It’s been a while since we’ve done artist spotlights at RadioFWD. Due to office renovations, we’ve mainly been focusing on operations for our new podcast studio (now available for booking by the way). However with the turn of the new year, we would like to go back to our music roots. Each month we will be highlighting the latest singles and albums that were released from artists that we think deserve a chance in the spotlight. With thousands of new songs uploaded daily, it genuinely is hard to find new artists without the help of RateYourMusic, content creators, internet music nerds, and other music publications. The goal for this project is to shed light on new music being made in Canada (with emphasis on the GTA as we are based in Scarborough), but also music released abroad that has caught our attention. With that being said, there will be artists that will slip through the cracks and so if there are any that you think we should check out, make sure to leave a comment below! Now does this mean we aren’t going to talk about major projects like The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow? No. But for major releases, we will be very selective, because if an album is good, then it will be hard to ignore (sorry Drake and PND). Now without further ado, here are some interesting projects that released in January and February of 2025:
Big Title Releases
It is impossible to bring up big album releases without mentioning The Weeknd. Just like with Dawn FM, he is back with another early January release. It is a fitting end and finale to The Weeknd’s discography, with some of his best production. Although I did find the 1hr24 run time a little bloated, for fans of The Weeknd, it is exactly what you would want. With a more house/EDM inspired production, it makes me wonder if Abel’s next project steers into that direction.
The second posthumous album gives Mac Miller fans the project they’ve long been waiting for. Recorded in 2014, we finally get to officially hear Balloonerism, an album jam packed with jazzy, neo-soul production and introspective lyrics from Mac Miller.
Another long awaited album, fans of FKA Twigs were treated to her first studio album in 5 years. Cool avant-pop and techno reminiscent of Björk, and what the heck, a North West feature!?
Jazz
White Linen Dress is Micaela’s debut single and from her upcoming debut EP Saccharine, which will be released sometime this Spring. Featuring an all star lineup of jazz musicians from around the city (Steven Noronha on piano, Jesse White on guitar, Thomas Hainbuch on bass, Keith Barstow on drums, David Hodgson on Sax, and Samuel Laramee on synths), Micaela has crafted a beautiful sonic experience that has us excited for the rest of the EP.
Lavender Town is back with their debut LP featuring Jazz Fusion favourites that fans have loved from their many shows around the GTA. Some Hip Hop (Untitled 05, Figaro//One Beer), some video game nostalgia (Wet Hands, Lavender Town) and some originals, this LP will have you wanting to dust off the old PS2 or DS and relive childlike innocence.
Following the release of 2024 singles, I Think Of You (Time and Time Again), and Lemon Tree, Ale Nuñez follows them up with 2 more exquisite tracks. You’ll want to cry, you’ll want to hug someone close to you, and you’ll want to romanticize the world around you.
All the way from Montréal, Mafuba’s take on Jazz fusion is less video game soundtrack, and more like a cool, hip cocktail bar that serves $20 drinks. It’s fun, it’s groovy, and like the album cover, gives you the feeling of having dinner with friends that you haven’t seen in a while.
For fans of Berlioz and Bolden., Harrison delivers a foot tapping, head bobbing Jazz House track that can make Monday evenings feel like a Friday night.
Anytime you mix the Gayageum with jazz, you know you're gonna create something special. Robert Lee blew me away with this project. This is the first time I've ever heard Korean Jazz and I hope it is not the last. Jacqueline Teh's (Moodset) vocals are always superb and are a great addition to the album as well.
Indie Rock / Hardcore / Folk / Alternative
In the early running for my album of the year. While their 2022 album Versions of Modern Performance leaned more post punk, Phonetics On and On sees the Horsegirl go for a more minimalist, nursery rhyme type of vibe. If you like The Raincoats and Kimya Dawson type of sound, this is definitely one you need to check out.
After the release of their 2023 Live Album, Live at Bush Hall (their first release since the departure of frontman Isaac Wood), indie darlings Black Country, New Road are back with new studio recorded music. In preparation for the release of Forever Howlong on April 4th, the band released the debut single Besties with Georgie Ellery on lead vocals for the first time. Love the harpsichord on this track and how cozy it feels.
Beautiful, ethereal Japanese Folk music. It can be whimsical, it can be dark and mysterious, and it can also make you feel like you're frolicking through the meadow. Perfect for the upcoming walks in the Spring when the flowers start to bloom again.
I loved their 2022 collab EP with Weatherday, Weatherglow. This LP feels like a nice continuation of that fuzzy, static, lo-fi sound. I'm not the biggest fan of the Paranoul style of shoegaze but this is project works for me.
