Single Servings: April 26, 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!
Serlin Greaves – Teenage Heart
Release Date: April 19
Label: Fifth Kid Records
Although CanRock stalwarts The Watchmen continue to be sporadically active, the band’s creative brain trust of Joey Serlin and Daniel Greaves are about to enter new territory on their own with the album Sad Songs For Sale, out May 28. It’s a collection that shows off different aspects of their songwriting partnership, with Teenage Heart updating some classic ‘90s power pop vibes. They’re also using the video to encourage donations to Kids Help Phone, so consider supporting a worthy cause while you’re checking it out.
Album pre-save here
James Clark Institute – Next Best Thing
Release Date: April 19
Label: Room 5 Records
Speaking of vintage power pop, Toronto’s James Clark Institute continues to keep the flame burning with this latest effort, a preview of the album The Colour Of Happy, produced by Moe Berg (The Pursuit Of Happiness), out May 7. Those jangly guitars and Beatles chord changes always seem to sound better in the spring.
Janette King – Cool Me Down (feat. DijahSB)
Release Date: April 21
Label: Hot Tramp Records
Hotly tipped Montreal R&B artist Janette King will release her debut album What We Lost on June 25, giving us plenty of time to get familiar with this slinky single that shows off her dynamic voice and personality. The full record promises to explore themes of pain and acceptance, over a backdrop of funk-infused pop.
cleopatrick – Family Van
Release Date: April 21
Label: Nowhere Special Recordings
This duo hailing from Cobourg, Ontario appears to be boldly leading the charge to bring some scuzz back to the Canadian rock scene. Family Van, from their forthcoming full-length album Bummer (June 4) definitely rocks with a lot more menace than what’s been coming off the assembly line of White Stripes/Black Keys wannabes lately. I can only assume this Family Van has “Wash Me” scrawled on the back window.
Stream here
Lydia Ainsworth – Cake
Release Date: April 21
Label: Zombie Cat Records
Past Juno nominee Ainsworth has been making genre-defying electronica for a decade now, and on her new album Sparkles & Debris (May 21) she expands her approach with some more traditional instrumentation. The latest single Cake is even more intriguing, as Ainsworth says it was inspired by the work of legendary singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Specifically, she wrote it from the perspective of one of the long-suffering women who populate much of his catalogue. Turnabout is indeed fair play.
Stream here
Melanie Brulée – Crier
Release Date: April 20
Label: Independent
Some might be familiar with Melanie Brulée from her well-received 2018 album Fires, Floods & Things We Leave Behind, on which she put her distinctive stamp on the Americana scene. However, Crier presents a completely new sound as she draws from her francophone background to let out a ton of pent-up frustration over, as she says, being “not French enough” for some people. The pain is palpable, even if you might not understand the words.
Stream here
Toronto Tabla Ensemble – Maryem’s Here
Release Date: April 21
Label: Independent
Toronto Tabla Ensemble is celebrating 30 years of not only making compelling music, but also fostering and promoting diversity in their home city. And while their foundation in traditional Indian music always produces soul-stirring results, their latest album Unexpected Guests lives up to title by incorporating bagpipes, Japanese taiko drumming, and on Maryem’s Here, the soaring vocals of Cairo-born Maryem Hassan Tollar. A true feast for the senses.
Stream here
DVBBS – Fool For Ya
Release Date: April 19
Label: Ultra Music
Brothers Chris and Alex van den Hoef who comprise electronica duo DVBBS (“dubs”) have been making the most out of lockdown restrictions, releasing the album Nothing To See Here last August, with its follow up, Sleep, set to arrive at some point soon. If first single Fool For Ya is an indication, it’s going to be an intense ride, especially for those counting the days until they get back into the clubs.
Stream here
Beyries – Nous Sommes
Release Date: April 16
Label: Bonsound
Montreal singer/songwriter Beyries released her warmly received sophomore album Encounter back in November. She’s now sharing a stunning video for its only French-language track, with its message that, even in isolation we can still draw strength from each other and nature.
Stream here
John Borra – The Wars ‘21
Release Date: April 23
Label: Cousin Jeb Records
Borra’s 2020 album Blue Wine brought some much-needed attention back to the Toronto roots rock scene veteran, although he wasn’t completely satisfied with how the track The Wars turned out. As one of three songs with lyrics written by award-winning poet Eva H.D., Borra wanted it to be perfect, so he took it upon himself to show it some love with a new remix. The Wars ’21 now truly stands on its own as a classic country-rock gem.
