Snow Strippers, Ducks Ltd., Haruomi Hosono, Kim Gordon & More: Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Kim Gordon by Danielle Neu

It seems that every musician we like here at Also Cool has released new music in the past few weeks, so we put it all together for you to enjoy.

This edition of our Playlist Refresh includes everyone from Kim Gordon to Haruomi Hosono, and you can listen along via our regularly updated playlist on Spotify.

Snow Strippers and Turnabout - “Luctus Mane (Snow Strippers Remix)”

Snow Strippers (Nice Bass Bro) have permeated the music scene with their signature sound, reviving the nostalgic appeal of late-2000s electroclash with haunting vocals and hyper-pop nods. In their latest endeavour, the Detroit duo step up to remix Turnabout’s “Luctus Mane,” softening its trap metal roots with a celestial touch. Vocalist Tatiana Schwaninger’s hypnotic inflections rise above the distortion and conjure a light all their own.

Allie X by Marcus Cooper

Allie X - “Weird World”

Avant-pop fixture Alexandra Hughes, better known as Allie X, has emerged with her third album Girl with No Face, out today via Twin Music Inc. This new record anchors itself in a swath of ‘80s synth-pop and dark wave—entirely self-produced by Hughes—and “Weird World” marks its latest single. This impassioned track mourns the notion of a past life while erupting with freedom, sprinkling a touch of German musings over eerie instrumentation fit for the likes of Drab Majesty.

Kim Gordon - “I’m A Man”

Kim Gordon has offered the second cut from her forthcoming album The Collective, set to release March 8th via Matador Records. Swiftly following The Collective’s breakout single “BYE BYE,” “I’m A Man” is an equally noisy testament to Gordon’s triumphant domination of post-rock. Awash with a blistering collage of dissonant guitar and an ear-splitting trap underbelly, “I’m A Man” is best played cranked at full volume, with Gordon’s meditations on the disappointments of Western masculinity taking centre stage. While some have argued that Gordon’s reflections harbour passé feminist sentimentality, we wonder if Gordon (now 70) is making space for the music she would have wanted to write in her Sonic Youth days.

Watch the video for “I’m A Man,” starring Gordon’s daughter Coco Gordon Moore.

Hot Garbage by Laura-Lynn Petrick

Hot Garbage - “Look at My Phone”

Toronto psych rock four-piece Hot Garbage barreled into 2024 with Precious Dream, the band’s second full-length on Montreal indie label Mothland. Flush with rippers from front to back, Precious Dream sneers with dark surf flirtations, motorik rhythms, and sinister synth-laden chaos. The album’s second track “Look at My Phone” is a super-charged headbanger for coping with the horrors of this cruel world.

Tyla by Annie Reid

Tyla - “Butterflies”

Tyla hit superstardom after releasing her Grammy Award-winning song “Water.” Quickly after, she dropped her debut EP Tyla via Fax and Epic Records and proved she wasn’t going to be a one-hit wonder. “Butterflies” highlights a softer, almost ethereal side to the singer – let this song transport you to a magical place!

Nick Schofield by Christopher Honeywell

Nick Schofield - “Resonant World”

Self-proclaimed “ambient raver” Nick Schofield (Best Fern, Saxsyndrum) recently dropped his third solo sonic venture, Ambient Ensemble, via Halifax label Forward Music Group. Along with a band of masterly local collaborators (Yolande Laroche, Philippe Charbonneau, and Mika Posen), the Hull, QC-based electroacoustic composer achieves otherworldly splendour on Ambient Ensemble. Likened to works by masters Brian Eno and Philip Glass, Schofield's delicate yet profound Ambient Ensemble is a kaleidoscope of lush, instrumental bliss.

Loving - “Any Light”

Loving has been a longtime staple of Also Cool’s playlists, bringing well-considered tenderness to the Canadian indie music scene. “Any Light” is the title track of their latest album, guiding us into the contemplative world of Jesse Henderson and David Parry. The 10-track album weaves through themes of love, existential uncertainty, and "the psychic consequences of living in an increasingly digitized world."

Max Leone - “Kirkland”

There’s nothing that hits harder than going back to your hometown just to discover that your memories have been paved over and replaced by parking lots and big box stores. California-based Max Leone submerges himself in this flavor of bittersweet nostalgia with his latest release “Kirkland,” which is accompanied by a music video made of home videos that act as a portal into his childhood. Watch the video below.

Moon King - “Go To My Head”

Comfortable in a cold blue light, Moon King brings us yet another slinky synthy single “Go To My Head,” off of his upcoming album Roses (which is set to release later this year on Arbutus Records). Inspired by loops found on ‘future music’ CDs from the mid-90s, FM synths, and 808s, the track rounds out with his layered, pitched-up vocals – perfect for grooving to anytime, anywhere.

Born at Midnite - “*69 (Patrick Holland Remix)”

The great music minds of Montreal have merged to create an absolute banger remix of an already great song. Born at Midnite's “*69 (Patrick Holland Remix)” will soon be added to DJs’ USBs worldwide, and dancefloors everywhere will rejoice.

In the words of Born at Midnite: “If you are anything like me, the second you hear Pat’s remix of *69, the tears will roll, everything you’ve ever heard will suddenly seem irrelevant, tingles will go up your spine and you’ll drop your Timmie’s on your Rick Owens Crocs.”

Ducks Ltd. by Dylan Taylor

Ducks Ltd. - “On Our Way To The Rave”

“Memories I'll barely retain, We're on our way to the rave.” Relatable for almost every party person, and eerily reflective of the theme of our FSR radio show (music ranging from the indie rock show to the rave), Ducks Ltd. have returned with an excellent single off of their recent album Harm’s Way.

Reliably jangly, and always fun, Tom McGreevy and Evan Lewis of Ducks Ltd. deliver a highly-anticipated expansion on the sound they established in 2021. We were able to catch their set at Taverne Tour this year, and are happy to report that the sold-out show was one of the highlights of the festival.

Haruomi Hosono & Mac DeMarco - “Boku Wa Chotto”

Mac DeMarco has teamed up with Japanese legend Haruomi Hosono for their latest release, “Boku Wa Chotto,” via Stones Throw Records. While it may seem like an unlikely pairing, Hosono has long been one of Mac DeMarco’s musical idols and had previously covered his song “Honey Moon” in 2018. For those unfamiliar with Haruomi Hosono, we suggest listening to his 1978 album PACIFIC and the classic track “SPORTS MEN” off of his 1982 album Philharmony as an introduction to the incredible world of Hosono’s Japanese pop music.

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Blonde Redhead, Lucy's Delirium, Veranda Liv and More: Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Blonde Redhead by Charles Billot  

It's summertime, you need new music, and we have lots, so we put together an exceptionally long Playlist Refresh. Whether it's for sunny park hangs or for when you're walking home from the show, thinking about how sweet life can be, we've got you covered. Let's get into it.

Listen along to our Playlist Refresh series on Spotify.

Veranda Liv by Seren Pritchard-Bland

First up, we're throwing it back to 2018-era Montreal, when post-punk bands reigned supreme in the DIY scene. Our lovely friends from across the pond, Veranda Liv, have finally released their first single "Your Life In the City", which will soon be followed by a few more releases.

Veranda Liv's Tristan Petsola and Miguel Nyberg began playing music together in Helsinki before relocating to Montreal in 2014. Having met up with Tom Gould (previously of Pottery and Bodywash), they entered the Montreal live scene for a couple of years with a revolving cast of band members until Visa issues forced them apart and out of Canada.

Now reunited and reformed in London, Veranda Liv make up for lost time with their first single, "Your Life In The City”. The track explores atomization and shielding yourself from the surroundings of the modern world by constructing veneers. Melodic drums wed mooring bass lines to form the foundation on which discordant guitars build a sonic world, often holding a return to home ransom in favour of basking in consternation, like holding off texting someone back when it's been too long.

