“Dance With You” by Arkells (feat. Cœur De Pirate and Aly & AJ)

Here is a collaboration I was not at all expecting. “Dance With You” is the disco-y new track from Arkells, and features not only francophone singer Cœur de pirate, but also pop duo Aly & AJ.

In tandem with the new single, the band also announced Blink Twice, their follow-up to their latest album Blink Once. Along with “Dance With You” and their previously released collab with Cold War Kids, they also team-up with the likes of Lights, Tegan and Sara, and most excitingly (for me, anyway) Joel Plaskett!

The album comes out on September 23, and you can catch them here in BC playing Laketown Shakwtown on June 30, or in Surrey for a free show on July 1st!

Kirk

“secret” by nêhiyawak

While this song by nêhiyawak is not by any means new, the video is and I thought it worth sharing!
The song “secret” is from their 2020 debut album “nipiy” (translates to ‘water’ from the nêhiyaw language).
I adore this album (and have it on vinyl) and the new video was directed by Dene multidisciplinary artist Casey Koyczan
The video itself is an “exploration of Indigenous customs through the prismatic lens of First Nations youth and performers, as they drum and dance through blasts of full spectrum colour and enveloping texture”.

I really hope we get some new music from nêhiyawak soon - I’m on the lookout.

Christine

“Some Day” by Tim Baker

Last week we got another brand new song from Tim Baker, and also a preview of a new project!

“Some Day” is a summery tune — perfect for the current mini-heatwave here in Vancouver — with bouncy piano and beautiful harmonies.

Baker also put out the teaser trailer for a series of sketches he’ll be releasing, teaming with his long time friends and producers/writers Jordan Canning and Adam Christie (of Schitts Creek, Baroness Von Sketch Show). Tim says: "We put together a series of sketches filmed in Toronto. You'll see me awaken from my covid stupor, endeavour to become relevant, fit, road ready, all the while surrounded by incredible comedic actors and usually dressed ridiculously. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did filming them. Keep an eye out on YouTube for the full series."

Check out the trailer — and the new song — below!

Kirk

“Mountain” by JEEN

As she gets ready to release her third album in as many years(!) JEEN gave another tease of her upcoming album Tracer last week, with the new single “Mountain”.

JEEN is joined by frequent collaborator Ian Blurton, as well as Robin Hatch and Stephan Szczesniak on the new song, and says, “I wrote ‘Mountain’ in early spring 2021 after spending too much time fixating on the irreparable parts of everything...it’s really just a song about trying to let that shit go. There was so much going on out there politically and morally at the time. I had just started releasing a record (Dog Bite) and I was also writing a new one (Tracer) all while dipping in and out of lockdowns...I started getting panic attacks a lot and just needed to chill out. I guess this track was my attempt to try and keep things in perspective.”

The new album Tracer is due out October 21.

Kirk