 |
| Photo - Evie Maynes |
sundayclub, the Winnipeg-based, band-to-watch of Courtney Carmichael and Nikki St. Pierre share their second new single, “Blue Wave” an up-tempo, fuzzy, anthemic song, layered with three drum kits and the product of over 170 vocal takes. The track comes from their forthcoming self-titled, debut, sundayclub for release on July 10th, 2026, via Paper Bag Records. “Blue Wave” leans into the complex feeling of “pre-nostalgia”–which happens when you experience nostalgia in real time and feel as though you miss the current moment before it’s even passed.
It also makes reference to Courtney's first car, a 2009 blue Pontiac Wave (lovingly named “Trudy” after its previous owner) and the memories Courtney and Nikki started to associate with the car itself and with a specific period of time in their lives. The car quickly became a vehicle to explore the space between the past and the present.
“This song reminisces on the early days of a relationship in the midst of inner turmoil and uncertainty over what the future might hold,” Carmichael explains. “It’s about wanting to be a different, better, and more evolved version of yourself despite not being there yet, and seeking escapism in the past as a way to find solace. I felt impossibly restless at the time of writing the song and was just generally tired: tired of feeling like I wasn't progressing, tired of being patient with the record we were making, tired of feeling vulnerable and overlooked. By looking back into the past, I could escape into a feeling of wistfulness to distract myself from how frustrated I was in the present.”
============================================================================
 |
| Stay Focused Photography |
South Wales Indie-rockers 'Ratoon' released their brand new digital single 'Are You Feeling Fine?' yesterday (22nd May). Ratoon consists of Eifion Davies (vocals,rhythm guitars), Sam Davies (Lead Guitar), Matti Huxtable (Bass) and Josh Davies (Drums).
After a string of successful live shows accross the country, and tallying up quite a die-hard and devoted fanbase, Ratoon can look back in glee at the glory of appearing at the Isle of Wight Festival and playing alongside such indie legends as The View & Alfie Templeman. Fans of Ratoon have likened them to a mix of The Royston Club, Safari Gold & The Now.
After the release of Ratoon’s debut EP entilted ‘Butterfly Effect’, which included the songs 'Missing' and 'Out On My Feet', the band have accumilated over 50,000 collective streams. Ratoon have enjoyed support from National Radio Stations 'BBC Radio Wales' and 'BBC Radio Cymru', with support stemming from Adam Walton and Mirain Iwerydd, where they were announced as 'New Band Of The Month.'
============================================================================
 |
| Photo - Hannah Dunsirn |
Arc Iris’ sixth LP, iTMRW , was written as the foundation for a 90-minute multimedia production combining live music, videography, and contemporary dance. The album showcases Arc Iris’ strengths as storytellers and arrangers, moving fluidly between experimental pop, string quartet, and R&B while guiding listeners through the narrative world that anchors the stage production.
iTMRW began as a simple prompt: “Write songs for the year 2080.” What started as an exercise quickly grew into a broader vision of the future. The work satirizes societal trends while mourning losses in human connection, exploring the leaps humanity must make as our minds adapt to accelerating technological change. Ultimately, iTMRW gestures toward a future in which these technologies might serve us—if deployed with care and ethical intent.
Just before committing the album to mastering, WILLOW contributed the final touches in a single, late night recording session, breathing new life into the project with inspired vocal performances across several tracks.
============================================================================
.jpg) |
| Photo - Jeff Elliott |
The last time listeners heard from Toronto-based composer and musician Pete Johnston (on record, at least) was on his acclaimed 2025 collaboration with Màiri Morrison & Alasdair Roberts, Remembered In Exile: Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia (Drag City). Johnston was the instigator of this project and performed on bass and organ while crafting arrangements for the seven-piece band and co-producing.
Johnston's band Stranger Still's may not quite have the firm traditional grounding of this other project but it nonetheless works from a shared perspective of reshaping folk music into something utterly unique. It's also similarly rooted in Johnston's Nova Scotian upbringing. Stranger Still's new album, We Might Not Tell Everybody This (released yesterday May 22 on CD/DL from All-Set! Editions) is the quartet's third release and continues to trace the writing of beloved autodidact poet Alden Nowlan to produce intricate and angular songs.