Veranda Liv

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Blonde Redhead have gifted us with "Snowman”, their first release in nine years. The lead single is lush and melodic, introducing us to their forthcoming album Sit Down for Dinner. The title refers to a passage Kazu Makino read in Joan Didion's The Year Of Magical Thinking, regarding Didion watching her husband die at the dinner table. The album is set to be released via Section1 on September 29th.

"'Snowman' is about how it can be a blessing or a curse to be invisible and undetectable, and how it's something we all feel and desire at times," Amadeo Pace writes. "I got inspired to write a song that only had two chords and a melody that would live and float between them."

Blonde Redhead

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Returning to Montreal's music scene, Helena Deland welcomes the warm season with "Spring Bug". A gentle offering, ushering us into a season of bug bites, burnt skin, and shy feelings.

In Helena's own words,

"Spring sun and spring rain make past selves sprout out of the ground. The question of whether or not to leave this town becomes the background on which they wreak havoc. But it's like Joan Didion says, ‘we are well-advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind's door at 4am on a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends.' 'Spring Bug' is the wave of a hand trying to shoo off a noisy flying creature, and the creature is me! Thank you for listening."

Helena Deland

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Lucy’s Delirium by Malaika Astorga

After playing almost every cool Montreal show this winter/spring, Lucy's Delirium have finally released their debut single, "Mr Tv”.

"Mr Tv" came about during a basement practice when Franky started free-styling on a bass line with the words "Ruin me like I ruined you." The phrase set the tone for the track, encapsulating the hypnotizing and obsessive feeling of the relationship between people and technology. The lyrics personify a television through the perspective of someone dependent and craving distraction. Despite the instant gratification, it remains an escape from their reality, leaving them with a false sense of fulfillment. 

"We see this behaviour a lot in ourselves and the world around us, and we were inspired to convey this experience as we believe it is a shared one." - Lucy's Delirium

Lucy's Delirium is a four-piece femme/non-binary band that began in a Montreal basement in 2022. Lila, Hanako, Franky and Addie merge their creativity to create a sound that expresses their friendship and connection. Constantly stepping out of their comfort zone, the band has evolved through the growing pains of being DIY musicians, like learning to work with small garage spaces and angry neighbours. For fans of Alex G, early Frankie Cosmos, Fog Lake, and Cryogeyser, "Mr Tv" will easily find a place on your playlists. 

Lucy's Delirium

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Switching over to evening tunes for a moment, Seraphine Noir has shared their jazzy new release, "Eclipse". It's the perfect soundtrack for a late-night walk to contemplate your thoughts while stopping to say hi to the alley cats and collecting flowers along the way. Alternatively, if you're not so into late-night walks, it serves as a great base for Tiktok anime edits.

Seraphine Noir is a modern experimental alternative jazz fusion artist hailing from Lebanon, now based in Montreal. They draw inspiration from esteemed artists such as Robert Glasper, Nujabes, Uyama Hiroto, Chick Corea, Coltrane and Sungazer. Stay tuned for future releases from the artist, including experimentations with jazz breakcore and more. 

Seraphine Noir

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Alice Phoebe Lou by Lexi Hide

Next up is Alice Phoebe Lou's "Lose My Head", a funky and tender tune, perfect for dancing around your kitchen while wondering what your crush is doing tonight. Alice Phoebe Lou is an independent artist from Cape Town, and is currently living in Berlin where she began her music career as a busker in 2013. 

"It's about loving and wanting, as well as the push and pull of passion," Alice shares. "I continually strive to show people the beauty of being vulnerable and feeling all their feelings..."

Alice Phoebe Lou
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Although not a new release, we absolutely love koleżanka's latest album, "Alone with the Sound the Mind Makes", which is out via Bar/None. Read our interview with the artist here, where she shared stories of the many places she's called home, her favourite memories and dreams, and more. 

"Alone with the Sound the Mind Makes" expands her koleżanka's world, leading us with tracks like "Cheers!" and "City Summer Sweat". The album is whimsical, slightly psychedelic, and draws on her polka-inspired musical history. 

koleżanka

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Sorry Girls have danced out of the darkness into the light with the release of their second album, Bravo! (out via Arbutus Records). The sparkling new album explores self-acceptance, self-affirmation, personal freedom and letting go. 

Also Cool favourites include "Prettier Things", a breakup track that's "about honesty, not lying to yourself, and hiding behind prettier things," says Heather Kirkpatrick. "You can allow yourself to move on to better things, if that's what you need."

Sorry Girls

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Rose Adam, Witch Prophet, Elisapie and More: Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

We heard you needed new music for your springtime playlist, so here we are with the freshest and springiest tunes we could find.

This edition of our Playlist Refresh includes disco bangers, emotional ballads, and an Inuktitut rendition of Cyndi Lauper, perfect for all occasions and vibes.

Listen to the full playlist below!

Sorry Girls by Japhy Saretsky

Sorry Girls bring us another enchanting tune leading up to their EP Bravo!, which is set to release on June 2nd via Arbutus Records.

"Sorcery is a song that evokes the feeling of the absurdity of a chance encounter, the luck of love and mystery of this dance, the feeling of looking up at the stars with awe, wonder and fear with an awareness that amidst all the pain and fear in the world there is always the acorn of love from which everything is born. Sorcery is like taking a shower in shimmering synths, pumped up drums, catchy melodies and stacked vocals/vocoders.”

Sorry Girls
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Rose Adam makes her musical debut today with disco banger "Hooked”. A seasoned Quebecoise actress, Rose has been exploring her solo musical identity after collaborating with other artists such as Kaskade, Bynon, Miles Urbn and Eager Dance.

"Hooked" draws on memories of Rose's first love, reminiscing about being caught up in strong feelings while trying to live her best life. "I also felt a lot of anxiety about the relationship, because I thought that love was supposed to last three years (according to Frédéric Beigbeder's book), and that one day my world could come crashing down..." Rose shares.

Enter the disco world of Rose, and watch the visualizer for "Hooked".

Rose Adam

Website | Instagram | Spotify 

Montreal duo 110% share their latest single, "by chance”. The track feels like a warm, emotional slow burn on a cold spring morning. It's a perfect soundtrack for your bus ride, a long contemplative walk, or just biking around. 

110% (Third? and Sahm) are childhood friends who spent their childhood in Montreal watching anime, skating, and discovering the city together. Their music together explores their experiences being second-generation immigrants, and constantly exploring new sounds to express themselves. 

110%

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TEKE::TEKE via IMTL

This past Thursday, Montreal’s Japanese psych-rock outfit TEKE::TEKE debuted its Serge Gainsbourg-inspired track “Doppelganger”. The swanky single marks the third wink at the band’s forthcoming album Hagata, due June 9th on Kill Rock Stars (Xiu Xiu, Elliot Smith). On “Doppleganger”, the TEKE::TEKE guitarist and songwriter Sei Nakushi Pelletier shares: “I wrote the music for this track with a view to touching on a very 70s pop vibe, specifically the records our parents listened to when we were kids, like Nakajima Miyuki.” Twirling elegant guitar, playful percussion and buoyant vocals from the band’s lead singer Maya Kuroki, “Doppelganger” is a romantic ballad channeling fairy tale magic from another dimension. 

TEKE::TEKE
Website | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify 

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Witch Prophet by Francesca Nocera

Toronto songstress Witch Prophet greeted May’s beginning with her new album Gateway Experience, out now via her label Heart Lake Records. With an entrancing melange of hip-hop beds, jazzy accents and soulful harmonies, Gateway Experience details Witch Prophet’s struggles with focal seizures, with each track named after her symptoms. Examining the connection with the human brain, seizures, god and otherworldly abilities, Gateway Experience boasts collaborations with DillanPonders, Begonia, SATE and Zaki Ibrahim. Standout tracks on the album include the serene “Dizzy”, featuring freestyle live trumpet by Tara Kannagara, atop subdued beats and poised vocals by Witch Prophet.  

