Jump to new releases, new music discoveries, or things to read.
Hey! You’re here! Thank you.
It’s my birthday tomorrow. I don’t expect you to do anything with that information. It’s no fun getting older, but it’s a lot better than the other option. I got some great new music for my birthday. Check out that Been Stellar album, it’s incredible.
I hope you find something you like here, and if you’re inclined, get in touch.
Here is this week’s playlist for Apple Music and Spotify
Want just the essentials in your inbox? OK:
New-ish releases
All of these artists are on this week’s playlist for Apple Music and Spotify
- Fxrrvst (first try) released CBAYAOM (not fair), another catchy heart-on-sleeve indie single
- Moondoggy released What You Get Is What You See, infectious saxophone-infused patio rock
- Rose Brokenshire released super-chill dreamy pop When I Grow Up
- Wizards of Osgoode released two new psychedelic singles from two upcoming albums (!!) Violet and Pink Sun
new artists
- Hank, from London, released debut single Angel Says, add it to whatever playlist Been Stellar is on
- Vitesse X released Way I Luv, the second in a run of singles to followup the killer Us Ephemeral
- Back in January, Glass Mask from Pennsylvania released Cracks and Blood in the Water, a modern take on 80’s sounds
- The debut single by indie band ladylike from Brighton, UK, is called Southbound. It’s from 2023 but it’s new to me. Very English Teacher
- Heavenly Blue is a Toronto band with one song out, and it’s banger: Dear Everybody is low-key psychedelic rock, from 2021! They play a lot around town though. Maybe more is on the way (?)
New music discoveries
If you want to hear a song from each of these artists, here’s the playlist for Apple Music and Spotify
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Yasha 96 – If I Were A Girl / FILIP / The Boy Who Came Here From The Dust
Berlin
I can’t seem to find out much about Yasha 96. Can’t get enough of his music though
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Miss Mae – Transit Jungle
Brantford, ON
Miss Mae is a band in mid-season form. I can’t believe this is their first album
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Sunnsetter
Norfolk County, ON
File Sunnsetter’s latest under ‘beautiful, sad and cathartic’. We’re lucky to have these songs
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Rêverie – End of the World / One Heart
Amsterdam
Rêverie has released two great singles so far this year and teased two more. Hard to categorize, but easy to like
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Skye Wallace – Momentum / What Is Real / Tough Kid
Toronto
Another artist I’m mildly embarrassed to not have known of until now
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Wax Jaw – Attitude/ Between the Teeth EP
Philadelphia
I missed them recently in Toronto, won’t make that mistake again. This band was built for the live show
Books and blog posts
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Weekender – June 21
Weekly review – new releases from old favourites, and a recap of the posts from the past 7 days.
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“The menu is written in emojis. Each bite is accompanied by a long story…”
I love a fancy tasting menu, but I don’t think I’d eat at these restaurants for free
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“Hollywood Becomes Bollywood”: Visualizing climate change
The Pudding with another interactive infographic about climate change. This team just doesn’t miss.
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“That lipstick is martyr’s blood.”
Short Story: The Daughters by Suzi Ehtesham-Zadeh
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Let’s give out the 2024 Polaris Prize: Part Two
This is much tougher and more fun than I expected
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Slaughterhouse-Five: The Graphic Novel by Kurt Vonnegut, Ryan North and Albert Monteys
It’s brilliant. One of the best Father’s Day gifts my kid could have come up with
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“Sometimes translation is almost like a session of free association.”
Human translators for literary work aren’t going anywhere soon
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Runaway by Alice Munro
Munro is a genius, but not a binge-read. That’s a good thing
Till next week, y’all. Don’t be afraid to say hi.