New Music Roundup: Still Depths, Distinct Motive, Fine Food Market, and more.

This week's roundup has something for everyone, spanning from deep dubstep to hazy slowcore. We are also celebrating some wins from these artists, with Distinct Motive debuting at a major festival, Arcade Fire overcoming years of chaos, and Ribbon Skirt releasing their first full length album. There is fear. There is sadness. There is raw, raw emotion. Follow along with these tracks on our Sounds of Reverie playlist on Spotify to get the full experience.  

Toronto-based DJ/producer Distinct Motive travelled to Las Vegas this past weekend to make his festival debut at Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC). His closing set at the Basspod stage left a buzz across the grounds, with his signature deep dub vibrating through to early hours Saturday morning. He took this opportunity to showcase his most recent release, DUBS EP. Released under the Deadbeats label, operated by fellow Canadian dub-duo Zeds Dead, he pushes his gritty sound design to new heights. Hit track “Watchin You” combines playful lyricism from UK rapper illaman with foreboding bass that represents his global influence. Other highlights include “Cells” and “No Mystery” which emphasize sub-bass, stripped percussion, and eerie atmospheric textures that appeal to fans of both classic and forward-thinking bass music. Keeping up the momentum, he is booked to headline at New York’s Fire Lights Festival in August, and we can’t wait to see what he is cooking. 

Still Depths drops their single “In Love With My Dog,” marking their first release since their sophomore album, Best plan for your life. Keeping up with their noise rock dissonance, the trio elevates these abrasive textures with mechanical sounds, seemingly crossing the line into industrial rock. The raw energy and instrumentation of their distorted guitar combined with repetitive grooves of drums curate a dystopian masterpiece. Their processed vocals reflect cynical contemplation, keeping on brand with their overall rebellious tone. The release of this single has shown the bands capacity to adapt while maintaining their post-punk influences, and it's on repeat for us this week. Formed in Calgary in 2019 and now based in Vancouver, they’ll be making their return to to their hometown with Preoccupations on June 4, 2025 at Commonwealth.

Over in Montreal, Arcade Fire broke their tumultuous three year silence with the release of Pink Elephant on May 9. When Win Butler faced numerous sexual assault allegations in 2022, the band spiralled at the hands of public cancellation. Butler’s response was composed, claiming all relationships were consensual but still apologizing for causing any harm. With his wife Régine Chassagne on his side, the two pioneered their latest release by acknowledging the pink elephant in their room—the allegations. Co-produced by Daniel Lanois, known for his work with Bob Dylan and U2, the band also has the support of noble rock forces, but much of the public is still not convinced. Their comeback album holds three instrumentals, including the opening track “Open Your Heart or Die Trying,” which is blooming with low-pitched resonance of the cosmos. Instrumentals “Beyond Salvation” and “She Cries Diamond Rain” are equally sonorous, and these plangent echoes are thematic throughout the album. The title track is belly-full with apprehension as Butler untangles a labyrinth of anxiety from the past few years. Simultaneously, we watch the outfit move forward with “I Love Her Shadow” culminating in the lyrics “Wanna make new constellations, From your permanent scars.” Keeping true with their baroque pop sound, Arcade Fire has resurfaced with vulnerability, but their rocky past is affecting their streams and ticket sales as they try to move forward. 

Revisiting Montreal-based band Ribbon Skirt, the release of their first studio album, Bite Down, in April has sparked our attention. Including previously released singles “Wrong Planet,” “Earth Eater,” “Mountains,” and our favourite “Cellophane,” the five new releases fill in gaps in their narrative. Continuing to express what it means to be Indigenous in contemporary Canada, they cut through propulsive art rock with a generation-fueled rage. Opening track “Deadhorse” is a story of perseverance with its restless energy, where “Off Rez” is the radical masterpiece that turns confrontation into composition. “Cut” and “Look At What You Did” use sound as a weapon to expose harsh realities with elegance and depth. Considering the prominent role of music in Indigenous cultures, this whole album acts as a double entendre where each track is intellectually layered with harrowing truth. This album doesn’t let up. It demands to be heard. Also out today on Mint Records is Cassia Hardy’s In Relation—a stunning debut that threads together prairie memories, reflecting on the places that shaped her, from DIY queer houses in Edmonton to the loss of beloved venues like the Empress.

Closing our roundup is Montreal musician Sophie Perras, and her project titled Fine Food Market. The release of her first EP on May 16, I’m afraid to be in love with someone who crashes their car that much, has exceeded expectations. Rooted in country folk and experimental indie rock, this EP spans from jazz-infused sadcore to dream pop. With ghostly vocals drifting through clouds of reverb and sonic mist, this easy-listen is just as easy to sink into. The all French track “Emmenè-moi” is gentle and intricate, paying homage to her bilingual culture. The sophisticated harmonies and whispering vocals on “Sterile Butterfly” mimic a wistful lullaby. Tracks like “Wild World” and “Midnight Train” are bruised and tender, reflecting themes of loss. Overall, the sultry saxophone and brushed drums on this album paint a lunar landscape that is perfect for late-night existentialism.