Not gonna lie I never really got into Anxious in the past but after listening to Bambi I feel the urge to go through the rest of their discography. Is it hardcore, is it punk, is it emo? Who knows, and who cares?
RadioFWD Podcast host Shawn Gouralnik and I both appeared in the music video for PUP's Paranoid. I'm glad the song rips otherwise listening to it 200 times on the day of the shoot would've been a buzzkill. With Hallways we get a more lighthearted PUP track that is Matilda/Mabu-esque that have fans always adore. Safe to say I'm looking forward to the full album release.
Nearly 3 years after the release of their debut single Dead, we are treated to a full 8 song LP. If you're looking for a new shoegaze band to fan over, look no further than High. from New Jersey. Fuzzy guitars, melancholic lyrics, booming drums, what more could you ask for?
Indie rock from Montréal. Love the jangly guitar chords on this one, reminiscent of Real Estate and early Alvvays.
Some Scarborough Alternative R&B. Probably my favourite single from Jaisy so far, love the underlying dark and eerie vibe of the song, and then ending it with guitar solo. Chef's kiss.
I saw Initiate open for GEL at Velvet Underground about a year ago and fucked with their music ever since. Crystal Pak has got some insane vocals and the lyrics about helplessness and compassion fatigue feel ever so relatable.
9Million from Toronto is another prominent band in this new wave of shoegaze talent. And while their older projects tend to have a bit more of a darker edge, WTKHTS has a bit more of an upbeat pop sound that I actually quite enjoy. I'm excited to see if the band experiments with this type of sound more.
My Son The Doctor - Lawrence Bigando / Pink Banana
I saw My Son The Doctor not once, but twice at NXNE '23. They are like if Pavement had a bit more of a punk edge. The lead singer also has an incredible stage presence and after this single, it only makes me wish this New York band makes a return to Toronto sometime in the near future. But hey in the mean time, it looks like an album will be coming soon.
Shoutout to Lisha for putting me on to Lutalo. Loved the moody atmosphere and hypnotizing vocals. Will definitely do a discography deep dive soon.
Shoutout to Instagram ads for showing me this one. I'm always a sucker for fuzzy guitar driven melodies. Like Jay Som, its got that 90s alternative sound that people can't get enough of these days.
One of the premier shoegaze bands to come out of the zoomergaze movement. I'm not typically big on the more muted, hard to decipher lyrics of some shoegaze bands but I always love it when Glixen does it. Saw them last year when they opened for Glitterer and it was amazing. Even with ear plugs it was just pure fuzzy bliss the whole set.
Hip Hop
Fun, quirky, madlib type beat. I also love when a hip hop artist changes vocal inflections to mix up their flow and make it constantly engaging. I mean shit look at how artists like Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar manipulate their voice.
Shoutout to Future and André 3000 for making the flute cool in hip hop. Love that way it meanders throughout the track. For me I'm big on production and I love the way the song progresses and crescendos and adds more layers to the melody.
I like the "I don't want to die" sample on loop throughout the track. I love when producers just go through dozens of old records just to use a 4 second snippet to make a beat out of.
Off of his I Lay Down My Life For You (Director's Cut) LP, PROTECT THE CROSS continues Peggy's mix of hardcore and hip hop and personally I like the combo. He also released Valentine's Day Freestyle '25 for those who are craving more music from him.
Perfect track for those nights of driving through downtown Toronto. That is as long as the road is plowed and cleared.
Dance / EDM / Pop
Sextile - Freak Eyes (new album coming soon)
Became acquainted with Sextile when I saw them open for Molchat Doma at History. With opening acts, you want something that's provocative and gets the people going, and that's exactly what Sextile accomplished. While their early projects are more post punk/new wave, their more recent work (including this single) appear to be heading in a more warehouse rave direction and I love that for them. They also teased new songs from their upcoming album and it's got me hyped for the full release.
Irish Republican hip hop will always hit hard especially with the Irish Gaelic lyrics. Is it technically a 2019 song? Sure. But we got some new remixes, and recordings of an Irish banger and I will continue to play it until we get a united Ireland. Tiocfaidh ár lá.
Fun, twee, synthpop.
Not much of a fan of the political results coming out of Germany, but a girl who is a horse that also DJs? Sure, what the hell, I'll give it a listen. Who knew a horse could do hardstyle, trance, dancepop, and EDM.
It's kinda like if Lorde decided to go into more of a synthpop, EDM sound after Melodrama, so if you didn't like Solar Power, check out this LP from Ela Minus.
Love their drum and bass style of pop music. It's catchy, fun, and straight to the point.
All of the artists from this month's music recap can be found in the playlist below!
Comentarios