We’re about to enter the time of year when labels start setting things up for the spring and summer. Here’s an early look at what to expect.
1. LØREN, Folks
Put Up a Fight EP (88rising, THEBLACKLABEL)
Recommended If You Like: Music from South Korea that’s not K-pop
Wait. Music from South Korea that’d not from BTS, BLACKPINK, or anyone else from the K-pop universe? When this popped into my inbox, I just had to give it a listen—and I was pleasantly surprised and had to know more. That’s when I found out that LØREN has written a number of hits for BLACKPINK, so we’re not completely away from K-pop. This EP, however, has nothing in common with those songs. A nice change!
2. Elita, Serial Killer
Dysania (Opposition)
RIYL: Not your parents’ Newfoundland music
Quick: What do you think of when the topic of music from Newfoundland comes up? Great Big Sea? Some kind of sea shanty? How about Gothy-y psych-y bedroom pop? That’s what we get from Elita and it’s about as far as anyone can get from stereotypical Newfoundland music. Elita once again proves that it doesn’t matter where you’re from. If the music is good, you can be everywhere.
3. Chris Gormley, Good Morning
Single (Independent)
RIYL: Feel-good music
If you’re a fan of spirits, you may have run across Chris’ The Whisky Hunter project. More likely is that you’re familiar with Chris as the drummer in The Trews. Chris is now the father of twins and although they seem to like songs about whisky, Dad thought it might be nice if he wrote a song for the kids that didn’t have anything to do with brown alcohol. This is the result.
4. New West, Those Eyes
Single (Dinealone)
RIYL: Songs with a Coldplay/Oasis vibe
Toronto’s New West (formerly known as .wav) is a four-piece music collective that’s been together since 2017. They started grabby attention in 2019 with an EP that’s been streamed more than 40 million times. A single entitled Balenciaga (yes, like the fashion band) took things a step further. And how this song has already caught fire in the US. Expect more music this spring.
5. Letdown, Crying the Shower
Single (Big Rock Rock)
RIYL: Agonizing heartbreak told punk-pop style
Okay, so this may be more emo than punk-pop. Whatever. Chicago’s Blake Coddington says he spent much of the pandemic either working at a job he hated and “crying out his problems” at home writing music as therapy. He must be a little happier these days, what with his 500,000 TikTok followers. If you’re looking for emotionally vulnerable pop, then this is the place for you.
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