Single Servings: March 22, 2021
Each week Single Servings brings you a balanced diet of the freshest Canadian tracks, spanning Electronica to Rock, Folk to R&B, and everything in between. Remember to support the artists by purchasing their music or adding them to your playlists!
By Jason Schneider
Each week Single Servings brings you a balanced diet of the freshest Canadian tracks, spanning Electronica to Rock, Folk to R&B, and everything in between. Remember to support the artists by purchasing their music or adding them to your playlists!
The Zolas – Another Dimension (feat. Cadence Weapon)
Release Date: March 12
Label: 604 Records
The veteran Vancouver indie rockers come out swinging in 2021 with this dense, throbbing track that reflects their experience with this past year of lockdown. When asked to contribute a verse, Cadence Weapon caught the vibe immediately, putting himself in the mind of a “futuristic street preacher proselytizing about a dystopian future that has slowly become our present reality.” Indeed.
Danko Jones – I Want Out
Release Date: March 12
Label: Sonic Unyon
Speaking of lockdown, Danko Jones’s expectedly scorching new single unleashes a lot of the frustration that’s been building up within all of us. The CanRock kings formally return with their 10th studio album Power Trio on Aug. 27, so hopefully more previews like this one will tide us over until then.
Craig Cardiff – All This Time Running
Release Date: March 19
Label: True North
Craig Cardiff may be the most successful Canadian singer/songwriter you’ve never heard of, having built up an intensely loyal following over the past 25 years completely independently. However, his profile’s likely to be raised now that he’s signed with the venerable True North label, which will release Cardiff’s album All This Time Running on May 14. The title track is available now and illustrates Cardiff’s warm, open-hearted approach.
Vallens – If I Don’t
Release Date: March 26
Label: Hand Drawn Dracula
Toronto experimentalist ensemble Vallens—led by multi-instrumentalist Robyn Phillips—are set to release their second full-length album In Era, which promises more mind-bending sonic drama. The latest single, If I Don’t, is a prime example, a truly chilling offering straight out of a David Lynch nightmare.
The Wanted – Stand Up
Release Date: March 26
Label: Independent
Toronto roots rockers The Wanted have been building expectations for their new album Strange Flight for several months, and it’s finally set to arrive on March 26. Produced by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies, the video for the latest single Stand Up captures some nice glimpses of the recording sessions at the Junkies’ studio, The Hangar.
Nuela Charles – Space
Release Date: March 19
Label: Nuela Charles Music
Edmonton’s Nuela Charles continues to show why she’s at the forefront of Canadian Soul and R&B with this slick and bouncy track that balances some nods to ‘80s pop with always-relevant lyrics about relationship boundaries.
Daniel Lanois – Way Down
Release Date: March 19
Label: eOne/Maker Series
It’s always an event when Daniel Lanois puts out something new. His latest album, Heavy Sun, finds the trailblazer exploring his love of gospel music for the first time, albeit with his unique sonic palette. Way Down encapsulates this concept, with Lanois beautifully harmonizing with vocalists Johnny Shepherd, Rocco DeLuca and Jim Wilson in a manner that could sway even the most ardent agnostic.
Said The Whale – Honey Lungs
Release Date: March 19
Label: Independent
Juno-winning Vancouver alt-pop group Said The Whale recently took the leap into becoming fully independent, with Honey Lungs marking the start of this new chapter. Produced by Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, Mounties), the Whales pack a lot of twists and turns into the song’s three minutes, ultimately getting across a message that there’s joy to be found even in life’s most agonizing moments.
Jason Wilson – Ready To Be Loved (feat. Carl Harvey)
Release Date: March 19
Label: Wheel Records/Proper Music
As a fixture on the Toronto Reggae scene, Jason Wilson has amassed an impressive CV, including three Juno nominations and many high-profile collabs. On his new single, Ready To Be Loved, Wilson teams with his old friend Carl Harvey (Toots & The Maytals) for this slice of classic Reggae inspired by—wait for it—the 2012 discovery of the fossil of a teenage girl who lived 90,000 years ago in what is now Siberia.
David Jane – Velvet Queen
Release Date: March 5
Label: Independent
Newcomer to the Toronto singer/songwriter scene David Jane makes his debut with Velvet Queen, a reflection on the range of emotions that come when deciding to give yourself up to someone. Produced by Rob Wells, half of the award-winning production team The Fourth Floor, Velvet Queen is also included on Jane’s EP Welcome To Today.
