New Music Roundup: Hot Mulligan, EVNTYD, palace oaks, and more
Hot Mulligan. Photo: Kaytlin Dargen
It’s finally August in Calgary. The skies are hazy, the nights are warm, and everything feels just a little off-kilter, at least for me. Our playlists mirrors that energy: raw, moody, and buzzing with the weight of what’s coming next. From emotionally fractured alt-pop to shadowy shoegaze, cybernetic bass, and full-throttle emo-punk, we’ve got you covered for every hour, mood, and weather. Hit play and scroll down for our top picks of the week.
The artistic project of Toronto’s Carter De Filippis, ThxSoMch, is expecting a new full length that will come available on August 29. In anticipation for this sophomore album, titled The Sound Of You Laughing, Filippis released three singles from the project. The most recent “Unhinged” was dropped on July 30, and is an angsty profession that is half-sung, half-rapped over distorted instrumentals. The title track features Boston’s Flawed Mangoes, and presents the same kind of broken and introspective feeling with elevated, seemingly indie pop inspired, production. ThxSoMch became popular in 2023 after climbing to Billboard's Hot 100, and his emotionally raw, genre-fluid music hits the mark for people who enjoy emo and trap-pop artists, namely Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, Ian Dior, and EKKSTACY. His sound is moody, and he taps into lo-fi, edgy production styles to give an extra grungy and underground feeling. With distorted vocals and raw lyrics about love, heartbreak, and mental health, this album already feels like a diary entry turned into a late-night SoundCloud anthem.
EVNTYD, pronounced eventide and standing for “evening,” is the artistic moniker for Julian Berdegue. Coming from Austin, TX, he makes shoegaze-infused slacker rock, and his name pays homage to his twilight painted soundscapes. The artist has been heavy on the gas this year, with more releases in 2025 than in his whole career. And he’s not done yet. Berdegue teased the release of his upcoming album Lifelines out on Oct. 14 with two singles. Released together on July 22, “Nao” is a love song written and performed entirely in Portuguese, with the title translating to ‘no.’ Berdegue sings of a woman he adores, the same woman who says no to his offerings of love. His raspy vocals ride dreamy, reverb-drenched guitar, and even with a language barrier, the hurt in his heart translates. The second, titled “If I Was Somebody Else,” is edgier in sound, but equally as longing in theme. EVNTYD delivers atmospheric indie‑rock drenched in shoegaze Through themes of longing, daily routine, and quiet rebellion, his production is low fidelity yet polished, it’s melancholic, nostalgic music rooted in solitude and self‑discovery.
Hot Mulligan, the emo quintet from Michigan, is releasing their fifth studio album on August 22. Titled The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still, this 16-track project features eclectically named songs, such as “Monica Lewinskibidi,” “Cream of Wheat of Feet Naw Cream of (Feat),” and “My Dad Told Me To Write A Nice One For Nana So Here It Is.” Known for absurd and surrealist titles with deeply personal themes, these tracks are equally as silly as they are intriguing, and we can’t wait for the release day to hear what they are all about. The band did sneak in some pre-releases, though not as extravagantly named. On August 6, they dropped “And a Big Load,” alongside “Island in the Sun (feat. Cory Castro of Free Throw.)” They deliver a visceral, emotionally charged fusion of midwest emo and pop-punk amongst layers of vocal range, twinkling guitar riffs, and punching drums. Vocalist Tades Sanville sings like he's on the edge of both laughing and screaming — veering from soft-spoken weariness to full-throated desperation in seconds. It's not pretty, and that's the point. Their instrumentation is tight, yet intentionally unpolished. A rough-hewn urgency that keeps everything from feeling too clean or nostalgic. It’s the sound of growth caught in the act: imperfect, loud, chaotic, but honest. They remind you that it’s okay to be a little broken, a little messy, and still show up screaming your guts out under fluorescent lights.
One-woman recording project by Victoria’s Madeline Young, titled palace oaks, released her first full-length album on August 8. The album marks a reexamination of the project after Young stepped away for a period of time. Insular Mountains is inspired by the indie DIY scene in Canada, with elements of folk and rock of the late ’90’s and early 2000s. This release is a whole experience through grief, love, and loss with gentle fingerpicking that dances over groaning organs creating a psychedelic haze to get lost in. One of the lead tracks, “rain shadows,” mirrors elements of edgy shoegaze while persevering through a soft and muddy ambience. Another track, “bitter cherry,” is highly influenced by the band Beach House—like if Beach House had a cousin who was a bit more rough around the edges. The raw guitar is a staple in the palace oaks sound, and if you're a fan of indie rock, this one is a sure listen.
A new electronic single has dropped and is sending waves through the scene. “RUTHLESS” was dropped by Deathpact on August 1. The artist debuted in 2018 and has maintained strict anonymity over the years, wearing an LED mask, a hoodie, and gloves in every public appearance. In 2022, a second masked member appeared on stage, hinting at Deathpact being a collective rather than a solo act. Part of the Deathpact presence is mysterious and cryptic messaging, with social media posts and musical metaphors acting as puzzle pieces for fans to put together. So far, people speculate there may be four people involved in Deathpact, likely established artists connected with the Deadbeats label—the company run by DJ duo Zeds Dead. History aside, Deathpact makes deep, choppy, bass music for dubstep fans. Their latest release is UK-inspired and bass-heavy with elements of metal and house. Known for being experimental and unpredictable, the music this collective makes follows the same course. With frequent stops across Canada, fans never know which Deathpact they may encounter, but they know their music will always hit the spot.