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By: Gemma Mastroianni and Brooke Carter With everything going on in the world, it’s more important than ever to stay somewhat busy and continue growing. However you choose to get through these times is totally your choice however, we would love if you joined The Soundtrack’s February Challenge. Brooke Carter (Gruuveyard) and I have come together to create 28 days of tasks to expand creativity, lifestyle, and personal growth. These tasks range from inner reflection, checking out new music, trying new food and drink, dreaming up your own festival poster, and so much more. We will be updating this page daily with a new task, along with posting them on Instagram. Check back on this page or on Instagram every morning to participate! Moodboards are an effective way of manifesting your future, and sparking creativity. Print out some photos and create a physical one, or go to www.gomoodboard.com to make yours. Check out Gemma’s below which represent her manifestations to spend more time outside, focus on self care, journal every day, and expand creativity: Who else loves that feeling of freedom after cleaning a surface? The reality is that whether it be a kitchen table, desk, counter- we all have (in the very least) one cluttered area in our homes. Pick one surface, big or small, and do a quick de-clutter. Throw on your favourite record, get it done, and take in the blissful feeling afterwards. It’s 2021 and we are stuck at home, why not switch it up? Check out some reccomendations in Country, Hip-Hop, and Electronic/Experimental below. Taking a moment to reflect on the positivity that we do have in our life, can change the whole direction of our day and mood. Make a little list, reflect, and move forward! See Gemma’s below: Go through your music and take an inventory of what you’re loving right now. Make a list (physical or digital)of your favourite songs on today’s date. Take a listen, or check back in a while to revisit your favourites during this time. Catching up can brighten you and your friends day! Have a good chat and pick up where you left off. A breathe of fresh air never hurts, especially when we are spending so much time indoors. Move those legs and get outside! It’s good for your mind, body, and soul. Take a look through each drawer, and try to pick one thing. There’s gotta be at least one thing in each you probably won’t wear again! Find somewhere local and drop it off, or try to pass them on to a friend. A few of our favourites are linked below: Raveena Tame Impala Freddie Gibbs and Madlib Snail Mail

By: Gemma Mastroianni The future of live music is unpredictable but, there are plenty of new albums in the works for 2021 and we can’t wait. Reportedly, we can expect new music from Kendrick Lamar, Father John Misty, SZA, Sky Ferreira, and so much more. This week on the Wavy podcast, listen to Dakota and I discuss the most anticipated albums of 2021. Many artists held back in 2020 due to the pandemic however, with a future so unpredictable, many are pulling through with some new music this year. Listen below: Alternatively, listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Follow The Soundtrack on Instagram.

By: Gemma Mastroianni DEAR-GOD is a hip-hop and experimental artist from Brampton, Ontario. I have been intrigued by his work ever since I heard his single/video “The Burbs.” When his first EP was dropped in December titled 1-844-4DEAR-GOD, I was even more impressed. It is not exactly common these days to nail down a smooth and professional sound influenced by rock and hip-hop similar to Rage Against The Machine, and he did just that. I have not stopped listening to the EP since it has dropped, hence why I chose DEAR-GOD as the first ever artist of the month. Please see the interview below: When did you start playing music, and why? I started playing drums when I was 9. I used to play Rock Band on my old PS2 and eventually got sick at the in-game drums. My parents got me a beginner kit for Christmas and I took drum lessons for years to come. I was shit at sports growing up. I was always underweight, and I got heat stroke whenever I played outside. Music made me feel like I could do something unique, something that other kids at school couldn’t do. When you began playing music, did you see it growing into what it is today? Ever since I started playing drums, I felt inclined to pursue music long term. I was always passionate but I never knew what the end result would really be. In high-school is when I started actually making beats and songwriting with friends. Never knew where I’d go with it, but I really did dream to “make it,” whatever that means. Now I’m out here like, “what the f*** have I gotten myself into.” But, I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life at this point really. Why the name DEAR-GOD? What does it mean to you? DEAR-GOD has become a double entendre. It can be taken as a shocking remark, or it can be a question posed in times of necessity. You can use it in either context, I don’t really care. When was DEAR-GOD formed? After I ditched the lame ass offensive name I used to go by. Started “Crack Baby” when I was a dumb 16 year old. DEAR-GOD was created when I was a (less) dumb 18 year old. What music did you listen to growing up, and how has your taste evolved? What do you currently listen to? In the early years I listened to whatever kids at school listened to, whatever my cousins were listening to, and whatever my sister was listening to. That included a huge range of Rock and Hip Hop genres that were popping on Much Music at the time. Now I listen to anything fresh. Don’t care if it’s Punk or Bolero or Pop or Hip Hop or whatever else. If it hits it hits. Which artists have influenced your sound today? Salvador Dali. What are your favourite pieces of music gear and why? (Pick 3-5) My fake rusty Fender Mustang because it sounds like ass, my recorder because It also sounds like ass when I play it, and my record player because sampling is fun. What is the first venue you want to play when shows come back? I wanna play outside somewhere secret in the city, for free. Who is your dream collaboration with an artist or band? Hmmmm… maybe Carti or Uzi? Not even sure how it would work though. What was your favourite album in 2020? Probably Heaven to a Tortured Mind. It’s a beautifully put together record. What does 1-844-4DEAR-GOD represent to you as a project in whole? How long did it take to put together? This EP was a long time coming. Most of these songs were made like 2 years ago because we had to sort out some dumb industry shit for a while before I could put it together. It represents my stupid arrogant 18/19 year old self. Every aspect of the creation was fun and a learning experience for sure. The recording of the songs and videos were full of great moments and great people. Favourite beer? Stella Artois. My dad put me onto that. I’m not a huge beer drinker but I’d say that if anything. Favourite quarantine-activity? Going for walks. Walks keep me alive. Real shit. What can we expect from you in the near future? More substance. More raw. More blood. Follow DEAR-GOD on Instagram.

By: Gemma Mastroianni We are just about one month into 2021 and the skies aren’t looking too clear right now but, it is important to realize that we have control over how we live our daily lives. Michelle Treacy joined me for a discussion on 21 different ways to make 2021 a better year, and we think you will find it so helpful. Michelle Treacy is a singer and songwriter based in Toronto,ON. She began her journey of success in music by taking the stage with Lady Gaga in Montreal at the Bell Centre. Since then, she has put out an EP, some hit singles, and even won CTV’s The Launch. We talk about a variety of topics related to music and lifestyle such as skincare, daily life, music, organization, different art forms, and so much more. I felt really inspired to make this year a better one with the control that I do have, and I hope you do too! Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Follow Michelle Treacy on Instagram, and check out her latest music video.