Witch Prophet 

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Elisapie by Leeor Wild

Montreal’s Elisapie transcends the expectations of a cover with her latest offering “Taimangalimaaq (Time After Time)”, an Inuktitut rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s hit single from 1984. Elisapie’s reimagining of the seminal pop anthem comes off of her to-be-released fourth solo album, Inuktitut. Inuktitut revisits radio favorites that provided solace to the community of Nunavik, Northern Quebec, amidst challenges enforced by colonial powers throughout Elisapie’s life. 

Transforming songs by artists such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Blondie, Fleetwood Mac, Metallica, Queen and Cyndi Lauper with vivacity of her mother tongue, Elisapie’s Inuktitut arrives September 15th, 2023 via Bonsound. 

In a statement, Elisapie shares that “Taimangalimaaq (Time After Time)” was inspired by a childhood memory of her aunt Alasie and her cousin Susie: 

“I was able to get through my pre-teen years, thanks to my Aunt Alasie, as my mother had neither the knowledge nor the experience to give me a crash course on puberty, fashion or social relationships. In addition to entering a new chapter in my life, we were in the midst of the 80's and modernity was shaking up our traditional methods. My mother’s generation had lived in Igloos, and the cultural changes were too swift. 

Despite her struggles, my aunt ensured I felt accepted and exposed me to new and modern things like TV, clothes, dancing, Kraft Dinner and make-up! 

Whenever I went to my aunt's house, I was in awe of my older girl cousins. They were all so cool and stylish, and they loved pop music and the crazy makeup of the 80s and early 90s. One of my favorite memories is listening to the radio with them and hearing Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" for the first time. It was like a lightning bolt, and I couldn't separate the song or the artist from my older cousin Susie. For me, the song was all about her search for beauty, connection, love, and rising above pain.”

Elisapie 
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In light of announcing his third studio album Forgiving Season, Elijah Wolf shares his first single, "We Talked About It." 

Wolf explains, "(the song) deals with feeling numb and disconnected in life. It's about going through the motions, letting your mind wander and missing everything real around you. I wrote it in a low moment, feeling detached and directionless. It became a conversation with myself about what I was becoming when I failed to be present."

Forgiving Season follows Wolf's 2021 full-length Brighter Lighting, his standalone single "Yesterday, With You," which featured Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold on vocals, and an Aquarium Drunkard Lagniappe Sessions release. Wolf will play at the Cave Mountain Catskills Music Festival on Saturday, September 15th, with more tour dates to be announced later this year. 

Elijah Wolf
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Youth Lagoon, May Rio, Ayane Yamazaki, Disq and More: Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Heaven Is A Junkyard by Youth Lagoon

As we move into what is hopefully the final leg of a long winter, our listening habits have lean towards comfort songs and new releases. From the Ottawa-core soft indie rock of Trevor Sloan, to a high-energy party track from The Dare, our Refresh hits all the notes you need to get through your snowy walks and cozy days.

Listen to the latest chapter of our Playlist Refresh series on Spotify.

Trevor Sloan by Patrick Dinglasan

If you like upbeat indie-folk, 8mm footage, and mid-sized Canadian cities, you’re going to love Toronto-based artist Trevor Sloan’s latest single “Ottawa 1977”. The track marks one chapter of his new album Dusk Among the Palm Trees, out April 14. As Sloan delicately pores over fragments from his family’s past, the music video brings those recollections to life: twists and shouts, colourful beach balls, all-knowing grandparents and not-caring tots. His vocals are buoyant and pure, as ephemeral as the memories themselves: “Let’s laugh and dance / when we got the chance”. Sounds like good advice.

Trevor Sloan

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May Rio by Logan White

Brooklynite May Rio has quite literally gone goblin mode with her new track “Need You Like”. Premiering this past Wednesday via Paper Magazine, the dream pop single is another instant classic from Rio, wherein she pens herself as a villain leading-on an unnamed lover: “You went to bat for me / I triple-played a loner / Gift-wrap your heart, you’re sweet / I’ll pickle it with the others”. Rich with bubbling synths and swanky guitar, Rio’s sugary voice and wit take centre-stage in the two-minute earworm. 

May Rio

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Ayane Yamazaki by Masahiro Yanagisawa

Tokyo’s Ayane Yamazaki reimagines city pop on her latest arrival “Saturn and Unicorn” Released on February 24th on me and baby music, Yamazaki’s buttery vocals glide atop luminescent melodies with hypnotizing danceability. Working tirelessly in crafting electro-pop perfection since the age of 15, Yamazaki has garnered a following from college and alternative radio stations around the world. In a statement on “Saturn and Unicorn”, Yamazaki shares that the song represents entering a new frontier; we can’t wait to see what’s next for the 24-year-old singer! 

Ayane Yamazaki

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The Dare via Bandcamp

New York’s Harrison Patrick Smith AKA The Dare resuscitates aughts electroclash hedonism on his brand new offering “Good Time”.  A fuzzy comedown from his breakout banger “Girls” (which has been a constant spin since its drop, by the way), “Good Time” is a sexy smoke break from a hazy dancefloor. The anticipated single expertly nods to dance-punk taste-makers like LCD Soundsystem and Peaches, making for a saturated rager that instigates entertainment for entertainment’s sake; and we’re absolutely here for it.

The Dare

Instagram | Spotify

Disq via the band’s website

Wisconsin rock band Disq have spent the week rolling through 400-series highways, spreading flecks of grungy magic along the way. The five-piece group is supporting the first half of Alvvays’ Canadian tour, but they emerge as the stars of the show – uneasy yet audacious, impossible to pin down and indifferent to your attempts. Their latest album Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet feels agile and provocative, probing issues of the modern age with stream-of-consciousness wit and frenetic punk stylings. Many highlights to be found within their catalogue, but fellow emos will delight in how “The Hardest Part” scalds with its imagery and explosive climax.

Disq

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Lucy via Interview Mag By Annabell P. Lee

It's fair to say that LUCY (Cooper B. Handy) is our latest musical obsession here at Also Cool. We initially discovered his music through his collaboration with Boy Harsher, "Autonomy”, and have since dove deep into the world of LUCY and caught his recent live set in Montreal with Night Lunch and Mark Cone.

His approach to songwriting falls balances simplicity with sometimes absurd but always heartfelt messages. Although it's not a new release, "Even The Score" (a collaboration with Whitearmor) has been on repeat for the last month, making it a worthy addition to our Refresh.

LUCY (Cooper B. Handy)
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Youth Lagoon (Trevor Powers by Tyler T. Williams

Youth Lagoon (Trevor Powers) makes a tender return with his latest track, “Idaho Alien”, which comes off his forthcoming album Heaven Is a Junkyard. In 2016, Trevor Powers shut the door on Youth Lagoon. “I felt like I was in a chokehold,” he says. “Even though it was my music, I lost my way. In a lot of ways, I lost myself.” But after an over-the-counter drug reaction caused eight months of harm to Powers’ larynx and vocal cords, temporarily silencing his voice, he decided to return to the project.

Trevor comes home to Youth Lagoon through reflections on family, drug use, youth, brotherhood and war. “I don’t remember how it happened / Blood filled up the clawfoot bath, and I will fear no frontier.” 

Youth Lagoon
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Scarlet Rae returns with a gentle heartache of track, “Waking Dream”. Her wavering vocals reflect on relationships with others, being alone, and moving on. “arms are open wide, my baby holds me tight, between love and light there’s always something left behind.”

For fans of Elliot Smith, Sparklehorse, and PACKS, keep an eye out for Scarlet’s live NYC shows.

Scarlet Rae
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Best Fern, Debby Friday, Libianca and More: Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Rachel Chinouriri by Alice Backham

Happy Saturday, Also Cools! Another Playlist Refresh is coming in hot, and here to narrate your weekend.

There is truly a slice of everything in this weekend’s Refresh, which makes it all the more exciting to browse. From Gatineau to the English Channel, Afrobeats to indietronica, peruse some of the tracks that have topped our charts.

