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Rock

The Beaches Bring Their Charm and Chaos to NPR’s Tiny Desk

This debut arrives after a whirlwind year of milestones, pairing the confidence of No Hard Feelings with the candid spirit that earned them Billboard Canada’s Women of the Year.

The Beaches photographed by Lane Dorsey in Toronto in 2025.
The Beaches photographed by Lane Dorsey in Toronto in 2025.

The Beaches just made their Tiny Desk debut, performing a lively five-song set that captures their trademark mix of humour, honesty and friendship.

The Toronto band consisting of Jordan Miller, Kylie Miller, Leandra Earla nd Eliza Enman-McDaniel played in NPR’s Washington D.C. office, turning the small space into a warm, high-energy mini-concert.


They kicked off the set with “Blame Brett” from their 2023 album Blame My Ex, followed by “Can I Call You in the Morning?” and “Lesbian of the Year” from their new album No Hard Feelings. Earl wrote “Lesbian of the Year” about her own coming-out story, and the song added a touching moment to an otherwise upbeat performance. The band finished with “Edge of the Earth” and “Last Girls at the Party,” laughing and singing like they were at one of their own house parties.

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The Tiny Desk appearance comes at a pivotal moment for the band. They were recently named Billboard Canada’s Women of the Year 2025, the first time the award has been given to a full group rather than a solo artist.

In the cover story announcing the honour, Billboard Canada noted that while their viral moment arrived in 2023, this year “is proving to be their biggest yet.” They're gearing up for their first hometown arena concert on November 6 at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.

Many of their fan-followers, the article said, mirror the band themselves: young, queer, diverse and ready to see themselves on stage the way the band sees themselves.

With No Hard Feelings ushering in a fresh era and their global following steadily rising, The Beaches’ Tiny Desk debut proves why they’re among Canada’s most exciting rock bands today — mixing honesty, heart, and a sense of fun in songs that comfort as much as they captivate.

Watch The Beaches' full Tiny Desk concert below.

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Amber Still, executive director of the Polaris Music Prize
Johanna Stickland

Amber Still, executive director of the Polaris Music Prize

Awards

‘Protect the Prize’: The Polaris Music Prize Undergoes Its Biggest Period of Change

Now entering its third decade, the Canadian critic’s prize has expanded its voting pool, adjusted to financial constraints and begun awarding both albums and songs. After years defined by its refined focus, the changes mark a major expansion of the organization’s mission.

In 2025, the Polaris Music Prize celebrated its 20th anniversary. Entering its third decade, the award is undergoing what might be its biggest period of change. From funding to voting process, the organization is continuing to evolve.

The cultural not-for-profit organization has spent the better part of two decades creating a space in the industry for Canadian acts to be recognized based solely artistic merit, rather than sales, genre or support from a record label. Founded in the 2000s as Canada's answer to the Mercury Prize, the organization became a registered Canadian charity in 2017.

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