By: Dakota Arsenault Just like last year, I’m back with my picks for the top Canadian albums of the year. Throughout 2020 I listened to 200 new albums exactly, with 56 of them being Canadian releases. This list is purely my own choosing, but if you are interested in seeing The Soundtrack’s list with input from all our contributors, make sure you read our Top 100 albums of the year. Some honourable mentions that just didn’t quite make the cut include Basia Bulat – Are You In Love?, City Natives – Water & Fire, Jaunt – All in One, Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia, Mango Reinhardt – In The Shade, Matthew Tavares and Leland Whitty – Visions, PUP -This Place Sucks Ass, Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Born Deadly EP, The Weeknd – After Hours, Witch Prophet – DNA Activation. 20. Carly Rae Jepsen – Dedicated Side B Jepsen once again put out an outtakes album that is still better than just about anything anyone is in the pop game is releasing. After 2015’s E•MO•TION, she released a B sides collection and here are the best of the rest of the Dedicated sessions from the 2019 release. While her career still seems to be curiously managed as far as lead singles go, she has transcended the pop genre and become a favourite of even your punk loving friends. On Dedicated Side B, disco reigns supreme with the sensual “This Is What They Say” and we get a cameo from Bleachers who remains a frequent songwriting partner and producer. Highlights: This Is What They Say, This Love Isn’t Crazy 19. Blue Hawaii – Under 1 House Raphaelle Standell-Preston of Braids and Alexander Cowan return with a 24-minute EP of deep house cuts that are so great, they make you angry you can’t be out in a dark sweaty club with booming speakers right now, because *gestures wildly at everything* reasons. Standell-Preston’s voice soars over bass beats that wouldn’t be out of place at a 90’s rave, making it the duo’s most fun record yet. Highlights: I Felt Love, Not My Boss! 18. Fast Romantics – Pick It Up Matthew Angus always wears his heart on his sleeve for everyone to see. His overwrought emotional delivery never veers to the melodramatic as you always believe his sincerity. After the Toronto by way of Calgary band’s breakthrough in 2017 with American Love, the band returns for their 4th full length album and it’s just as melodic and touching as you would expect from them. The album hits a high note at the very end culminating things with the hand clapping beat of “Do No Wrong” that is a perfect album closer if one has ever heard one. Highlights: Do No Wrong, Hallelujah, What’s It To Ya? 17. Austra – HiRUDiN Katie Stelmanis soaring chamber pop vocals will always garner her comparisons to Florence Welch, but Austra’s dark synths and grooving bass lines will always separate the band with its witchy themes. Stelmanis plays with her vocals plenty adding some really dynamic layers including providing her own harmonies. Austra’s music is simultaneously intimate and worthy of filling the largest stadiums as each song has plenty to unearth and find new gems with each re-listen. Highlights: Risk It, I Am Not Waiting 16. Tafari Anthony – The Way You See Me I learned about Tafari Anthony after he appeared on the excellent episode of the Wavy podcast talking about this EP. His soulful voice might be, without any hyperbole, one of the most beautiful and powerful ones I have ever heard and if it doesn’t stop you in your tracks you might as well be dead inside. His unapologetically queer love songs are refreshing in today’s music landscape, which seems to pride itself in being as opaque as possible most of the time. Tafari Anthony will be the next megastar to come out of Canada in the coming years, get on the train early with this EP. Highlights: Centerfold, One For You 15. Wolf Castle – Goldrush Several years ago the very first interview I ever did was with a very green A Tribe Called Red and a quote they said that has always stuck with me was the idea that any Indigenous party by virtue of it even happening is political in nature. Wolf Castle, the Mi’kmaq rapper who hails from Pabineau First Nation in New Brunswick, continues the trend of Indigenous artists like Snotty Nose Rez Kids putting their spin on trap music, which is political even when bigging up his drip. Wolf Castle has the type of polished studio production you don’t normally hear in underground rappers. His flow is smooth and his word play is clever as he drops references from the comforts of rez life while also having aspirations of dominating the world. Highlights: Burner Phone, Cha Cha 14. Louis-Jean Cormier – Quand la nuit tombe Quand la nuit tombe is the third solo album from former Karkwa frontman Louis-Jean Cormier and while I don’t speak French, it doesn’t stop me from loving his larger than life album that is incredibly hard to pin down. It has the drum and bass beats of hip hop, the horn progressions of jazz, the guitars and synths of indie rock and a vocal delivery that bounces between ballads, spoken word poetry and rapping. Cormier may not be a household name in Anglophone Canada, but he’s a superstar in Quebec where he even was a judge on their version of The Voice back during season two. Highlights: 100 mètres haies, Les poings ouverts 13. METZ – Atlas Vending The noise rock band has put out three excellent albums that blend the line between a wall of indistinguishable excess and something that resembles a traditional song structure. On their fourth record, the vocals by Alex Edkins are much cleaner (and easily decipherable) with their anger appearing much more pointed. “The Mirror” almost comes close to having a melody between Edkins searing guitar and Hayden Menzies heart pounding drumming. “Hail Taxi” has a killer distorted bass breakdown in the middle by Chris Slorach that sounds like it could be a dance beat from Death From Above. Having loved this band from the beginning, this new sound is a welcome addition to their catalogue. Highlights: The Mirror, Hail Taxi 12. Junia-T – Studio Monk The first of three 2020 Polaris Prize nominees to crack this list is the debut album from Junia-T, first known as Jesse Reyes tour DJ, but should be now known as a producer with impeccable ability to create layered and lush arrangements that still urge you to lean back and vibe out with them. He occasionally raps on the songs, but leaves most of the vocal heavy lifting to his impressive list of guests including well known artists like Jessie Reyez, River Tiber and Sean Leon and more underground ones like Faiza (appearing on three tracks), Nate Husser and STORRY. Despite the songs seeming laid back on the surface, they never let you forget about any day to day obstacles of being a person of colour in today’s world either. Highlights: Sad Face Emojis, Make It 11. Tim Baker – Survivors The former Hey Rosetta! frontman put out his debut album in 2019 and it made last year’s best of list, but he returned with a delicate EP of more songs that are just as beautiful. The mini-offering opens with the wonderful title track “Survivors” that features Baker on piano with a jaunty drum beat and fluttering horn break in an utterly empowering track about overcoming past trauma and obstacles. The EP is mostly sparse instrumentation that highlights his soothing voice. Highlights: Survivors, Sylvan Valley 10. Andy Shauf – The Neon Skyline After the excellent album The Party from 2016, Regina’s Andy Shauf returns with a folk album that has more instrumentation than the sparse acoustic arrangements on the previous record. Shauf continues his trend of concept albums, this time a man is out drinking one night and runs into his ex. The songs are both conversational and deal with the inner monologues inside our heads. The full sonic weight of the instrumentation comes and goes in brief glimpses sporadically throughout the album always causing our attention to be piqued. Highlights: Dust Kids, Try Again 9. Clairmont the Second – It’s Not How It Sounds Lil Mont starts his latest project off with an intro that sounds like a classic video game akin to Pac-Man, before he destroys the rap game showing why he’s been on the rise for the last few years. He seems to have multiple personalities that come out on each song like classic Nicki Minaj as he transitions from lucid bars to non sequiturs that are hard not to laugh at. He gets his brother Cola H., drummer for The OBGMs (who appear later on this list) to guest on Clockout, making it a powerful family affair. Highlights: Flip-A-Bird, Clockout 8. Born Ruffians – JUICE It’s almost refreshing when an indie rock band puts out a straight indie rock album these days. I love my synths and pop music, but it seems like every guitar based band from the 2000’s has gone pop. The album starts out with the banger of a single “I Fall In Love Every Night” and just keeps the pace up. The album also features a guest appearance from Maddy Wilde who fronts the art rock band Rapport (formerly of Moon King and Spiral Beach) in one of the albums most tender moments. There are plenty of familiar yelping harmonies from Luke Lalonde and company that makes a Born Ruffians so enjoyable. Highlights: I Fall In Love Every Night, Dedication 7. Purity Ring – Womb After what seemed like an *ahem* eternity since the trip-hop/dark synth pop duo’s last album (Another Eternity from 2015) we finally got a third record and it didn’t disappoint. Still present are Colin Roddick’s tumbling and stuttering electronic drums and keys that make you groove to Megan James’ trademark dark and insidious poetry that still always