As always, you can listen along via our Spotify playlist.

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Best Fern by Hugo Bernier

Gatineau and NYC excellence collides on Best Fern’s “On and On”. The single is the long-distance ambient pop duo’s second offering from their to-be-released debut Earth Then Air, arriving February 3rd via Youngbloods and Backward Music. “On and On” is one of twelve tracks realized by the pair while in residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity, surrounded by the awe-inspiring and all-consuming might of the Rocky Mountains.

In a delightful three-minute whimsy, Best Fern twirls through a chamber of playful stringed arrangements, between sprinklings of horns and cosmic flirtations. Picking up on its earthly inspirations, “On and On” awakens the sensation of drawing the curtains first thing in the morning, and feeling the warmth of the sun beaming in as the day begins. 

Watch the accompanying music video for “On and On”, shot by Stephanie Kuse on 8mm film, below!

Best Fern 

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Debby Friday Good Luck album artwork via Bandcamp

Toronto-based musician, multimedia artist and astrologer Debby Friday breaks new ground on new track “So Hard To Tell”. Along with the lead single from her forthcoming debut album Good Luck, out March 24th, Friday shared her signing to seminal Seattle label Sub Pop Records. 

On “So Hard To Tell”, Friday subdues her metallic, industrial-punk foundations to unveil raw, reflective and luminous R&B by allowing her unmodified singing voice to surface. 

In a statement on “So Hard To Tell”, Friday explains that experimenting with her voice was a leap of faith in the right direction: 

“I have a lower register and speak with vocal fry so I don’t know what came over me when I made this track. I have never in my life sung like this before, and I had no idea I could even make these kinds of sounds with my voice. There’s no pitch effects on ‘SO HARD TO TELL’, it’s all me.”

Upon first listen, the dynamism of “So Hard To Tell” made Friday’s Good Luck one of our most-anticipated albums of the year (yes, already!). While we wait for more, draw out the excitement and watch Friday’s gorgeous and futuristic video for “So Hard To Tell” below!

Debby Friday 

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Libianca via Spotify

Minnesota-based Cameroonian Afropop singer Libianca participated in NBC’s The Voice on season 21, quickly becoming a favourite with her thoughtful song choices and mesmerizing performances. Although she didn’t win the competition, she continued her passion and grew a fanbase through the release of tracks like “People” – we have been listening on repeat ever since. 

When engaging with this song for the first time, it is easy to miss the depth of the message, which poignantly enough is exactly what Libianca describes is happening to her in real life. “I’ve been drinking more alcohol for the past five days / Did you check on me?” She conveys the sadness of when the ones closest to you are the least aware. However, through the international community that she has reached with her music it seems as though some of that sadness has departed. On her YouTube channel, Libianca writes: “I wrote this song when I felt unheard... UNSEEN. To everyone who has resonated with my overflow of emotion through this song, THANK YOU!”

Libianca

Instagram | Spotify | TikTok

Rachel Chinourini by Martina Martian

With the release of “So My Darling (Acoustic)”, English indie singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri has written a tale of heartache, longing, and never-ending love. Chinouriri so poignantly describes the feeling when you realize that someone may not always be there, but your affections for them won’t ever change – a lover, or a friend. Max Pilley from DIY Magazine perfectly describes it as “a delicate, intimate and charmingly endearing paean to real love.” Rachel touches on the reason she released her acoustic version:

“I felt “So My Darling” was going to be special from the day I made it when I was 17. It’s always one which people go back to and say it always resonates with them at my shows. Despite making it 4 years ago, I’m so happy that it has connected with a new audience on TikTok and see the song being used for videos that reflect the meaning. It’s stripped back but that’s how the song began so it makes me happy that it’s perceived so much love and everyone’s spreading a lot of love with it too.”

Rachel Chinouriri

Instagram | Spotify | TikTok

Nisa by Sara Laufer

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Nisa Lumaj has begun a dazzling new chapter with the release of Exaggerate. While each track on the EP—out now via Hit The North Records—strikes a particular nerve, the title track’s skittering motifs and elevated lyricism come out on top. The single was produced with Nate Amos, who has steered the sound of artists like Water From Your Eyes and AC favourite Lily Konigsberg. 

Conceived in a period of travel and transience for Nisa, “Exaggerate” documents the intensity of emotion that came from her personal instability. Her vocoder warble blends with the muted indie production to paint a sonically-nostalgic picture. Imploring her detached lover to let her clean in solitude, Nisa rambles with an anxious confusion: “If I could delete the pain / It might take me / To your heartbeat faster / I'll miss yesterday / When you told me / You could love me harder”.

Nisa

Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify

Our Playlist Refresh series is available in full on Spotify, refreshed on a rolling basis.

Stream it all below!

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Empty Nesters, The Lemon Twigs and Tennis: Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

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Empty Nesters by Steph Dinsdale

The January air is rife with possibility, crystallizing all around us like porcupicicles from the roof, and some of our favourite musicians have started the new year by hitting their creative stride. Catch up on our recent listenings in this week’s Playlist Refresh, marking the first new music review of the year.

While the calendar flip is still fresh, we have an itch that 2023 will be defined by endless listening opportunities, from artists local to the Also Cool music scenes and beyond!

Explore the chapters of our Playlist Refresh series on Spotify.

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Empty Nesters by Steph Dinsdale

Empty Nesters, the project of Chinese-Canadian artist Eric Liao, is an Also Cool musical mainstay. Having planted seeds in the same Ottawa DIY music scene, and eventually making the move to Montreal alongside some of the magazine’s founding members, every Empty Nesters release is an emblem of peers growing alongside each other and self-actualizing in the once intangible layers of the Industry™.  

This maturation is evident in Liao’s newest single “Going Bye”, self-released on January 6th. Outfitted with a dissonant shoegaze flare and bound by signature indie know-how, “Going Bye” brings forward the inner workings of Liao’s thoughtful songwriting — once buried by the fuzz of his house-show beginnings. Now with five EPs under his belt and an ever-growing curriculum vitae of live performances, Liao’s creative prowess takes centre stage with “Going Bye” winking at an exciting new chapter.

Catch Empty Nesters at Casa Del Popolo on January 28th alongside Blooming Season, Bedridden and Plastic - presented by KickDrum! More info and tickets available here.

Empty Nesters

Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify

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The Lemon Twigs via Bandcamp

Long Island brother band The Lemon Twigs graced us with elegant love song “Corner Of My Eye” earlier this month. As the duo’s first offering since their acclaimed 2020 LP Songs for the General Public, “Corner Of My Eye” reminisces with the feel of 1960s soft rock pining. 

Written and produced entirely by The Lemon Twigs, the single’s uncluttered mingling of melodic guitar, muted percussion, dreamy vibraphone and winding upright bass cushions Brain D’Addario’s delicate vocals and the pair’s sparkling harmonies. 

“Corner of My Eye” is out on Brooklyn label Captured Tracks, and while no hints of a fourth album are on the way, we’re hopeful that The Lemon Twigs are brewing up big plans for 2023. 

The Lemon Twigs

Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify

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Tennis by Luca Venter

Inching closer to the release of their highly-anticipated sixth studio album, Tennis has released the crisp and evocative “Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight”. This track marks the second single from Pollen, out on February 10 via the duo’s own Mutually Detrimental. 

Overtop of a laidback disco sound, vocalist Alaina Moore paints pictures of impassioned escapism. Her Madonna-tinged lilt elevates the vintage decadence as her fantasies of runaway romanticism culminate in destruction.

Elaborating on the vision behind the single, Moore notes: 

"'Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight' is all hubris, attitude, and wish fulfillment. I’m turning water into wine," says Tennis. "I’m reshaping my reality through projection or denial. While tracking with Patrick [Riley] I kept envisioning the same scene: I’m in the passenger’s seat. Patrick drives with one hand on the wheel and one on my thigh. This song plays us out."