Reflecting Johnston's love of British Isles folk music, progressive rock as well as his immersion in various creative music forms spanning standards to free improv, the band creates tuneful yet asymmetrical pieces that bring accessibility and eccentricity in equal measure.
Mim Adams and Randy Helmers are often heard singing together in this work (sometimes joined by Johnston). Johnston—best known as a bassist—is the group's guitar player while bass duties are handled by Rob Clutton, another key figure in Toronto's jazz and improvised music scene. This new recording's sonic palette is undeniable tinted by its cast of noteworthy. Sarah Frank of the Bombadils (violins) and Johnston's longtime collaborator Andrew Killawee (harmonium), were both previously heard on the Morrison & Roberts recording, while harpist Màiri Chaimbeul has worked with the likes of Darol Anger, Liz Carroll, and Rose Cousins. The contributions of each of these three make this Stranger Still's most rich and varied recording to date, infusing Johnston's songs with newfound warmth and nuance.
============================================================================
 |
| Photo - Travis Keller |
Ethan Gold returns with Earth City 2: Nightfolk, the second instalment in his Earth City trilogy - an expansive, emotionally charged work exploring nightlife, duality and the search for connection in the modern world.
Where the first chapter focused on solitude, this new release shifts toward human connection, told through a series of nocturnal stories unfolding across a single, imagined night. “This is kind of my nightlife record,” says Gold. “Earth City one was a more of a lonely experience. And this record is about connecting with others.”
Recorded across Glasgow, Nashville, Berlin and Los Angeles, the album reflects Gold’s transient, international life. Its sound moves fluidly between folk instrumentation, art rock and richly layered arrangements, shaped by his instinct to let each song find its own identity. A recurring motif of trains and transit runs throughout the album, acting as a metaphor for movement, longing, and connection. “It’s about connecting and trying to interconnect the world. So it’s both a little bit alienated and about connection.”
============================================================================
“Jolene” is not another cover version of the famous Dolly Parton classic. This “Jolene” comes from the pen of the young Zurich-based singer and songwriter Natii – and it impressively demonstrates why her name is one to remember.
With a modern mix of neo-soul, pop, and urban influences, Natii delivers a debut song that sounds contemporary, emotional, and confident all at once. Inspirations from artists such as Amy Winehouse, Olivia Dean, and Jorja Smith subtly resonate throughout – the sound was created during intensive recording sessions in England, where Natii worked with international producers on her musical vision.
Why England in particular? Well, Natii strongly identifies with the sound and atmosphere of British female artists and incorporates this preference into her own music. “Jolene” was produced by Louis Ryan, who has previously worked with artists such as Demi Lovato, Bea Miller, Sabrina Carpenter, and Katy Perry.
Through her positive songs and strong messages, she aims to inspire people and pass on hope and faith, the musician says. “Jolene” impresses with catchy hooks, soulful grooves, and a modern production at an international level. The song marks a strong debut for an artist who captures the spirit of the times while establishing her own distinct style.
============================================================================
St. Catherine’s Child is the project of Ilana Zsigmond, a transatlantic singer-songwriter rising in the Indie Folk/Americana scene. Born in England and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Ilana’s music is shaped by both continents, blending the poetic storytelling of Americana with the dry wit of her British Sensibilities.
She recently signed to TRO Essex Music and its label arm Shamus Records, further enriching an iconic catalogue including Woody Guthrie, David Bowie, T. Rex, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, along with breakthrough artists such as Jaden Evans and Flamy Grant. Named after the patron saint of eloquent women, her vocal strength and enchanting songwriting lie at the heart of St. Catherine’s Child. Her 2025 album, This Might Affect You captures Ilana writing at its most honest and raw yet.
Her latest release, a double single covers project features her own irresistible and modern renditions of the classic tracks, "Cosmic Dancer" by T. Rex and "Fly Me To The Moon" by Bart Howard and made famous by Frank Sinatra.
============================================================================