sounds heartbreakingly beautiful despite the gore. This album does trade the darkness of death for the potential of life and what the effects it has on a woman. Highlights: peacefall, vehemence 6. Caribou – Suddenly While Dan Snaith has been releasing music under the name Daphni the last few years, it has been six impossibly long years waiting for a followup to the Caribou masterpiece Our Love. The album’s opening track builds slowly, and after that its auditory bliss the rest of the way through. Snaith explores plenty of genres and styles of music this time around as he also provides vocals on every track, a first for a Caribou release. He finds new ranges with rap and RnB samples on back to back tracks in “Sunny’s Time” and “New Jade”. The lyricism is much more complex on this album, allowing for more stories to be told and not just repeating hooks. Highlights: Lime, New Jade 5. U.S. Girls – Heavy Light Meg Remy has always been elusive about what is a U.S. Girls record, is it disco? Funk? Pop? Rock? Soul? Jazz? A little bit of everything? Heavy Light was my pick for last year’s Polaris Prize and I desperately was hoping her third shortlisted nomination would finally help her breakthrough and win. Alas, she didn’t, but this is a beautiful album about growing up, loving yourself and dealing with adversity. Throughout the album are voicemails from people talking about what they would tell their younger selves or how they deal with people who don’t value them, pairing nicely with her hopeful and uplifting songs. She gets a killer sax solo from Jake Clemmons, nephew of the late Big Man himself Clarence Clemmons on “Overtime”. Highlights: 4 American Dollars, Woodstock ‘99 4. Partner – Never Give Up I wasn’t fully on board with Partner’s Polaris nominated In Search of Lost Time as it was a bit too cheesy for me. The duo’s followup still has the pop-punk spirit accompanied by humour and wordplay the genre is known for but they flirt with different avenues to use their guitars. “Honey” is a hair metal blast, while “Big Gay Hands” is a southern fried rocker, “Good Place To Hide – At The Time” is basically their version of a Rush song. Never once throughout this album do you doubt the duo is not having fun. Highlights: Honey, Couldn’t Forget 3. The OBGMs – The Ends Somehow a ten song album just barely clocks in at 23 minutes and rocks you so hard you will swear you were just in a fight. The brash in your face Afropunk band delivers thrash music with a purpose, but the MVP of the album might be Colanthony Humphreys the trio’s drummer as he not only bangs the shit out of his kit, but he layers in some great hand percussive beats as well that give a roundedness that most punk music severely lacks. Lead singer Densil McFarlane brings the energy of a performer with a similar name in Denzil Curry on his Like a Version of Killing in the Name Of. “Triggered” will give listeners whiplash as the beat changes up midway through and you need to alter your headbanging to keep up. Highlights: Triggered, Fight Song 2. Chromeo – Quarantine Casanova This five song EP (doubled to ten with all songs having an instrumental version included) is the right amount of fun and cheese that only Chromeo can deliver with a straight face and not creep you out. The album dropped in June, only four months after COVID quarantines and concerns had been going on in Canada. Songs like “Clorox Wipe” has the Montreal duo seductively ask if they can help all the ladies wash up, not only their bodies but their countertops, doorknobs and groceries too. They preach the safety protocols of staying six feet apart and not leaving the house like good quarantining gentlemen. Sometimes you need a pick me up when you’re on yet another month of quarantines, shutdowns, curfews and markers on grocery store floors to help you stay an appropriate distance apart from our neighbours and this record is it. Highlights: Clorox Wipe, ‘Roni Got Me Stressed Out 1. Orville Peck – Show Pony EP I seem to be a bit predictable these days. Last year I named Pony the best Canadian album of the year and I’m back with another Orville Peck release. Gone is the studio effects making it sound like you are trying to tune your grandparents old car radio and instead just some well written and performed country songs. The big news about the album was how the masked cowboy paired up with Shania Twain, real Canadian country royalty, to put out an appropriately named song “Legends Never Die”. While the song is absolutely more Twain than Peck, it still is one to keep on repeat. “No Glory in the West” might be his most melancholic song yet with its sparse acoustic guitar plucking allowing to accent Peck’s deep and emotive twangy singing voice. Highlights: Legends Never Die, No Glory in the West

I don’t think we need to belabour the point that 2020 sucked. Some people lost their jobs, some people got sick and some unfortunately lost people they love, all as a result of this pandemic. On the music side, concerts abruptly stopped in March until just about every artist did either a drive-in or digital show giving fans something to hold onto. While we couldn’t see our faves in person, that didn’t stop 2020 from releasing some fantastic music. Whether it was always scheduled to come out or there were surprise releases because artists finally had all the time in the world on their hands. We got music that dealt with the social and political climate that consumes us, people being unapologetic about who their true selves are and a smattering of COVID specific music. While we were stuck at home, we had some fantastic music to suit every mood. This is The Soundtrack’s top 100 albums of the year list. Albums were nominated by a team member and if it reached a specific threshold of votes, it was eligible to make this list. A total of 318 albums and EP’s were nominated with 172 of them meeting the voting threshold. As The Soundtrack is a Canadian publication, we feel it is our duty to highlight the many great acts from this country as denoted with a flag (🇨🇦) next to the title. 100. TokiMonsta – Oasis Nocturno 99. Yaeji – WHAT WE DREW 98. Khruangbin – Mordecai By this point you know what you are going to get from a Khruangbin album. It’s going to mix a bunch of styles of music together from all over the world, it will be laid back but with a groove that is irresistible. Moredecai continues on in the tradition of what they do so well as Mark Speer and Laura Lee blend their falsetto vocals into a dreamscape that you can’t wait to get lost into. If you aren’t a Khruangbin convert yet, this or their Texas Sun EP with Leon Bridges (see entry #84) are more than great introductions. – Dakota Arsenault 97. Oh Wonder – No One Else Can Wear Your Crown 96. U.S. Girls – Heavy Light 🇨🇦 Meg Remy continues to expand her sound incorporating more jazz elements, while making her album even more deeply personal yet still cryptic enough to leave the listener to debate songs’ meaning. In between tearfully thinking about past mistakes made as a teen you’ll be dancing as her voice soars over the beats. – Dakota Arsenault 95. Joji – Nectar Joji’s sophomore release Nectar is filled with addictive lo-fi tracks and ambient sounds that pay homage to his first album BALLANDS1 while venturing into this new style of music. Songs like “Gimme Love”, “NITROUS”, “Ew” and “Pretty Boy” are songs to check out for first-time listeners of Joji. – Josiah Botting 94. Car Seat Headrest – Making a Door Less Open 93. Bombay Bicycle Club – Everything Else Has Gone Wrong 92. Mick Jenkins – The Circus 91. Washed Out – Purple Moon 90. Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez Song Machine is a proper LP representation of the Gorillaz multimedia webisodes project of the same name. It is another vibrant, genre-splicing album from the groups mastermind Damon Albarn. Yet another entry that tries to imagine the future of pop music with it’s amalgamation of styles from its collaborators (St. Vincent, Elton John, Robert Smith, 6lack, and more). A highly recommended listen for any Gorillaz fan as it’s their best work since Plastic Beach. – Kyle O’Keefe 89. Mac Miller – Circles A bittersweet ending to the Mac Miller collection. The album is an open book into Miller’s struggles beautifully laid over mellow instrumentals with hints of rock and R&B. It can be a challenging listen as we hear his personal struggles from such a raw point of view, while knowing he is gone, but there is beauty within his ability to express it and present this so artistically and maturely. May he rest in peace. – Gemma Mastroianni 88. Glass Animals – Dreamland Experimental with beats that bring them in touch with the band’s hip-hop influence. Lots of vocal pedals, lots of expansive synth, it does feel very dreamy or dream-like. It’s fun to listen to, there’s always something new that turns into a little earworm on this album. – Amanda McMillan 87. Beach Bunny – Honeymoon Honeymoon is the graduation of petty high school relationships seen through their early EP’s and realizing that love is a whirlwind of emotions seen throughout the album. Ironically this album was released on Valentine’s Day forever complimenting Honeymoon as a relationship focused album. Songs such as “Cuffing Season” shows the bands growth and dialing up to 100 with punching guitar and drums paired up with lead singer Lili Trifilios voice and lyrics sets up the next level of Beach Bunny’s path to Indie pop/rock stardom. – Jayben Favila 86. The Lone Bellow – Half Moon Light The band’s blend of folk, bluegrass and rock n’ soul have always defied categorization, changing from one style to the next from song to song and album to album as needed. The groups fourth record sees them focusing in on the bombast that their live shows are known for, increasing the horns, the hit you in the heart lyrics screamed into the void and beautiful harmonies. – Dakota Arsenault 85. Ryley Patrick – Kenopsia 🇨🇦 It is evident how much thought has been put into the production of this EP (which is near flawless), organizing the tracks, lyricism, and defining a theme and style for all of these tracks to fall under. This is the perfect album for those who love alternative rock and metal, as it marries the two. – Gemma Mastroianni 84. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges – Texas Sun EP Landing at around 20 minutes long, this shorter record by Khruangbin and Leon Bridges owes its identity to the warm Texan landscape. From the folksy country-rock vibe of “Texas Sun” to the groovy “C-Side”, the album’s mellow funk stylings do not shy away from its Southern roots. – John Mendoza 83. James Blake – Before – EP We got the excellent Assume Form last year, but to tide over the hardcore Blake-heads (is that what his fans are called?) he put out a pair of EP’s in 2020. One exclusively covers entitled… Covers, and one of new material. Before, keeps what we know and love of Blake, impressive piano playing laid over deep house beats and his own falsetto voice that he chops up and alters in experimental ways. It may only be four songs, but it will keep us Blake-heads somewhat full. For now. – Dakota Arsenault 82. The Strokes – The New Abnormal Familiar in the ways we wanted it to be, undeniably a Strokes album. No big radio hit, but it seems to transcend the need for that kind of attention. It was an album made by a band that was at its peak when all the members were 20 years old, and are now in their 40s. It’s evolved, but honest to the sound we all fell in love with two decades ago. It’s hard to let your rock and roll idols grow up but they all do, and we do too alongside them. – Amanda McMillan 81. The 1975 – Notes on a Conditional Form Despite rumours of postponing the release due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The 1975 decided to release NOACF in May 2020 and brought excitement to fans of their previous work. Incorporating some heavy rock on “People” similar to their self-titled release, and some new bubbly and lyrically addictive songs like “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)”. – Josiah Botting 80. Purity Ring – Womb 🇨🇦 79. Blue Hawaii – Under 1 House 🇨🇦 Raphaelle Standell-Preston is a very busy lady. She fronts BRAIDS which put out the excellent Shadow Offering this year. She, along with Alex Cowan put out another great offering under their Blue Hawaii name. The duo specializes in house music that seriously groovy beats and disco like vocals. “Not My Boss!” is a damn fine feminist anthem to dance your butt off to. – Dakota Arsenault 78. Kurt Vile – Speed, Sound, Lonely KV Speed, Sound, Lonely KV is a mixture of covers and originals by the legendary Kurt Vile we all know and love. This EP serves with purpose to slow down and appreciate the little things. His extended interludes and indie-folk sound just can’t go wrong. – Gemma Mastroianni 77. Twin Peaks – Side A A more mature sounding EP from the indie rock band. The EP begins with “What’s the Matter” which has their classic feel-good indie-rock sound, but then moves into “Whistle in the Wind (End of Everything)” which is a mixture of blues and indie-rock with a vocal feature from LaLa LaLa, keys, brass, and a funky bass-line. It takes a classic rock twist on “Any More Than You Want”, and then ends on a more psychedelic note with “Above/Below.” It is the most diverse collection of songs they have ever put out and the four tracks are the perfect length for what they were trying to accomplish. Although they vary in genre, they all somehow sound fitting together. – Gemma Mastroianni 76. Taylor Swift – evermore 2020 has been a year of many ups and downs for Taylor Swift. She put out folklore (see our #61 entry) changed up her style once again to be singer-songwriter influence acoustic pop, but she also has had a very public legal battle against Scooter Braun her former manager who sold her masters to another company and will continue to make money off her, that is until she releases her planned re-recordings cutting him out completely. Then after dominating most album of the year lists early on, she decided to surprise drop evermore at midnight on December 11th, just barely qualifying for this list. The songs are actually more folk oriented and show a stronger writer inside Swift. From the naughty and fun “no body, no crime” featuring Haim, to the Death Cab for Cutie like “cowboy like me” to the ode to her grandmother in “marjorie”. This isn’t even including the haunting guest appearances from The National and Bon Iver. – Dakota Arsenault 75. Elderbrook – Why Do We Shake In the Cold? This album would keep anyone warm during these wintery months ahead. This emotive album presses on the very realities of platonic and romantic relationships through the expression of highs and lows of love. A personal, dreamy, favourite is “All My Love”. – Sydney Scott 74. Perfume Genius – Set My Heart on Fire Immediately Perfume Genius beautifully tells stories cinematically through his music and videos to accompany, and he did it again on Set My Heart on Fire Immediately. It is a breathtaking, poetic, and still theatrical but arguably more accessible record to the average listener than his past albums. – Gemma Mastroianni 73. Half Moon Run – Seasons of Change 🇨🇦 A sleek EP that takes you through another impressive collection from Montreal’s Half Moon Run. These songs were recorded at the same time as their previous album A Blemish In The Great Light and also marks the last full-band record from them, as Isaac Symonds is no longer part of the group. – Gemma Mastroianni 72. Gum – Out in the World 71. Witch Prophet – DNA Activation 🇨🇦 This album is an eclectic masterpiece from front to back. With so many different genres incorporated and a flawless flow with no filler tracks, this is one of the smoothest and exciting listens I’ve heard in 2020. – Alex Rodobolski 70. Childish Gambino – 3.15.20 69. Brent Faiyaz – Fuck the World 68. Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters 67. Tennis – Swimmer This album is so dreamy and flowy that it borders on ethereal. Close your eyes and let the vocals and keys whisk you far, far away for a moment. It’s so sweet without ever feeling saccharine, so cute without being trite. It begs you to sway, and pretend you’re watching your own life through a lens with vaseline on it: soft, blurred edges and a romantic feeling you can’t quite put your finger on. – Amanda McMillan 66. Matthew Tavares and Leland Whitty – Visions 🇨🇦 65. PUP – This Place Sucks Ass 🇨🇦 64. Wolf Parade – Thin Mind 🇨🇦 63. Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia 🇨🇦 A break up album in a non-traditional sense, Lido Pimienta fuses multiple cultural styles to create a dream-like yet danceable listen. – Stephanie Prior 62. Andy Shauf – The Neon Skyline 🇨🇦 61. Taylor Swift – folklore Taylor Swift’s surprise release “folklore” is one that took fans by surprise, but for good. Stepping out of the Big Machine Records company and into her own, Swift steps into a whole new side of music with some country and alternative inspired songs. – Josiah Botting 60. Waxahtchee – Saint Cloud Mature, emotional, contemplative. The band’s most commercially viable album yet, listed as Pitchfork’s runner-up in their coveted Top 50 list. Suited for the rise and fall of emotions in 2020 – sometimes melancholy, sometimes sweet and playful, sometimes deeply sorrowed. With Saint Cloud, singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield seems to have welcomed us into her past, her present, and seemingly, her future. – Amanda McMillan 59. Empress Of – I’m Your Empress Of 58. Raveena – Moonstone EP Moonstone will take you on a soul-psychedelic journey through Raveena’s struggles with love. Her soft yet strong vocals will give you goosebumps, and there is so much instrumentation and intimate lyricism to soak up. – Gemma Mastroianni 57. Pinegrove – Marigold A salve for all the mid-aughts emo kids that have since turned thirty. There is just enough folky charm to keep it a Pinegrove album with its charming harmonies, and slide guitar accents, but it’s also the kind of album that you put on during a long road trip and end up belting out every word. – Amanda McMillan 56. ⣎⡇ꉺლ༽இ•̛)ྀ◞ ༎ຶ ༽ৣৢ؞ৢ؞ؖ ꉺლ – ) ⃛* | ⣎⡇ꉺლ༽இ•̛)ྀ◞ ༎ຶ ༽ৣৢ؞ৢ؞ؖ ꉺლ I suppose we should address this album. You probably assume that Microsoft Word crashed and opened the rough draft of this list and converted the font to Wingdings, but to paraphrase the classic Sci-Fi show The Outer Limits there is nothing wrong with your computer. Do not attempt to adjust the screen. This is a side project of Kieran Hebden from Four Tet. Each of the four songs are unique and playful that fit within the canvas of what you expect from Four Tet, so after you listen to Sixteen Oceans (entry #49), add this to your list to get even weirder. – Dakota Arsenault 55. Jaunt – All in One 🇨🇦 The falsetto vocals keep it dreamy, with lots of groovy bass and fun little synth moments. It remains a bit of a summer album, chill and vibey in a way that seems to best suit being outdoors. Cute, charming, and gentle. – Amanda McMillan 54. Tim Baker – Survivors 🇨🇦 53. Clairmont the Second – It’s Not How It Sounds 🇨🇦 52. Angel Olsen – Whole New Mess A more stripped down and low-key version of Angel Olsen is heard on Whole New Mess. This album features only Olsen’s vocals and a guitar, allowing us to hear more of Olsen than ever before. The isolation forces the listeners to get a deeper glimpse at her vocals and the emotions she is portraying, all inspired by a break-up. – Gemma Mastroianni 51. Lane 8 – Brightest Lights 50. August Burns Red – Guardians If you were looking to see who would deliver the sentence, August Burns Red’s “Guardians” is one of the heaviest albums they have released yet. With hard breakdowns and Jake Luhr’s unique screams scattered throughout the album, Guardians helped the metal heads get through the early days of the pandemic. – Josiah Botting 49. Four Tet – Sixteen Oceans In his 10th studio album Four Tet takes listeners on an ambient journey, seamlessly blending together environmental and synthetic elements that are often thought of with a heavy juxtaposition. Birds chirp and rivers babble in the background to beautiful string arrangements just moments songs shift towards a darker, more club-like beat. Having mastered combining the natural with the electronic, listeners will find themselves in an eclectic dreamscape that they will want to remain in long past the first, second, and third listens. – Alyssa Keighan 48. Foster The People – In The Darkest Of Nights, Let The Birds Sing EP In The Darkest Of Nights, Let The Birds Sing is psychedelic pop twist for Foster The People, centered around the subject of love. Standout tracks include “Lamb’s Wool” and “Under The Moon” containing catchy hooks and romantic lyricism. – Gemma Mastroianni 47. Jhene Aiko – Chilombo 46. Fast Romantics – Pick It Up 🇨 45. Little Dragon – New Me, Same Us 44. Soccer Mommy – color theory Someone once said that the more personal you make your lyrics in a song, the more universally relatable they will be. This sentiment rings true in Soccer Mommy’s sophomore album, where Sophie Allison details her experiences tackling mental health and growing up. There is an immediate feeling of nostalgia to the album, thanks to the use of many musical elements that were present in the late 90’s and early 00’s indie pop scene. Listeners will be left with not only an album that feels like an instant and familiar favourite, but also the urge to pop in a coming-of-age DVD from 2003 (probably). – Alyssa Keighan 43. Rina Sawayama – SAWAYAMA From “Dynasty” to “Love Me 4 Me”, Rina’s debut pop album SAWAYAMA masterfully plays with a diverse palette of 2000s genres without it feeling like a sore gimmick. While a handful of tracks near the end of the album lack the punch of the first few tracks, SAWAYAMA is one of the most exciting and unique pop records of 2020. (Also, shout out to her for putting the Final Fantasy victory theme in “Snakeskin”). – John Mendoza 42. Junia-T – Studio Monk 🇨🇦 Junia-T’s Studio Monk had a mix of absolutely everything. Featuring slower jams that pack a punch, like “Know Better” and upbeat anthems like “Sad Face Emoji”- this album is sexy and has something for everyone. – Erica Gellert 41. Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon III: The Chosen Kid Cudi expresses a myriad of emotions which guides you through a cathartic listening experience. It is the final piece to the trilogy and the experimentation of genres complemented Kid Cudi journey of self-development as he navigates a plethora of emotions. A fun album to jam to – indeed. – Sydney Scott 40. Dizzy – The Sun and Her Scorch 🇨🇦 Listening to Dizzy’s The Sun and Her Scorch will have you wanting to make like a cat and lay in a sunbeam as you daydream of treasured (and not so treasured) memories. Dizzy packs their songs full of sweet feelings and raw emotions, leaving you feeling sensitive and exposed and yet still hopeful. Make sure to listen to “Roman Candles” and “Daylight Savings Time”. – Stephanie Prior 39. Fleet Foxes – Shore Fleet Foxes provided the soundtrack to autumnal equinox as they released this album exactly on the date, September 22nd. Shore is a beautiful record that can be repeated over and over again, and the listener will continue to soak up all of what Fleet Foxes is about – impressive melodies and harmonization, poetic and intricate lyricism, and the most appropriate way to soak up the feeling of the fall season. – Gemma Mastroianni 38. Miley Cyrus – Plastic Hearts Miley Cyrus’s Plastic Hearts is a hard hitting homage to all the rock goddesses of past and present. With unapologetic lyrics and buzzy guitar riffs, Plastic Hearts grabs you by the ah-hem, hand, and pulls you into an intoxicating mix of electro-pop and punky rock. Filling out the album includes a handful of power features, including Joan Jett and Stevie Nicks, further bumping up the femme fatale factor. Don’t miss “Plastic Hearts” and “Night Crawling”. – Stephanie Prior 37. Thundercat – It Is What It Is Thundercat’s enchanting basslines, signature humour and spacious compositions all come together in this conceptually brilliant album. While somewhat unpolished at times, the album is more sombre than Stephen Lee Bruner’s previous works, taking listeners through a journey of love, loss, acceptance, grief, and the uncertainty of the future: a perfect way to describe the zeitgeist of 2020. – John Mendoza 36. Spencer Brown – Stream of Consciousness 35. Nathaniel Rateliff – And It’s Still Alright Gone are the Night Sweats, Nathaniel Rateliff’s backing band for the last two records as he puts out his first solo record since 2013. While the soul and funk are gone, the tough guy brimming with emotions is still present. Here he gets to show off his tender voice over acoustic guitar and atmospheric strings to create something uniquely personal. – Dakota Arsenault 34. Tycho – Simulcast 33. Caribou – Suddenly 🇨🇦 This album is an eclectic masterpiece from front to back. With so many different genres incorporated and a flawless flow with no filler tracks, this is one of the smoothest and exciting listens heard in 2020. – Gemma Mastroianni 32. Kehlani – It Was Good Until It Wasn’t 31. Skepta, Chip & Young Adz – Insomnia This trio of UK Grime legends team up for an album that sees them all sharing the spotlight and giving each other space to shine in that light. The album is at times funny and at other times deadly serious talking about how people of colour face injustices in the UK too. “Golden Brown” is a fun highlight of the record about girls who like melanin in their guys. – Dakota Arsenault 30. Tafari Anthony – The Way You See Me 🇨🇦 Tafari Anthony shares a fresh and unique pop sound with a soul flare, and sleek vocals. Production is flawless and the track-list is an ideal mixture of songs you can relate to on an emotional level, but also let loose and dance to. It perpetuates a loving and exciting energy that is unforgettable, and will keep listeners replaying. – Gemma Mastroianni 29. Daughters of Reykjavik – Soft Spot The all girl Icelandic rap group (formerly known as the much harder to pronounce Reykjavíkurdætur) put out their most accessible album to date with the track titles in English and every song at least partially in English. But you don’t need to know Icelandic to know how hard these songs go, as the group goes into feminism, their own sexuality and urges, women’s rights and more. When we’re allowed to have parties again make sure you play “Fool’s Gold” and “Thirsty Hoes” nice and loud at your next jam. – Dakota Arsenault 28. Orville Peck – Show Pony EP 🇨🇦 27. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia Plucked straight from a neon coloured, strobe lit, pop-disco fantasy, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia will have you moving and grooving even on the darkest, coldest of days. Futura Nostalgia is an all inclusive, female empowering, party album, overflowing with danceable beats, singable lyrics and powerful messages. Most danceable tunes include “Don’t Start Now” and “Levitating”. – Stephanie Prior 26. Poliça – When We Stay Alive The Minneapolis trip-hop and synth rock band put out its fifth album way back in January, that was born out of lead singer Channy Leaneagh almost getting paralyzed from falling off her roof. As such we get some deeply personal songs while still maintaining the band’s propulsive sound, including the lead single (and first track) “Driving”. – Dakota Arsenault 25. Moses Sumney – græ Evading conventional genre and lyricism, Moses Sumney’s 2nd album græ remains sonically familiar yet unparalleled. “Polly” stands out as a more orthodox track, but still relies on Sumney’s wistful vocals to deliver an intimate harmonic experience. – John Mendoza 24. King Krule – Man Alive! Man Alive! fuses post-punk and trip hop with Archy Marshall’s classic drowned in reverb sound. The album is very atmospheric and introspective. Man Alive! deserves several listens to fully appreciate. Fans of King Krule’s previous works will surely enjoy it. – Jared Burke 23. Born Ruffians – JUICE 🇨🇦 The classic upbeat indie-rock record that Canada needed this year. JUICE is a filled with catchy choruses and high-tempo songs that everyone can dance and sing along to with some unexpected interludes that give it a unique flare. What more could one really want out of this kind of album? – Gemma Mastroianni 22. EOB – Earth Radiohead’s guitarist Ed O’Brien released his debut solo album (leaving fellow bandmate Colin Greenwood as the only one not to have a side or solo project yet), Earth, this year. The man who normally stays out of the limelight, puts his voice and talents on full display. At moments you can clearly