New Music Roundup: New Saint, Hermitess, NON ULTRAS, SAMWOY, Rachella Wred, and more
We've missed you! The sun is out, festival lineups are dropping left and right, and our inbox is absolutely overflowing with incredible new music. Pour yourself something nice, get comfy, grab your headphones, and let's dive into this week's favorites from both established artists and emerging talents. There's something really special about this batch – from heartfelt immigrant stories to mystical folk magic, every track feels like it's pushing boundaries in the best way possible.
First up, we're absolutely obsessed with "PUSH IT DOWN" from New Saint's latest EP If Everybody is Happy Why Aren't You?. The Calgary-based rapper/singer pours his heart into every track, sharing what it was like growing up as a first-generation Filipino immigrant in early 2000s Canada. His storytelling hits different – there's this raw authenticity in how he weaves his personal history through each bar, making you feel like you're right there with him through every up and down. It's the kind of project that reminds us why we fell in love with hip hop in the first place - it’s conscious, authentic, and makes you want to turn up the volume while you bust a move.
Over in Montreal, SAMWOY has teamed up with the instantly iconic Virginie B for "Simon Says" and wow, did they deliver! It's dropping ahead of his new album Even Sad Boys Like To Have Fun (coming May 30), and it's exactly the kind of genre-bending magic we've come to expect from Sam. When they scream "I just want to feel something/ I just want to feel anything" – you'll feel it in your bones. The track shows off everything we love about Montreal's music scene right now – that fearless creativity, the way artists are just throwing genre rules out the window. Virginie B brings this electric energy that takes the whole thing to another level, turning what could've been a simple game reference into something even more chaotic. Also, can we talk about that monosyllabic Dadaist chorus? Pure genius.
Speaking of Montreal gems, Rachella Wred's "Bend & Break" hit us right in the feels. It was the first taste of her new album Leave The Light On, out everywhere now, and if you've ever been through a tough breakup, this one's going to hit home. What started as a quiet folk song has turned into this beautiful moment of connection. There's something so special about how Rachella, a West Coast transplant now calling Montreal home, brings that raw vulnerability to her storytelling. It’s a collective moment of healing.
Have you been keeping up with Hermitess? Jennifer Crighton just dropped Death & The Fool under yesterday's full moon (perfect timing, right?), and "Green Blade" is giving us all the mystical folk vibes we need. It also marked a sold-out show in Calgary at Highline Brewing – a night that was magical and the talk of the city. The whole album feels like this beautiful ritual, weaving together traditional folk elements with these sweeping experimental touches. Between the delicate harp melodies and those haunting vocal harmonies, it's like stepping into another world entirely. Jennifer has this incredible way of making ancient sounds feel completely contemporary, and we're completely under her spell.
The Calgary crew keeps bringing the heat with "Stop The Cap," a killer collab between Chloe Stankowski from Timeless Tomorrow collective and producer Nevik, featuring Luqa on vocals (Nevik’s moniker for features). Shoutout to Synthwrkr on the production – if you see any of these wonderful humans DJing around town, trust us, you want to be there. We've been watching this crew develop for a while now, and the way they're pushing Calgary's electronic scene forward is honestly inspiring. Catch our full interview with Nevik in our spring issue here and in print here – we dig deep into their production process and the evolving landscape of Canadian electronic music.
Remember when we said Viagra Boys were the weirdest band of the decade? Well, "Uno II" from their fourth album viagr aboys just proved us right again. They're throwing country twang, jazz flutes, and their signature sax into the mix this time, and somehow it all works perfectly. These Swedish sweethearts just keep surprising us. Every time we think we've got them figured out, they throw another curveball – this time adding some flute to their signature saxophone sound. It's like they're on this mission to prove that genre boundaries are just suggestions, and we're here for every second of it. Read Brooklyn Billinghurst’s full review of the album here.
We also need to talk about our new faves – NON ULTRAS from Lethbridge! After catching them at our spring issue launch show, we can't stop playing "Damage Head" from their Bulwark EP. Five people making beautifully chaotic music about everything from awkward dancing to... well, let's just say they get creative with their lyrics (i.e cool-guys, obnoxious jewelry, feeling pretty, and dying in a car wreck while performing oral sex). They're definitely ones to watch. The way they approach songwriting is so refreshing – it's completely collaborative, with each member having equal input, which leads to these wonderfully unpredictable song structures. Between the jazz-influenced drums, punk-funk bass, and those wild synth leads, they're crafting some of the catchiest music in Alberta's music scene right now.
Last but absolutely not least, Tapeworms released their new album Grand Voyage. These French darlings, now based in Tokyo, have somehow bottled up all our pandemic dreams and anxieties into the prettiest blend of shoegaze and electronic music. It feels like floating between memories and daydreams. The album came together during lockdown when their Japan trip got cut short, but that constraint ended up pushing their sound in fascinating new directions. Between the French house influences, Shibuya-kei elements, and even some obscure video game music inspiration, they've created something that feels both nostalgic and completely fresh. Read our latest interview with the group here.
As always, we've added all these gems (plus a few extra treats) to our Sounds of Reverie playlist. Whether you're in the mood for experimental beats, heart-wrenching folk, or whatever beautiful chaos Viagra Boys are cooking up these days, we've got you covered. Keep checking back – we always have music to share with you! 💖