Those in and around Toronto will want to catch Tennis on April 5th at HISTORY, featuring folk musician Kate Bollinger.

Tennis

Instagram | Spotify

Our Playlist Refresh series is available in full on Spotify, refreshed on a rolling basis.

Stream it all below!

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Fake Palms, Faux Sommets X Maturin, Sahara, girlpuppy, and More: Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

We’ll admit it, fall is finally here… which means it’s time for another Playlist Refresh. We’ve been heavy into the shoegazey, post-punk tunes as always, but have also been feeling more emo than usual with our musical selections.

This Playlist Refresh includes a ton of Canadian content, including some Also Cool favourites as well as new discoveries of older releases. Whether you’re a fan of DIIV and Mazzy Star, or lo-fi beats to study to, we’ve got something you’ll be into.

As always, you can listen along via our Spotify playlist.

Fake Palms

Starting off with a staple to the Toronto garage rock scene, Fake Palms, have shared "Satellite," one of their recent singles off of their upcoming album Lemons. The project is helmed by Toronto-based artist Michael le Riche, with the new album set for release via Hand Drawn Dracula on September 16th. 

"Satellite" is sonically Magazine meets A Flock of Seagulls, surrounding a jagged guitar riff with an atypical rhythm section. The track is glitchy, post-punky tune, acting as a 'safe haven from doom scrolling.' Thematically, it tackles modern technologies, mob mentality and the spiral-inducing effect of social media.

Sahara by Camille Jodoin

Although not a new release, we’ve been listening to Sahara’s 2020 album Pure Glass pretty much on repeat since discovering their music through Tallies at FME. For fans of DIIV, Cleaners from Venus, and any shoegaze jangle-rock adjacent genres, you’ll be sure to find at least a track or two for your Fall playlist.

Released via Hand Drawn Dracula, the musical influences for the album began as 80’s New via The Chameleons and early Cure records, later becoming more influenced by 90s shoegaze bands like Ride and Chapterhouse.

“If there’s a common theme for this album it’s one of transformation. We moved from using a drum machine to having a live drummer and writing songs as a four-person group. Two of which were written during the year-long recording and mixing process. Our influences changed as well during this time.”

Standout tracks include “Chimes,” “Ash,” and “Warped Mirror.” Catch them opening for Keegan Powell with Fleur Electra at Monarch Tavern on September 16th.

Ducks Ltd. & Jane Inc.

One of our favourite bands of last year, Ducks Ltd., have collaborated with Jane Inc. for their latest release, "In Between Days" (a cover of The Cure's iconic track). It's the second instalment of their cover series entitled The Sincerest Form of Flattery. 

The track begins with a bass line and guitar riff that keeps with the Ducks Ltd. signature upbeat, bright guitar tones and punchy vocals from lead vocalist Tom McGreevy, with supporting vocals from Jane Inc. It displays the band's appreciation and mastery of 80s alt-rock, staying true to the era's nostalgic undertones and jangly instrumentation.

Speaking to the track, Tom McGreevy says, "Carlyn Bezic (aka Jane Inc.) has been a pal for maybe a decade and is one the best musicians in Toronto. I've seen her in so many bands, and it's been so cool to watch the Jane Inc project come together. PS: Someone told me once that Robert Smith only responds to emails one day per week, and it's always IN ALL CAPS. I have no idea if this is true, but I really want it to be. Also, please email me, Mr. Smith!"

Ducks Ltd. is touring with Disq in November and will be touring the UK in September.

girlpuppy by Brandon McClain

"Where did all my friends go? I want to be in there in two places, all at once." girlpuppy (aka Becca Harvey) goes straight for the emotional jugular with her latest track, "I Want To Be There." 

"I wrote 'I Want To Be There' about the pain I felt when my old landlord kicked me and three of my best friends out of our dream home, and all three of my roommates moved to New York," Harvey explains. "I was left all alone in Atlanta, and it was a really bad time for me. I was jobless, and I felt like I had no friends, which made me wonder what was wrong with me, which kind of made me spiral into self-hatred. I like to call this one the "self-hate anthem" of the album."

Her debut LP, When I'm Alone, was announced last month and was produced with Slow Pulp member Henry Stoehr and Alex G guitarist Sam Acchione. It will be out on October 28th on Royal Mountain Records (Wild Pink, Pillow Queens). 

Pilote by Faux Sommets X Maturin

Switching gears to a more mellow energy, we'd like to introduce Faux Sommets X Maturin. The project (which is a collaboration between Simon St-Louis and co-producer Maturin) combines experimental sounds with kosmische jazz sounds. Often instrumental, the music intentionally keeps the listener balanced between contemplation and stimulation, sensuality and vertigo.

Pilote, their debut EP, features eight songs that move between dreamlike, relaxing soundscapes and more upbeat dancey tunes. Standout tracks include "Maurice Dub" and "Perdure." If you're a fan of lo-fi beats to study to but want a bit more personality and creativity in your music, Pilote is a great listen start to finish. It's the kind of album that would make a great soundtrack for a summer evening or a cozy night at home.

You can catch Faux Sommets spinning at Bar le Système on September 28th from 10pm to 3am.

Rolls-Royce Choices via Hip Hope You Don’t Stop

Hip Hop You Don't Stop is back again this year with a wide range of excellent artists. One of our standout discoveries was the compilation mixtape Rolls-Royce Choices. 

Rolls-Royce Choices is "(...) that decision to order the perfect burger at the perfect time, or to cut your losses for the day and get outside. These are the right decisions that benefit us and those around us. In music, there are Rolls-Royce choices as well. Every song is created by making a series of musical decisions. 

This mixtape compiles twenty original songs written, performed and recorded by JJames Lyng High School students in their music classes during the 2021-2022 school year. This is the sixth release of student work released by Up Next Recordings, the school's in-house record label."

On Saturday September 17th, HHYDS joins forces with several community initiatives for a night of performances and video premieres called CRL: Community Request Live (after the 90s and 00s phenomenon Total Request Live), co-presented by CJLO 1690AM. One of the videos being premiered is the music video to "Rolls-Royce Choices", by Jahdella and Shayah.

Our Playlist Refresh series is available in full on Spotify, refreshed every other week.

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Joey Valence & Brae, Fox Academy, Alex G, U.S. Girls & More - Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Joey Valence & Brae by Connorpnw

The seemingly endless stream of summer releases continues and we’ve got another round of tracks hitting our Playlist Refresh mix. This week’s additions highlight the latest from Joey Vaence & Brae, Fox Academy, Alex G and more to keep your listening selections varied and up-to-speed with what we think is Also Cool.

Follow our accompanying playlist on Spotify - refreshed every other week!

via Joey Valence and Brae Lugue

It's been a while since we've heard anyone emulate The Beastie Boys successfully, but 22-year-old Joey Valence and Braedan Lugue give the genre a new life with a punk-inspired twist.

Gaining popularity through their single, "Punk Tactics," which blew up on TikTok earlier this year, they have continued to grow, even securing their own world tour.

Their latest track, "Watch Yo Step," continues to draw from their old-school hip-hop and video game influences. Accompanied by a 90s-inspired music video, the track draws on drum & bass, punk, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater soundtrack for sonic inspiration. Keep an eye our for these two punks coming to a city near you.

Our favourite Seattle-based synthy duo Chinese American Bear have returned with their self-titled debut album (out via Modern Sky in China). The album features some Also Cool favs like "Hao Ma," and some newfound treasures like "Boba Tea."

Chinese American Bear's quirky mandopop is lighthearted, endearing, and the perfect soundtrack for a summer day. Listen to the album below and check out our last interview with them in 2021.

via Fox Academy

Our favourite lo-fi indie group Fox Academy has released yet another sadboy banger, "laughing screaming." With simple yet cryptic lyrics layered over a simple beat, Fox Academy once again achieves a perfect balance of simple yet pleasantly confusing. "Foam on your mouth; Angel number check-in; Look to the left; Hundred dollars on the nightstand."

