“Who Am I Now?” by David Vertesi

David Vertesi is back and going through an existential crisis. The latest solo release from the Hey Ocean! member — and integral part of Vancouver’s music & arts scene for over a decade — asks the question “Who Am I Now?”

Vertesi explains “This song was born out of the individual and collective renegotiation of self that I have witnessed since 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic. With my band of 15+ years [Hey Ocean!] on indefinite hiatus, I was attempting to do this for myself, however, I couldn't help but notice pretty much everyone around me was doing the same: leaving jobs, moving cities, ending relationships. But whether mourning or celebrating the loss of our old lives it seemed like we were all asking ourselves the same question.”

“Who Am I Now?” features Vertesi’s trademark smooth vocals over a moody beat, and marks his first release through Vancouver’s Tiny Kingdom Music. So check below to find out who the hell David Vertesi is now.

Kirk

“Out in the Fields” and “Party Oven” by Kevin Drew

We’ve got a new solo album announcement from Broken Social Scene front man Kevin Drew, and it looks like it’s quite a vulnerable one.
Aging will be released in the fall (physically first on September 22, and then digitally on November 3rd) and was heavily influenced on loss, love, and illness of those around him, and the reality of aging.

Of the album the press release says it is “an album best played at the end of the night; a collection for the stragglers left when the bar is about to close; a serenade for those who are coming down; songs that are quietly sad but ultimately ruminative and comforting.”
The first two tracks “Out In The Fields” and “Party Oven” have major BSS “Lover’s Spit” vibes and I’m here for it. Can’t wait for more.

Christine

“The Cabin” by Haley Blais

Speaking of David Vertesi’s contributions to the local music scene, someone he’s been producing lately has been Haley Blais, who is giving us another peek at her upcoming album, Wisecrack.

Her latest song is “The Cabin” which she describes as “A sweaty, dehydrated memory of my summers spent in the cabin on the lake. It wasn’t our cabin — my dad’s brother’s wife’s cousin’s friends owned it or something — but it was ours. I had my first sips of beer, first almost kisses. It’s a fluffy recollection until the guitars break through with their overbearing distortion like a roaring tidal wave and I’m thrown back into the discomfort of real time.”

The video for was directed by Zia Kalyan, and features some familiar faces in Blais’ chaotic orchestra.

Wisecrack comes out September 15, and she’ll be celebrating the release with a show in Vancouver at the Hollywood on October 20th!

Kirk

“Let’s Do Drugs” by NOBRO

And now for something completely different… NOBRO’s first single of 2023 “Let’s Do Drugs”!
A fun, loud, fast, punk song, “Let’s Do Drugs” is one I can see a whole venue shouting along to.
Of the idea behind it, vocalist/bassist Kathryn McCaughey says it’s “a ‘dumb’ rock song about getting older…about wanting to have one more wild night, while having no business doing so and failing miserably. Musically it’s a middle ground between maybe ‘(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)’ and ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ but only the dumbest bits of those songs, distilled into something even more dumb. It’s like shotgunning a beer then immediately puking on yourself.”
I don’t know if there’s anything left to say - I really hope they swing by Vancouver soon!

Christine

“Rise Up With Fists” by Elliott BROOD

Sometimes I’ll see a band release a track with the same name as another song, and be disappointed it’s not a cover.

Other times, Elliott BROOD will release an absolutely fantastic cover of the Jenny Lewis classic “Rise Up With Fists”.

The tune is the latest in their covers collection, and hopefully they’ll be playing this live on their upcoming tour with Shred Kelly, or at least when they hit Vancouver at the Biltmore Cabaret on October 6th.

Kirk

“Electric Dreams” by Adnama

Vancouver’s Adnama is back with her first new single in over a year, “Electric Dreams”.

The fittingly-titled song is an ethereal ear-worm, which “surfs on layers of synth waves while floating in a dreamlike state.”

Check it out below, and try not to get it stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

Kirk