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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!

Single Servings: April 26, 2021

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Bandcamp

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Clockwise from top left: Haerin, Danielle, Hanni, Hyein, Minji. Styling by Choi Yumi. Hair by Lee Hye Jin. Makeup by Lee Nakyeum. All wardrobe by Calvin Klein.
Elina Kechicheva

Clockwise from top left: Haerin, Danielle, Hanni, Hyein, Minji. Styling by Choi Yumi. Hair by Lee Hye Jin. Makeup by Lee Nakyeum. All wardrobe by Calvin Klein.

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