Are you sick of the rain yet? Cause we sure are. Fortunately, there’s something to be said about rain bringing flowers—our flowers just happen to be atmospheric and angsty music to embrace the gray skies. This week’s picks pair perfectly with the pitter patter of droplets on your window—where dream pop flirts with shoegaze, indie rock sheds its polish, and emotion takes center stage. We’re tuning into spectral beauty, mythic tenderness, and rust-belt grit this week, and there’s a little something for everyone. The Sounds of Reverie playlist has been updated with new releases for you to listen along.

Iranian-born, now-Vancouverite Asal has been hinting at the release of her latest single on Instagram over the past month. On July 25, she dropped “tolerance,” a dreamy and frostbitten production about growing tolerance to life’s crutches. Her shadowed sound transports listeners into a polaroid of emotion, and her production style offers a journey through the senses. With misty soundscapes and lyrics that tow the line between bruise and bite, Asal is making music true to herself. A large part of that identity is mystery which is something she carries through her social media persona and fan engagement. The alternative artist saw her streams skyrocket with the release of “Headache” in 2023, and she has been growing exponentially ever since. Her one-word captions and cryptic posts, coupled with catchy and emotive releases, is keeping fans hooked. We recommend a walk through her whole discography, but be prepared to explore your own emotions and feelings as you listen along.

Alexandra Levy, known by the stage name of Ada Lea, released “midnight magic,” the third single from her upcoming album when i paint my masterpiece. The Montreal-based artist shows off with tender vocals and explorative lyrics that emulate the nostalgia of salad days. The song tells of dragons, witches, and star trails, but under the surface of her juvenility, she explores a sense of strength and safety in imagination. Following the loss of her pregnancy, Lea opened up about this song being specifically tender, acting as a vessel of communication to her angel baby. We hear Lea sing similar wilted, oracular stories on the other two early releases of her upcoming album, too. The full project is expected on August 8, just one week before she embarks on a tour across the UK.

Hailing from Marquette, Michigan, the powerful indie-rock band Liquid Mike released their latest EP, Claws, on July 23. The jagged guitar and dried-out vocals are magnetic to people who are drawn to music that is rough around the edges. In “AT&T,” they explore the mundane parts of life’s routine, singing “What’s the difference when you’re just another jerk / In a phone store punching digits? / How the days move slow / When they’re spent alone.” The title track is reminiscent of early punk rock days, oozing with nostalgia and stripped down production. Perfect for sing-alongs or as a soundtrack to these rainy days, this EP has been on repeat in our shuffle.

Indie rock trailblazer from Vancouver, Mac DeMarco, released his second single from the upcoming album Guitar. The song, titled “Holy,” was released alongside a self-shot music video of him eating an apple, a goofy contrast to the subject matter he sings about. This endearing balance between serious and jovial remains part of his appeal. The song is simple, yet effective, and DeMarco maintains his distinctive tone while exploring the softer edges of shoegaze. Fans can expect the full album to be released on August 22, directly preceding his world tour taking place from August 29 to May 23 next year. Many of his earliest dates, including all of the shows in Canada, are sold out. Keep your eye on ticket resale as they come available if you want the chance to see DeMarco and his new album live and in action.

New Music Roundup: Asal, Ada Lea, Mac DeMarco, and more

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