Based in Portland, Oregon, Fox Academy has quietly become a cult classic in many corners of the Internet. Fans of Alex G, Fog Lake, and the Orchid Tapes group will find comfort in Fox Academy's wonderfully disjointed and melancholic discography. Other projects of note from the group include the 2015 EP Elsie and side project, Richie Woods.

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Last week, we covered Eliza Niemi’s brand new LP Staying Mellow Blows. In conversation with Also Cool, Niemi shared how her songs were passed through the hands of 19 collaborators to realize her poignant, contemplative album. Out now on Vain Mina and Tin Angel Records, Staying Mellow Blows gracefully tills heavy emotions with a playful tinge. Niemi’s songs extend company on a long August night—inviting a moment of stillness when the need to ground ourselves is too loud to ignore.

This album is adored top-to-bottom by us here at Also Cool HQ, but the essence of Niemi’s fusion of candour and quirk is ever-present on the track “Trust Me”.

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In the year 2022, we are excited to report that a new Alex G record is on the rise. The Philadelphia-based indie singer-songwriter and producer announced that his ninth studio album, God Save the Animals, will be out September 23rd, 2022 via Domino. Whenever G gets crafting, it brings us back to our early days of DIY warehouse shows and endlessly replaying tracks from our favourite artists to and from after school jobs. While G remains faithful to his imaginative, alternative soundscapes, teaser singles like “Blessing” have us eager to hear an edgier attack from the beloved lo-fi artist.

Watch the aesthetic-bending video for “Blessing” below!

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Meg Remy of U.S. Girls by Emma McIntyre

Rounding off July, U.S. Girls shared their new single “So Typically Now”. Out on 4D, the punchy dance track oozes a cross of the pop electricity found on Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster with the rhythmic hypnosis of Ladytron’s Light & Magic—making for a signature sound-system buster. “So Typically Now” features backup vocals from Kyle Kidd, and marks a promising venture for the group since their 2020 Polaris Prize-nominated LP Heavy Light.

Our Playlist Refresh series is available in full on Spotify, refreshed every other week.

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Medicine Singers, distraction4ever, Dawn to Dawn, PACKS & More - Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Summertime is in full swing, and we’ve got music for almost every occasion. This edition includes friends like Paul Jacobs, distraction4ever, and new finds like Medicine Singers and Dawn to Dawn.

Whether you’re lounging at the park with a picnic and wine, camping in a nearby forest, or headed out to the club, our Playlist Refresh has something for you.

Listen to our accompanying playlist below

Paul Jacobs returns with his latest EP 185 On The Corner via Bonsound, delivering a mellowed out iteration of neo-psych sound he’s known for. A visual artist through and through, Paul’s lyrics illustrate his world, painting vivid imagery that captures his feelings during a period of instability, reflecting on his emotional growth.

In line with his DIY ethos, Paul wrote, recorded and produced the four songs by himself. Two of the tracks, After Dark and The Tree Outside My House, were previously released as singles earlier this year. You can watch the music video for “Hold On” below.

Whether you’ve been to one of their rowdy loft parties, or have seen them running Shift Radio, you’ve probably come across the Mile End’s latest post-punk duo distraction4ever. After releasing three singles this year, Beau Geste and Splitshift have joined forces once again to create their upcoming album Please Don’t Think About Tomorrow.

Inspired by Russian new-wave vocals (think Molchat Doma), analog synths, fast drums, and distorted vocals, distraction4ever feels like you’re running around the city on a Montreal summer night. The album will explore themes of addiction, escaping reality, anxious downward spirals, nihilism and pessimism while maintaining a connection to an overall 'joie de vivre.’

distraction4ever will celebrate the release of their debut album with a show at the Brasserie Beaubien on August 5th, 2022 at 9:00pm. Event on RA here.

One of our favourite artists at Also Cool, PACKS (Madeline Link), returns with her latest EP WOAH (Firetalk). Although her latest album was dubbed "reluctantly anthemic slacker rock" by The FADER, PACKS retreats to a more stripped down sound with this EP, through thoughtful lyrics that process grief, joy, and confusion.

"These songs began when I got back in November from our small US tour with Wombo," Link says of the EP. "I had lost my voice completely and it had a nice scratchiness to it as it was coming back. Someone suggested I record a whole album of songs while my voice was like that. father’s truck was first. It came from a fever dream I had in a dander-steeped basement in Boston. Sure enough, my voice recovered and I spent the rest of the winter recording. All of the songs were recorded in Ottawa and Montreal as I dealt with the repetitive, gory horrors of desire and simultaneously dreamt some beautiful dreams."

Watch the album film for WOAH below.

Mothland welcome another excellent band to their roster with the self-titled debut album of Medicine Singers (Stones Tapes, Joyful Noise Recording).

Medicine Singers bridge multiple dimensions of sound, while expanding on years of collaboration following a spontaneous 2017 performance by Eastern Algonquin powwow group Eastern Medicine Singers and Monotonix guitarist Yonatan Gat. Rounded out by contributions from Ryan Olson of Gayngs, rising jazz trumpet star Jaimie Branch, Thor Harris and Christopher Pravdica of Swans, no wave icon Ikue Mori of DNA, and ambient music pioneer Laraaji. Medicine Singers’ debut album creates a genre-smashing kaleidoscope of sound firmly rooted in the intense physical power of the powwow drum.

Through their connection to their ancestral music, Medicine Singers created a daring and ambitious record that celebrates tradition, while boldly breaking away from its restrictions, or in the words of Medicine Singers’ leader Daryl Black Eagle Jamieson: “These two cultures can work together, and blend together. We created something that needs to be out there in the world, to show people how we can work together and make something beautiful.”

Dawn to Dawn emerges with a new release, and debut album announcement. Their music sits halfway between spectral dream-pop and abstract dance-oriented soundscapes. Consisting of Tess Roby, Adam Ohr & Patrick Lee, the Montreal trio formed in 2018, and made their debut with singles “Meridian” “A Colour Named By You” and “Care.”

Dawn to Dawn says of “Stereo”: “This song captures the sound of summer: sweltering nights, afterparties and playful romance. It was written deep in the 2020 winter lockdown, as we imagined the parties of summer's past. A breaky, forward moving 909 beat carries airy synths that glide beneath Tess’ airy vocals. Weightless and captivating, Stereo is an anthem for years to come.”

Stay tuned for their debut album Postcards From The Sun To The Moon, out on October 6th on Tess Roby’s recently launched SSURROUNDSS label. 

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Das Beat via Bandcamp

Berlin duo Das Beat pair sweet and salty on their latest offering “Intensity.” Out on Arbutus Records, the single is an anticipated follow-up to their 2021 EP Identïat and familiarly romances with their signature melancholy pulse.

The glassy embellishments and motored rhythms hoist singer Eddie Rabenberger’s seducing vocals, making for an arresting performance from Das Beat. You can see it for yourself in Montreal on August 20th when they take the stage at Système on their first North American tour. 

Toronto garage rock outfit Bitch Stick are stirring up excitement with the release of their second single “I Want More.” With classic danciness and a laid-back delivery, Bitch Stick bring forward refreshing sincerity and are a group to watch out for.

Encapsulating sweaty dive gig energy, “I Want More” sums up the excitement of live music’s resurgence this summer. Whether or not you missed their set at Ottawa’s Side By Side Weekend, you too will be wanting more. 

Up and coming Montreal electro-pop pair Mayfly tease their first full-length with their new single “Passenger Seat.” Comprised of singer-songwriters Charlie and Emma, the self-produced world of Mayfly fully embodies their independent artistic direction.

As two young women in the music industry, Mayfly aim to inspire others like them to “own their place.” Such is evident with “Passenger Seat,” which boasts glittery escapism and the promise of looking out for one another. 

Our Playlist Refresh series is available in full on Spotify, refreshed every other week.