tell what influences he brings to his main band, like “Shangri-La”, which could have been a cut from The Bends. “Brasil” opens with a gentle plucking melody before the epic 8-minute song transitions to a groovy tropical house beat. There is plenty of inspiration and music to get lost to in this record. – Dakota Arsenault 21. Local Natives – Sour Lemon This EP progresses ever so perfectly with a soft and intimate opening featuring Sharon Van Etten on “Lemon”, then moves into mid-tempo passionate songs centered around relationships with uplifting chorus’s, as Local Natives is known for. – Gemma Mastroianni Listen to my interview with Local Natives here. 20. Loving – If I Am Only My Thoughts 🇨🇦 The Victoria, BC trio put out their follow up album to 2016’s self titled debut and their gentle folk pop blends pre-electronic Bon Iver with Andy Shauf. The band’s haunting harmonies and delicate guitar playing feel like a warm blanket over lyrics that paint vivid imagery like in the album highlight “Lately In Another Time”. – Dakota Arsenault 19. Yellow Days – A Day in Yellow Beat This is the funkiest, bluesiest, and longest record Yellow Days has released to date. A Day In A Yellow Beat shows a more mature and eclectic version of Yellow Days as the album leans into Soul and R&B. – Gemma Mastroianni 18. The Killers – Imploding the Mirage The Las Vegas band has always been synonymous with synth rock and while there are plenty of keyboard melodies here, the band is skewing harder in more rock elements. The band, which is now a trio, seems to be leaning hard into Bruce Springsteen-esque influences from the lead single “Caution” and the k.d. Lang featured “Lightning Fields”. Then there’s “Dying Breed”, which is Jack Antonoff by way of Springsteen. As most rock bands seem to drift more and more pop with each record, it’s nice to see The Killers get more rock n’ roll. – Dakota Arsenault 17. Joseph – Trio Sessions: Vol 1 EP While this EP doesn’t contain any new songs (all are from 2019’s excellent Good Luck, Kid), they sound brand new. The three sisters strip down their lush folk pop sound for sparse instrumentation on each song like just a piano or fuzzy guitar and their incredible three part harmonies. It’s impossible not to bowled over by the power of “Green Eyes” or “Without You”. – Dakota 16. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher Perhaps one of the most awaited sophomore albums of the year, Phoebe Bridgers did not disappoint with her release of Punisher. Upon first listen some may be distracted by the soothing instrumentals and familiar sound of Bridgers’ singing, which can only be described as a hauntingly beautiful whisper. But what lingers beneath the soft and whimsical melodies is the real focal point of the album: oftentimes bleak but prolific lyricism that explores heartbreak, anxiety, the complexities of life…and the end of it. – Alyssa Keighan 15. Deftones – Ohms A hard-hitting classic metal album from start to finish. Deftones continues to show up with quality albums as the years go on, and this one is complex and dark, and rough around the edges. Another fan favourite! – Gemma Mastroianni 14. Joey Bada$$ – The Light Pack How did a three song EP that didn’t even manage to clock in a ten minutes make the cut? It’s been three years since Joey Bada$$’s last album and in the time he’s acted on Mr. Robot and Wu-Tang: An American Saga, so this EP was a welcome drop. He continues to evolve past his throwback boom-bap style and just lays down some sick rhymes and wordplay. The Push-T feature on “No Explanation” is one of the year’s best hip-hop songs. – Dakota Arsenault 13. The Districts – You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere Haunting, plucky, and energetic. Sonically it’s more sophisticated than previous releases, showcasing an evolution not only in songwriting, but production too. It’s more expansive than expected from the band, with some New Wave influence bubbling to the surface and a bit of an experimental flare. – Amanda McMillan 12. Aminé – Limbo Slick, honest, playful, tongue-in-cheek. Great production, fantastic feature collabs, killer beats, and clever rhymes. There’s swagger and authenticity in equal measures, emotion and bravado. Animé is able to move fluidly between personalities, and only seems to get better with each release. – Amanda McMillan 11. Nicholas Godin – Concrete and Glass If you flew into space to an unknown planet, this is what it would sound like. Godin presents a collection of songs with a futuristic and funky vibe, and stunning vocal features. All of these songs could easily be hits and featured in films! – Gemma Mastroianni 10. Cut Copy – Freeze Melt A zen dance album with layers of synthesizers, bass, and harmonized vocals. Cut Copy takes a new approach to their sound with hints of ambience, and a mellow and spacier sound than previously demonstrated. – Gemma Mastroianni Listen to my interview with Ben from Cut Copy here. 9. Aesop Rock – Spirit World Field Guide Aesop sounds paranoid, yet boastful on Spirit World Field Guide. He is at the top of his own game (and quite possibly the entire hip-hop game) when it comes to beats, bass lines, and unique flows. Best tracks are “Dog at the Door”, “Crystal Sword”, “Salt”, “Kodokushi”, and “Marble Cake”. – James Dallimore 8. The OBGM’s – The Ends 🇨🇦 The Toronto afro-punk group puts out an even more fleshed out record than their previous self titled debut. The band only has two songs that clock in at over 2:30 but they make each 150 seconds or less so impactful. On “Triggered” the song goes from a head banging metal song into a hard as hell hip hop beat in a matter of seconds and it isn’t out of place at all. Colanthony Humphery’s drumming includes lush layering of hand played percussion that truly make the record spark. – Dakota Arsenault 7. Tame Impala – The Slow Rush The musical psychedelic trip that Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush provides is one that can only be done by Kevin Parker. Songs like “Posthumous Forgiveness” and “It Might Be Time” bring you on a wild ride throughout the world created within The Slow Rush. – Josiah Botting 6. The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You We Will Always Love You is an auditory journey brimming with a lot of heart that’s a fitting end to 2020. The audacious 25 tracks of disco, soul, samples take you to a fantasyland with cosmic highs and lows. The soundscapes feels like a weird dream that leaves you with hope about the uncertain future as you teeter between nostalgia and déjà vu. – Kyle O’Keefe 5. Against All Logic – 2017-2019 Nicolas Jaar had a very busy year. He put out two records under his own name (Cenizas and Telas, both more ambient albums) and continued his series of AAL releases capturing work he has done over a span of time. The first album was called 2012-2017 and this is clearly a continuation. His very aggressive techno is both sonically too intense but also very danceable. It’s the type of music you crave to hear at 1:00 AM (or later) at a festival, with booming bass speakers so loud you feel your chest shaking as thousands of sweaty bodies intermingle between the fog machines and strobing lights. Oh pre-COVID times, how you were different. – Dakota Arsenualt 4. HAIM – Women in Music III HAIM released Women in Music Pt. III on June 26th this year, which will now be known as the day Erica Gellert stopped binging Netflix and was given new life. This album is a blend of alternative, indie, country and more. Highlights include the vulnerable and grounded track, “Leaning On You”, and “Don’t Wanna”, which perfectly describes how being in love with the wrong person can feel. (But in a fun way!) – Erica Gellert 3. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – Alfredo Alfredo is a fantastic collaboration between rapper Freddie Gibbs and producer The Alchemist. Alfredo is 35 minutes of Gibbs’ criminally hard-hitting rhymes, weaving effortlessly through soulful R&B and Jazz beats. Do not sleep on this release. – Jared Burke 2. Chromeo – Quarantine Casanova 🇨🇦 A hilarious but funky EP that we all needed this year. There has been plenty of music released that relates to the pandemic, but nothing quite like the lighthearted angle Chromeo has taken. The instrumentals are synth-heavy and funky, which live up to what one would typically expect from Chromeo. Lyrically they don’t take themselves too seriously, and it’s phenomenal. – Gemma Mastroianni Listen to my interview with Chromeo here. 1. Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 4 Released during the peak of the Black Lives Matter movement in June 2020, this free mixtape (and fourth self titled release) acted as the anthem for protestors against police brutality and racial injustice. With hard-hitting lyrics and bass, this album is designed to be played as loud as possible for everyone to hear. Must listen to tracks include the return of Zach de la Rocha (and Pharrell) on the banger “JU$T” and the scratch-tastic “ooh la la” with DJ Premier and Greg Nice. – Josiah Botting We hope that some of your favourite releases made this list, if not all the more reason for you to find something you might have missed! A special thank you to everyone that contributed to the creation of this article including Gemma Mastroianni, Amanda McMillan, Josiah Botting, John Mendoza, Alyssa Keighan, Stephania Prior, Jared Burke, Sydney Scott, Jayben Favila, James Hender, Erica Gellert and Alexandra Rodobolski for contributing words to this article. Special thanks to Stephanie Prior for designing the title graphic.

