

Another fantastic track from Canadian singer-songwriter Jeremy Voltz. The powerhouse vocals we’ve come to expect from the artist, and an overall cinematic feel to the song. From The Artist’s PR: Following the gritty pop of “Miracles,” Torontonian Jeremy Voltz’s first release of 2023, he’s back to share “Baby This is Worth It,” a raw and powerful piece of indie soul which finds Voltz reflecting on the difficult place of being in a relationship where one partner has a foot out the door. The stringladen production heightens this song’s intensity, juxtaposed with tense acoustic guitar which carries the verses. “We wanted the chorus to feel like an explosion, a raw outpouring of desperation and vulnerability,” explains Voltz of his and co-writer Oliver Charles’ approach.

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The Dirty Nil – “Nicer Guy”

The Dirty Nil are back with new music, and this time they’re bringing the grit. For longtime Nil fans, the latest might remind you of some of the standouts from their earlier albums. It’s a goddamn rock tune. From The Band: On the album’s catchy first single, “Nicer Guy,” The Nil reminds listeners that they also still wield the power to stitch a perfect, infectious pop hook into their rock fabric. “I’d been sitting on some of the guitar parts for a long time, husbanding them for a suitably righteous song,” Bentham explains. “In the depths of lockdown, I dusted them off and came up with the words. It was a happy day in an otherwise lonely time. Special shoutout to Kyle’s extremely tight playing and Sam’s stampeding elephant bass. Sincerity can feel uncomfortable, but this one feels right.”

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Miesha & the Spanks – “So Mad”

Always happy to get a new Miesha & The Spanks song in my inbox, and this one is a knockout. Catchy as hell, big rock energy, and the usual badass swagger you expect from them. The one was released alongside the new album Unconditional Love in Hi-Fi, and I highly recommend you dive into that one. From The Band: About ‘So Mad’, the band said, “So Mad is about the day to day of what women deal with – from losing autonomy of our bodies as the US slowly revokes laws surrounding abortion and birth control, to being able to safely walk home at night – and the expectation that we can’t be too angry about it, and to just… smile more” 

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Sierra Pilot – “Adrenaline”

Along with this new single, Sierra Pilot has just announced that they’re touring alongside Skid Row and Buckcherry this October in Western Canada. (You know how we feel about Skid Row around here…). Congrats to the band for that killer slot, and for putting out another rock ‘n roll banger! From The Band:“Adrenaline” is about being so close to the one you want, but not being able to touch them or be with them”, says Sierra Pilot leader Taylor Leith. “We wanted the video to emulate that feeling”.

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Victoria Anthony – “Can’t Hold Back”

Here’s something a little different than the musical styles we usually post – Victoria Anthony is seeing a lot of success with this new tune, including a feature in Billboard magazine. At only 17 years old, she’s got a bonafide pop-punk hit on her hands with this one! From The Artist’s PR: Vancouver’s VICTORIA ANTHONY is back with “Can’t Hold Back”, an unhinged infatuation banger about getting lost in your feelings for someone you barely know, showcasing a striking rock edge and Victoria’s fiery vocals.

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Lost In Japan – “Won’t Let You”

Another incredibly catchy and compelling track from Canadian band, Lost In Japan. Such a huge chorus with infectious melodies that’ll have listeners singing along. The moody bridge adds the perfect balance to the rest of the song, making this a must-listen from start to finish. From The Band:As they gear up to unveil Night Talks: Pt. 2, they release “Won’t Let You,” a song about not accepting the harsh truths we all need to face sometimes. Getting lost in some other distraction to ignore the hard task of acceptance.

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Grimelda – “Dirty L’il Dirtbike”

The latest from Grimelda is a frenetic, fast-paced, fuzzy, punk-infused alt rock track with surprises throughout. Turn this one up. From The Band:“Dirty li’l Dirtbike” grew from the stereotype of a “cool dude” in the form of a motocross bro and having a non-judgemental perspective on that. It can be really easy to judge things/people you don’t know much about and it’s something that everyone is guilty of whether it’s directed towards artists, hipsters, rednecks, athletes or whoever. As Bob Dylan once stated, “we all like motorcycles to some degree.”

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Pretty – “Wait For The Sun”

Pretty is a band that is somewhat undefinable – their music is simultaneously mellow indie rock, punk, psych rock, and something unique and different altogether. Their latest song is the perfect example of their distinctive sound, with the addition of a nostalgic, classic vibe to it.  From The Band: “It was winter during a lockdown, and I was living in a pretty bleak apartment, quite literally waiting for the sun to come back in the spring.  The song is about yearning for the end of depression and despair, and trying to hold the memories of better feelings to remind yourself that no matter how bad something is, it will end, or at least change.”

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