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Isabella Lovestory, Dry Cleaning, Dune Rats and Pony Girl - Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Pony Girl via Bandcamp

The first official weekend of summer is here, and Also Cool HQ’s Playlist Refresh will help you celebrate. Soak up our latest selection of the finest tunes on the block.

In need of some fiery new tunes to pump you up for a night out? Montreal sweetheart and pop star Isabella Lovestory has released her latest track “Cherry Bomb.” It’s a song for city girlies to hype each other up with, and perfect to get nasty to on the dance floor. Produced by Chicken, the swanky reggaeton single flaunts Lovestory’s prowess with a sugar-coated rush. Lovestory’s glossy self-directed music video complements the new single – watch it below.

Shallowhalo, NYC’s resident sparkly synth royalty, recently released their no-skip album No Fun — and “Yesterday’s Toy” has been on repeat since the drop. For fans of Strawberry Switchblade, Kate Bush, and Cleaners from Venus, the track is a shimmering cascade of sound perfect for your summer playlist.

With their second LP Stumpwork slated for October via 4AD, UK post-punkers Dry Cleaning give us a taste of the wonderful malaise to come with their latest release “Don’t Press Me.” Against the apathetic strut of vocalist Florence Shaw, the minimal and disjointed melody illustrates the pleasure of gaming and the enjoyment of intense and short-lived guilt-free experiences.

Shaw elaborates, “The words in the chorus came about because I was trying to write a song to sing to my own brain: ‘You are always fighting me / You are always stressing me out.'”

Watch the accompanying music video, animated by Peter Millard, below.

Hailing from Australia’s indie scene, the garage-punk vibrations of Dune Rats will pluck your heartstrings well into the weekend. Their latest single “Melted Into Two” sets a sunny scene for upcoming album Real Rare Whale, out next month via Ratbag Records / BMG. “Melted Into Two” was penned by Dune Rats along with DZ Deathrays’ Shane Parsons, and showcases some new thematic waters within a healthy dose of infectious melody. When asked about “Melted Into Two”, the rockers shared: 

"This song is the closest thing to a love song we've written. It grew from meeting a young couple at a bar who talked about a time when they were on acid and believed if they tried hard enough, they could melt into each other, creating one person. We reckon you can meet people throughout life, whether it be romantic or not, that you become so close too and in tune with, that you become one.”

To make you swoon a little harder, the music video beautifully interpolates the romance of Kelly Jansch—sister to bassist Brett Jansch—and her partner Ellie. Fall in love with “Melted Into Two” below!

NYC’s cumgirl8 have whipped up a fresh batch of angular electroclash, and it fits perfectly with that Saturday night stomp you’re bound to take. Enlisted as part of Suicide Squeeze Records’ Pinks and Purples series, the dance-punk group have responded with “dumb bitch.”

Emerging from a sinister bass underbelly, the track launches into an anthemic rebellion that pulsates with purpose. Bassist Lida Fox explains that “dumb bitch” was written to “...[explore] the space between romance, masochism, pleasure, narcissism, and the balance of how much we give and take in our relationships”. Its biting commentary skates across the gothic beat with ease, hooking listeners until the last drop. Stream the single below.

On National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Toronto-based experimental shoegaze act Zoon (Daniel Monkman) shared their new EP Big Pharma. The album marks Monkman’s first release since their 2020 debut as Zoon, and features a star-studded list of collaborators that includes the likes of Leanne Betasamosake-Simpson, Cadence Weapon, and up-and-coming Ottawa-based artist Jasmine Trails. Leaning heavily into Zoon’s masterful musical world-building, Big Pharma also makes room for vulnerability from the artist between atmospherics. 

On Big Pharma, Zoon shares: 

“‘Big Pharma’ is about me trying to bring awareness about the pharmaceutical industry and their lies,” Monkman explains. “I talk about how they destroyed my community of Selkirk, Manitoba and many more small towns and cities. A whole generation completely changed in just a matter of five years, Families torn apart and loved ones lost to addiction and overdoses. Our treaty card ensures that our medical insurance is covered but a lot of the time the only medication that’s available for free is the stuff that’s most addictive. I found this alarming and made me connect the dots linked to an underlying form on genocide happening right under our noses.”

Stream “OopeeUm (feat. Jasmine Trails)” below.

Hull-based pop outfit Pony Girl kicked off the month with their new single “Age of Anxious”,  teasing their to-be-released album Enny One Will Love You out on Paper Bag Records October 14th, 2022. “Age of Anxious” is a glossy trip-hop lament to the woes of young adult life, laden with catchy hooks and Easter eggs throughout (including a saxophone solo!). Watch the music video below.

Central Frontenac’s Caylie Runciman—AKA Boyhood— has recently shared “Stroke It”, the second single from her upcoming album My Dread. Complete with Runciman’s signature contemplative instrumentation and frank delivery, “Stroke It” indicates a deepened confidence in her artistic stride. Runciman will be playing on the Saturday lineup of Ottawa’s DIY music festival Side By Side Weekend on July 30th at Club SAW. My Dread releases November 2022 and is available for pre-order here. Watch the official music video below.

Our Playlist Refresh series is available in full on Spotify – click below to stream the catalogue!

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MISZCZYK, Heaven For Real, LVL1 and Chinese American Bear - Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

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Chinese American Bear via Bandcamp

The sun’s out and Also Cool is here to set the pace. We’re coming at you with our bi-weekly Playlist Refresh, and we invite you to take a breather and add these new releases to your listening shuffle.

Starting off strong is the teaser track “In The Dark”, from Ontario composer MISZCZYK’s yet-to-be-released album Thyrsis of Etna. Out on July 15th via We Are Time, Thyrsis of Etna brings together a treasure trove of talent, such as Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier, Pylon’s Vanessa Briscoe Hay, The Space Lady, Marker Starling, Chad VanGaalen, Motorists’ Craig Fahner, and many more. The warm and dubby song, featuring the rosy vocals of Latitia Sadier, evokes the timelessness of endless summer days and leaves us writhing with anticipation for MISZCZYK’s solo debut. 

Along with the song and album announcement on May 16th, We Are Time released a playful stop-motion video for “In The Dark” by animator Jesse Yules. Watch below! 

Okay, cheating a little bit on this next one… but March wasn’t that long ago. Halifax-born, Toronto-based slack rockers Heaven For Real have recently come out with a new music video for their track “Green Winter”, taken from their most recent EP Sweet Rose Green Winter Desk Top Tell This Side Autumn Of The Fighter Hot In a Cool Way (Mint Records). Directed by HFR’s own Mark Grundy, the music video for “Green Winter” follows bandmate Scott Grundy on a freaky adventure with a hybrid storyline of Rocky Horror Picture Show meets Little Shop of Horrors. The video also stars fellow musician Dorothea Paas, who sang guest vocals on the band’s song “Autumn Of The Fighter”.

Switching tempos, our next recommendation comes doused with a syrupy sheen that fits perfectly with summer’s haze. Ottawa-born, Toronto-based singer-songwriter JAD hits a heartbreaking high with “Don’t Let The Sun Set On Me”, a wistful track dedicated to the highs and lows of temporary entanglements. Across eight minutes of brooding folk, JAD captures what it means to bask in a bittersweet afterglow. Soon to return from a month-long residency at Chateau Orquevaux, we cannot wait to indulge in his latest sonic directions.

Next is 星星 (“Stars”) from NYC sweethearts Chinese American Bear. Complete with the pair’s signature pop dreamscape and feel-good aura, 星星 (“Stars”) is the fourth of a handful of treats from the band’s self-titled LP out on July 8th. From our mix to yours, here is a guaranteed pick-me-up single to keep you company. Let us know when you can name a better duo (FYI, the answer is never).

Although we covered them last week, we had to give another shout out to Cola’s track “Fulton Park.” The track is upbeat and slightly disjointed in the best ways, making it an easy addition to any “my life is an indie movie” playlist.

Watch the video below & read our review with Cola here.

