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FYI

Born Ruffians: Miss You

The Toronto ensemble headlines a series of hometown shows following the release of a new album and teasing both is a fine new single that will tickle the fancy of alt and mainstream fans.

Born Ruffians: Miss You

By Kerry Doole

Born Ruffians - "Miss You" (Paper Bag): In understated but very steady fashion, this Toronto indie rock band has gained an impressively large and loyal fan base, ten years into their career. This fact is notably reflected by the ensemble having already sold out three of five shows they play at hometown's Lee's Palace in April.


A new album, Uncle, Duke & The Chief, comes out on Feb. 16, and "Miss You" is the latest single from it. It is both quirky and catchy, two characteristics common to Born Ruffians' material.

A phalanx of backing vocals helps ask the oft-spoken query; "do you miss me the way I miss you, baby?" There is definite earworm potential here, with heavy modern rock radio play expected.

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The album itself is reported to feature meditations on mortality and other intense themes, but not in a bleak fashion. In a label press release, the primary songwriter, Luke Lalonde, explains “there’s some dark shit on here,” but adds that "I think a lot of the death talk on the record is more about how death can be a wondrous and wonderful thing, in a way.”

The group's extensive North American tour begins at Montreal's Casa Del Popolo on March 1, concluding at Subterranean in Chicago on May 19. A full itinerary here

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EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.
Courtesy of Girl Connected

EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.

Record Labels

EMPIRE President Tina Davis Gives Strategic Advice to Women in Music at Girl Connected's New Speaker Series

On Friday (March 28), the president of EMPIRE, the Bay Area-independent label and music company, came to Toronto for Conversation with the Pros offering tangible advice to the mentorship program's community. Davis also spoke to Billboard Canada about her impressive journey in the industry.

Girl Connected has launched a new series that connects the next generation of women in Canadian music with powerhouse executives for the global industry.

On Friday (March 28), Tina Davis, president of EMPIRE, sat down with Girl Connected founder and music industry veteran Lola Plaku at Toronto Metropolitan University for the first in-person Canadian edition of Conversations with the Pros (Billboard Canada was a supporting partner). The series brings in inspiring music industry figures from Girl Connected's international network to talk about their journeys and offer actionable information and advice to help the budding music professionals develop their skills and reach the next level of their careers.

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