Los Angeles based one-woman orchestra HÄANA combines music, technology, and art to create her mystical sound. She has just dropped a moody new single titled, “Sand.” Sand is inspired by her memories of an overcast Morro Bay,CA with a moody vibe, where she found five separate perfectly in tact sand dollars on the beach in the winter. Following this event, she recorded the song inspired by this occurrence in her friends studio in Northern California where she was further inspired by sounds from nature and stillness. While listening, expect to be taken on the same journey. The track begins on a minimalistic and intimate note with piano and acoustic guitar, and a small amount of bass. In moments, her signature violin is layered with beautifully echoed vocals. The bass in the chorus is inspired by her time living in Spain where she stomped her boots and danced the night away at a Bulgarian dance party. As for the lyricism, the language is actually made up by HÄANA herself (my guess was that it was some form of latin, but I was amazed to discover this!) She was inspired by timeless romance, as well as artist Eivør’s vocalizations on her song Í Tokuni. “I love using my voice as a texture, an instrument, without attaching meaning to the words so the listener can form their own inner landscape and significance relating to their own life.” I really admire the pace of this track. It has a steady progression and draws you in with more and more instrumental layers, but transitions to guitar only, building you up for more violin and heavier dance-like bass drops. All in all, it took me on a journey and I would certainly define it as a calming but eventful song. production, violin, vocals: HÄANA acoustic guitar: Jon Margulies bass guitar: Ian Sloane vocals/violin engineered by Trevor Coalter, Los Angeles, CA mixed by Michal Nocny at Endeavor Studios, Los Angeles, CA mastered by Shawn Hatfield, AudibleOddities, Oakland, CA artwork: photo: Sequoia Emmanuelle mua: Ashley Joy Beck hair artist: Pavy digital manipulations + concept: HÄANA + Abbey Ley Follow HÄANA.

By: Gemma Mastroianni and Amanda McMillan Christmas time is here and you’re not done shopping- but it’s all fine, we’ve got your back. Gift giving is even harder this year as we avoid directly going to stores and are bombarded with online ads and endless options. Below you can find a curated gift guide based on horoscope, so you can skip all of the madness! A Scorpio is a complex, emotional and deep person. With most things they accomplish they tend to be serious leaders with a strong intensity. Although they can be tough-minded, they are very committed friends/family! Goals Journal 100KM Foods Gift Box Calming Glow Aromatherapy Candles A Capricorn is always on the go. Whether it’s meeting a deadline, creating new side projects for themselves, or just showing up in a lot of Big Ways for the people they care about…they’re not always the first to take care of themselves. Help them practice some self-care, or get them a clever gadget or tool that’s going to make their lives a little bit easier. Capricorns have a strong sense of duty, so taking time to really thank them and show appreciation can go a long way! Stress roller Meditation App subscription – Headspace, Calm, Insight Timer Make WFH a breeze with a Royal Seat Cushion A really thoughtful, personal, hand-written card A Gemini is a very playful and intellectual person, who can often be found balancing a variety of passions, careers, hobbies, and friend groups! They are also very open minded and will talk to you just about anything- nothing is off the table. Wall Calendar with dry eraser Catch Phrase Game Our Place Hand Painted Ceramic Plates or Drinking Glasses An Aquarius is usually a bit of a busy body – whether they’re tackling the Patriarchy or picking up a new skill or hobby, these warriors have stuff to DO and places to BE. Since they’re sometimes easily distracted by new ideas or shiny objects, staying focussed might be an issue. But, we know they need a lot of freedom to let their creative, kooky spirit fly free. Noise cancelling headphones to block out the bullshit Eucalyptus for their shower – visit your local florist or plant shop A book to get their wheels turning (shop at your local book shop!) – Try: Getting to Centre – Marlee Grace, The Infinite Game – Simon Sinek, Deviate – B. Lotto, Girl Decoded – Rana el Kaliouby Virgos often pay attention to the smallest details and will know you on a deeper level than most. They are attentive and loving, and are often misunderstood as they do not express things in typical ways one would. Although they can be very blunt and up-front, this makes them real! Weighted Blanket Secret Garden Colouring Book Ancestry.ca DNA kit Sure, Taurus gets a bad rap for being stubborn, but have you ever been to a Tarurean’s house? It always feels so nice, with little hits of beauty everywhere. They like to feel serene, okay?! Whether it’s their great taste in house plants, or interesting eye for decor, Taureans know how to make a house feel like a home. And when they have a project in mind, they’re determined to see it through. We love that! Plant care kit Delicious coffee beans and/ or cool French Press CBD pen The coziest, ethically made socks ever A Libra is passionate about creating a balanced life in all areas. They are not a fan of alone time and desire partnership in true friendship, and romantic relationships. Balance and symmetry is very important to them and are often found standing up for equality and injustices, although they dislike conflict and like to keep peace. Donation to favourite charity Aroma Rise Limited Edition Diffuser Something Neon Facemasks Monopoly (Friends Edition) Oh, you know a Cancerian loves to curl up at home with a good book, or a new record, or some sort of other calming, homey thing. However, they’re not always ones to get out of their comfort zone and try new things, despite being quite creative and innovative in nature. They’re always pleased to have something thoughtful, soft, or a gentle encouragement to let their creativity flow! A playlist of the all the songs that remind you of them A really soft blanket with a good weight to it Something to encourage their creative side: fancy markers (try: POSCA), new guitar strings (shop at your local music store), a fresh notebook with a smooth pen Something nice for their home – check out Rose City Goods A good gift for a Leo will make them feel special…and not just regular special, but extra special. Showing that you notice things about them, or see something that you think will make them look and feel like a million bucks is sure to put a smile on their face. They also love a good laugh, so something that tickles their funny bone could be a gift they’ll cherish. Funny books (check your local book shop) – try: Is This Something – Jerry Seinfeld, Wow No Thank You – Samatha Irby, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History – Andy Greene, Shrill – Lindy West, I Want Be Where The Normal People Are – Rachel Bloom Solid scents (They all smell great on any gender!) A touch of gold – check out: Jenny Bird, V de V, Muddy George A striking/unique/interesting vintage mirror – check your local vintage shops. This might be a labour of love to find, but oh-so-worth-it. A Pisces is the most empathetic of all the zodiac signs. They are often giving of themselves to keep everyone around them happy, and perpetuate a vivid and creative imagination and have a strong appreciation for the arts. Google Nest Fujifilm InstaX Opposite Wall Gift Card Paint By Numbers Kit Saggitarians can take up a lot of space – they are opinionated, bold, and unafraid to show off. But just because we can see them doesn’t mean that we know them. Show a Saggitarian in your life that you really get them by nurturing their natural creative side, introducing new ideas, and making them feel taken care of. They’re always buzzing around that sometimes they forget how to slow down! Artwork – check out: notnothing, would be nude not to, boring friends, temi coker, Chief Lady Bird, Stephanie Cheng A cool aromatherapy diffuser A book by or about a notable badass (shop at your local book store!): Try: Untamed – Glennon Doyle, Recollections of My Nonexistence – Rebecca Solnit, Carry – Toni Jensen, We Have Always Been Here – Samra Habib A personalized care package with all their fave things (use the 5 senses to help make a checklist!) Aries are passionate, motivated, and confident people who build a life around them filled with a positive community, and determined friends. Although they are very direct, they often get frustrated by excessive details and small talk. Blume Self Care Bundle Silk Pillowcases HelloFresh Kit A thrifted jean jacket hand-painted and customized by you!