Last but not least, we have a high-energy release from LVL1 that’s perfect for your pre-game before the queer afterhours. Perfectly bitchy and in rapid-fire Spanglish, LVL1 returns with another banger after last year’s TikTok viral hit “FVN!”

That’s it for this week’s roundup! Check out our Spotify mix for all of our previous picks + some extra Also Cool favs to help refresh your playlists.

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Jane Inc., Rose Mercie and DR. GABBA – Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

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Jane Inc. by Shelby Fenlon

So it turns out, the sun does provide a lot of serotonin. All we needed to do was put on some headphones and take a lap around the neighborhood to some new tunes. This is the essence of our Playlist Refresh: a bi-weekly introduction to new music keeping us going.

Starting off with Jane Inc., who has just released her sophomore LP Faster Than I Can Take via Telephone Explosion Records. Entirely written and self-produced by the project’s brain Carlyn Bezic (Ice Cream, U.S. Girls), Faster Than I Can Take delights with experimental, multifaceted danceability. Embellished with “a Prince-like ability to shred harmonic guitar riffs over deep, danceable grooves, an eagerness to experiment with form, and lyricism that seamlessly links the personal and the political.” Faster Than I Can Take puts Bezic’s dynamism on full-display, with tracks like “Pummeled Into Sand” making room for a new tone of self-reflection from the artist. 

Ottawa/Hull: Don’t miss Jane Inc. with Akeem Oh and FIAMMA May 14th at Club SAW. 

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Jane Inc. via Telephone Explosion Records

Next is “Immaterial Girl” from Marci, the rogue pop project of Marta Cikojevic from Montreal’s beloved soft-rock outfit TOPS. “Immaterial Girl” boasts Marci’s signature syrupy sincerity, which we can’t wait to hear in full on her self-titled debut, out August 5th on Arbutus Records. 

“Immaterial Girl” arrives with an accompanying music video, directed by one of Marci’s star-studded personnel Chloé Soldevila (Anemone). Let loose in Marci’s 80s dream world and watch the video below! 

All the way from Paris is French-Mexican post-punk girl-band Rose Mercie with “Sweet Place”. The track is off their latest offering ¿ KIERES AGUA ?, co-released on Celluloid Lunch and French label Jelodanti Records. 

The creation of ¿ KIERES AGUA ? began in 2019 when the band drew tarot cards on a beach in southern France. Following the guidance of their reading, Rose Mercie took the plunge and traveled to Mexico, where they completed an immersive artist residency to compose their second album in La Casa Del Bosque. 

On ¿ KIERES AGUA ?, Rose Mercie shares:  

“As we composed the songs for our new album, the image of a young, contemporary, yet ageless woman was conjured; a woman who left, who disappeared, got lost and then found more than ever before. We imagine this record as the journey of this woman, whom we will sometimes try to find, to guess through the clues, who seems to have gone very far from home, who no longer knows where her place is, who is changing and who is evolving. We grow stronger with her, we run, we laugh and we dance and then we sit in the sun, we let our skin warm, we realize that we are totally in the present, and that around us there are only girls, sisters, our friends, and that no one can ever lock us up.”

In need of chonky electronic beats? DR. GABBA has got you covered. The mysterious space doctor has taken over TikTok with his funky piano tunes and recent single “MAGIC RIDER”, which follows his Planet Piano EP.

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DR. GABBA is an estranged doctor who invented groundbreaking devices in the new emerging school of MUSICAL MEDICINE. However, an argument about the future with fellow co-founder, HENRY J. KAIZER, led to the banishment of DR. GABBA from all future healthcare services in America.

In order to survive, DR. GABBA experimented on his own body and invented the ACID HEART, a musical medical device that keeps him alive using sonic frequencies. With this new invention and never-ending lifespan, DR. GABBA is now forced to spend the rest of his life creating music to fuel his ACID HEART and ultimately take on the whole KAIZER HEALTH CORPS.

After leaving Planet Piano, DR. GABBA and crew see a car floating around the moon known as the MAGIC RIDER. They decide to hop in and it takes them to the underground MOON CLUB for a night of dancing.  

Can’t get enough of this intergalactic music-maker? Check out his most recent track “GABBACOPTER”, released on Almost Good Dance Tapes Vol.2.

Almost Good Dance Tapes is a compilation album series created by a collection of producers and longtime friends with eclectic voices in the electronic music medium.  Ranging from techno, house, and breakcore to barely dance-able ambient and AGDT celebrates the homegrown nature of experimenting, creating, and sharing music with your friends and the world. Vol.2 is the second album in the series where the collective has really hit their stride. Expect basement-techno bangers, acid melters, light-hearted lo-fi, and much more!

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You can listen along to our playlist on Spotify, and stay tuned for the next round of new music!

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Magi Merlin, Milk Jennings, La Sécurité and Scarlet Rae - Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Magi Merlin via Bonsound

Do you feel like a new chapter of your life has begun, but you don't quite have the soundtrack for it yet? Look no further than Also Cool's Playlist Refresh, a bi-weekly quickie roundup of all the new music we're listening to right now.

Starting off strong with Magi Merlin's fiery new track, "Pissed Black Girl" (released on Bonsound). The cathartic dance anthem follows "Free Grillz" and channels years of pent-up frustration, transforming the anger of dealing with fake progressives into something ecstatic and life-affirming. Magi subverts the tired trope of the 'angry Black woman' through her lyrics as a means to empower herself.

Stay tuned for her upcoming EP Gone Girl, which draws inspiration from 90s house, drum and bass, Motown and acid-flecked hip hop.

Next up, franco art-punk outfit La Sécurité join our friends at Mothland and have shared their first single, "Suspens." Their music is equal parts jumpy beats, efficient minimal hooks and scratchy melodic spouts ran through a ubiquitous insomniac filter; the result of excessive exposure to La Grande Métropole's neon lights.

La Sécurité via Mothland

"Suspens" is accompanied by an official music video filmed all in one shot with handheld camera work. Éliane (a contemporary dancer, singer and musician) expresses her desire through movement to step out in the dizzy and electric nightlife. Watch the video below.

Speaking of nightlife, Milk Jennings has released his third single, "Downtown" (produced by Sam Cohen). It's a classic romantic indie rock love song about sweeping your partner off their feet and dancing the night away — a cliche that Jennings portrays through a different lens.

Downtown by Milk Jennings

In Jennings’ own words:

"I wanted to be cliche with the romance here because in truth, the song is coming from the lens of someone feeling depressed and distant in their relationship, and longing for those sweet and simple moments of romance and intimacy - but not having the energy, or will to make them happen. "Downtown" is a fantasy land - a place far from reality, where you can dance the night away with your partner. The last words in the chorus are - "Lately I've been lost in my mind / So meet me Downtown tonight." It's romantic, sad, apologetic, and hopeful all in one."

Milk Jennings' full-length album Sleep Talker is out June 3rd via Telefono (Digital), ORG Music (Physical), and Modern Sky (China).

Last but not least, we have Scarlet Rae's "Built to Spill," named after the 90s indie post-modern rock group. Scarlet's take on the iconic name follows the languid, shoegaze sound set in place by her previous singles "Seems Like Forever" and "Incandescent Wonderland".

Scarlet Rae by Jason Renaud

The single is accompanied by a music video that brings her sombre lyrics to life, shot on the streets of New York City by Kristen Jan Wong and Jeremy Reynoso. Lofi handheld camera work follows Scarlet through the subway and bars of the city while droning guitar and heavy drums balance delicate vocals. "But I'm built to spill, falling on my knees like a little girl / whisper in my ear how much I'm not real, woke up in the basement think I'm happier here."

"Built to Spill" is off Scarlet's upcoming album, set to release sometime this year.

That's it for this first edition of Also Cool's Playlist Refresh. You can listen along to our playlist on Spotify, and stay tuned for the next round of new tunes.

Malaika Astorga is the Co-Founder & Creative Director of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.

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