By: Gemma Mastroianni Ben Browning is a singer songwriter, and also long-time member of synth-pop band Cut Copy. He joins me on the Wavy podcast to chat his new single “I Concede”, writing process, synths, and how he started playing bass in Cut Copy despite having spent most of his early life playing piano and guitar. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It was a pleasure to have this conversation with Ben as I’ve strongly admire how carefully crafted and detailed both Cut Copy and Ben’s album is. I admire his dedication to his craft, especially having learned many skills through his experience in Cut Copy. Music lovers will enjoy this episode, and I hope all listeners can take something from this conversation. Follow Ben. Follow Cut Copy.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo (David Macklovitch and Patrick Gemayel) and Montreal based producer and electronic artist Anomalie (Nicolas Dupuis) join me on the Wavy Podcast. We talk about their new collab jazz-funk EP “Bend The Rules”, their record label Juliet Records, and how to make it in the music industry long-term. Listen to the interview on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Listen to the new EP! This is a groovy EP with an interesting mixture between Anomalie and Chromeo. You get a jazz mix and electronic element from Anomalie, and the classic funk from Chromeo creating an eclectic, fun, and psychedelic experience. Although only three tracks, it will take you on a journey! Follow Anomalie Follow Chromeo

By: Gemma Mastroianni 2020 is coming to an end, and I can’t say that I’m upset about that. Although it has not exactly been the best year for all of us, there has been some amazing art that has come of it. Whether it was the perfect timing of the Fleet Foxes album drop on the first day of Fall, a Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa pop/rock collab, or even the controversial ‘WAP’ music video, it’s been an entertaining and inspiring year for music. Here are my top favourite music videos of the year, in no particular order. Can I Believe You – Fleet Foxes This song represents the struggle of trust issues within a relationship, which is represented by two dancers in the video. (Jade-Lorna Sullivan and Jean Charles.) Through a variety of different lighting and props, they move towards each-other but can never manage to reach one another. Headaches – Raveena This video is a dreamy-psychedelic journey with lots of pink and purple shades, fitting in with the theme of love. Follow along with her relationship struggles and see the ups and downs, which are constantly fluctuating as her and her partner are seen having the best of times, but quickly flashing back to Raveena being alone and upset. Lonely – Justin Bieber & benny blanco A very impressive video from Bieber, the best I have seen thus far. A one-shot style piece where you follow along with a younger Bieber and get a glimpse into what it is like to be one of the most famous people in the world, but a child and alone at the same time. Let You Down – Mother Tongues Enter a journey of self reflection as you watch Mother Tongues play “Let You Down” in a breezy field with a bright and eye-catching wardrobe. The grainy filter and colour palette filled with greens, reds, oranges, and yellows bring you back to the 70’s, with an explosive ending. Midnight Sky – Miley Cyrus A self-directed disco pop adventure with Miley Cyrus that will take you to a room filled with mirrors, swimming with gumballs, and lots of purple eyeshadow. 10% – KAYTRANADA and Kali Uchis A groovy dance party in a club featuring KAYTRANADA spinning the tracks, with Kali Uchis looking fly as ever reminding us of our worth, with tons of characters dancing in between. Sledgehammer – Kid Bloom This video doesn’t exactly tell a story, but it will take you back to the 80’s with the background graphics and keeps it entertaining! The song is absolutely stunning and I would have loved to see what a video with a storyline would have looked like, but these vibes are great in their own way. Tesfay – Witch Prophet This is a beautiful video that shows the benefits of a relationship of a father/grand-father and daughter. Within just four minutes you get to see dancing, emotional connection, and wonderful cinematography. Need Your Love – Tennis A video that will take you in a studio, to the ocean, and to the dessert with a 70’s style filter over it. This song meant a lot to singer Alaina Moore as it represented finding healing in unhealthy relationships. The video is a glimpse into her emotions as you see her ponder and go through the waves. Trying – Luna Li This song never fails to give me goosebumps between its melodies and emotional lyricism. Let Luna Li take you on a colourful, dark, and breezy journey through coping with heart-ache in this colourful video. Love Games – Niiva We’ve all dealt with the frustration of “games” within relationships. NIIVA depicts the feelings perfectly, and the editing including graphics of text messages is an accurate representation of our current times as we are all isolated. Whether it’s with a friend or significant other, we all get this! Check out NIIVA as she roams through an apartment in pain from the “love games” complimented by some amazing lighting work, and a cool wardrobe! Perfume Genius – Describe A hazy video taking place in the countryside with movie-like cinematography. The song represents being in a dark/depressive episode where you can no longer find any happiness in your life, in which you then rely upon others. You will see an artistic representation of this mindset through dancing and fighting, time-lapse style filming, and beautiful over-layed graphics that represent flashbacks. Black Mamba – aespa This was one of the strongest musical debuts of 2020! The colourful and adventure filled K-Pop video was trending in the top 10 on Youtube the day it came out. “Black Mamba” is a fun and catchy pop song, accompanied by fun dancing, digital graphics, and adventurous locations. Dora – Tierra Whack This video is unpredictable, exciting and colourful. The animation and visuals are incredible and always leave you guessing for what is coming next. I recommend giving this a few watches to take in everything! Sun Dance – Crownlands Crownlands absolutely nailed this one with all of the psychedelic rock feels. Let them take you on a trip through the Toronto Allen Gardens, and perhaps you will levitate too! TKN – Rosalia featuring Travis Scott A thrilling video and diverse combination of genre between Rosalia and Travis Scott. This video is upbeat featuring a ton of dancing, chasing, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I Feel Alive – TOPS “I Feel Alive” has 80’s movie written all over it. I mostly love this one for it’s up-close filming style and studio location. It really just reminds me of cheesy portraits taken back in the day. No Good – Tafari Anthony Tafari brings us through the rollercoaster of a relationship in this apartment based music video. Feel the emotion of the twists and turns, while admiring this stunning apartment. Maybe That’s Why – RALPH TV “Maybe That’s Why” will take you on a psychedelic trip with the band to a bowling alley, through a kaleidoscope, and endless places. The editing style is the coolest part about this one for me! Delicate – Crash Adams A fun Toronto based video! Watch as signs are held up by those roaming the streets that display what people are really feeling/going through – a good reminder to always keep this in mind. Although that aspect is a bit heavier, it ends with a funky dance party.

By: Amanda McMillan Let’s talk about Miley, shall we? She’s been a little all over the place in the last couple of years, and 2020 has been particularly intense for her it would seem (can’t we all relate?!). Most notably, a finalized divorce from Liam Hemsworth early in the year, followed by losing her home in the California wildfires. Included in that loss was the original album that she had planned to release this year, Oof. But, what’s clearly come up for Miley Cyrus, shades of which we have seen before, is a lot of angst. There’s some anger, some gritty frustration, and some sadness, too. She’s been leaving us some crumbs and clues about what she’s been up to since March with her continued Backyard Sessions, and performing as Miley Cyrus & The Social Distancers, and now releasing “Plastic Hearts.” But nothing came as more of a pleasant surprise than her back to back live covers of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” and The Cranberries “Zombie”. We all knew Miley could sing, but I don’t know if we knew she could sing like that. That seemed to be the missing piece for the otherwise Disney star turned Wild Child of pop – some fucking rock n roll. Plastic Hearts features both the aforementioned live covers, as well as a playful mash-up of the single “Midnight Sky” with Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen”, like special little treats at the end of an otherwise fun and surprising album. Off the bat, “WTF Do I Know” is a slick, catchy pop song that has just enough early 2000s pop-rock flare to make it feel nostalgic. The album namesake “Plastic Hearts” is too catchy to ignore, and gives us a little bit of that spicy Miley we’ve come to know and love. The line “I just want to feel something, but I keep feeling nothing all night long,” evokes a familiar feeling of what it’s like to be in a relationship that’s no longer working. The first single off the album “Midnight Sky” is perfect for radio fame, as it’s already been gathering. The melody of the chorus is quite similar to “Edge of Seventeen” that it would have been a shame not to do a mash-up, which you can find towards the end of the album. You can never go wrong with Stevie Nicks on the other side of just about anything. There’s a couple of 80’s inspired ballads that have just a kiss of Miley’s country roots, making them a nice break from the fast tempo of the rest of the album. “Angels Like You” is ripe for a killer karaoke performance in all the best ways (once that’s allowed again!), while “High” feels like it was personally blessed by Miley’s godmother, Dolly Parton herself. It’s nice Miley hasn’t strayed too far from those roots, which is what a lot of her previous work felt like. There’s enough of an overlap between country ballads and rock ballads that suit her voice to a tee. The album also features some killer collaborations: Dua Lipa, Joan Jett, and Billy Idol. This combination seems to say a lot about where Miley drew her influence. The Dua Lipa track “Prisoner” is an absolute bop, a truly magical mix of talents. In typical Joan Jett fashion, we get the sense of ‘cool aunt’ from their relationship, and “Bad Karma” has one of the best lines of the whole album: “They say its bad karma being such a heartbreaker/I’ve always picked a giver cuz I’ve always been a taker/I’d rather just do it and I’ll think about it later.” That is some big rebel energy right there. Oh, and Billy Idol? Still as Billy Idol-y as ever. He’s less ‘cool uncle’ and more ‘cool grandpa’, but to be honest, we need more of those. Plastic Hearts sheds some of her pop star skin and gives us something that feels a little more, well, real. We’re seeing the artist that seems to have always been there, but she’s truly letting her out now. Maybe it’s a natural progression as she gets older, or maybe it’s a confident, rebellious “fuck it, we’ll do it live” vibe. Whatever it is, it feels more personal, more vulnerable, and the closest she’s ever let us in. In a way, it feels like we’re seeing, and hearing, her for the first time. Maybe, then, with Plastic Hearts, she truly is just being Miley.