Toronto got hit with 28cm of snow cover this weekend. While snowed in, I’ve had nothing but time to catch up on the hottest new releases. This week’s instalment of What’s Going On is a largely Canadian and Australian affair with the latest from Savannah Ré, Chiiild, Boy & Bear, and Peach PRC. All that, plus Nashville duo Drew & Ellie Holcomb. As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to stream and follow the artists.
Savannah Ré – Canadian R&B sensation Savannah Ré is out now with a music video for “Bands,” her track featuring North Carolina rapper/producer Mez. Taken from the two-time JUNO Award winner’s No Weapons EP, the YogiTheProducer and Beat Butcha-produced “Bands” is equal parts sultry and brash. Director Nate Burland brought the song’s bossed-up feel to life, perfectly visualizing the confidence, swagger, and self-assuredness of both Savannah Ré and Mez. 2023 is set to be another banner year for the Scarborough songstress. Savannah Ré has two nominations for the 2023 JUNO Awards (Contemporary R&B/Soul Recording of the Year JUNO Award and Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year) and is set to perform at the SXSW Festival.
Check out the video for Savannah Ré’s “Bands” ft. Mez below.
Boy & Bear – Chart-topping Australian band Boy & Bear just announced their eponymous fifth studio album. Serving as a taste of what listeners can expect is “Apex,” the band’s latest single. The indie band’s knack for catchy melodies and pop sensibilities is apparent on “Apex” along with electronic elements that add a whole other dimension to the track. What can we expect from the new album? According to Boy & Bear bassist Dave Symes: “We wanted to make an album of seductive grooves, soaring melodies, modulated ambient textures, and great stories. We worked hard to strike the right balance between vintage and cutting edge, polished and sure, but full of heart and wild touches.” Boy & Bear’s new self-titled album is due out on May 26.
Listen to Boy & Bear’s new single “Apex” below.
CHIIILD – Canadian multi-hyphenate Chiiild is out now with his new album Better Luck in the Next Life. The highly anticipated project sees the genre-defiant Montreal artist at his most vulnerable, with honest and raw writing that explores everything from integrity and musical freedom to decision-making and personal equilibrium. Better Luck in the Next Life features appearances from Alina Baraz and Lucky Daye. The album’s crown jewel is “I Hope I Packed A Parachute,” a lush track produced by Chiiild & Pierre-Luc Rioux that sees the singer collaborating with fellow buzzworthy Canadian performer Charlotte Cardin. Speaking on what’s at the core of Better Luck in the Next Life, Chiiild states: “Better Luck In The Next Life is a bit of an autobiographical record that covers all of the things that I love and some of the things I have gone through. It’s a very honest record that begins to tell my story and answer some of the questions about why I’m doing this in the first place as well as who I am.”
Listen to Chiiild’s “I Hope I Packed A Parachute” ft. Charlotte Cardin below.
Peach PRC – Rising Aussie pop star Peach PRC is following up her Paris Hilton-nodding “Perfect For You” with “F U Goodbye,” the latest release from her forthcoming EP Manic Dream Pixie. The upbeat electro-pop empowerment anthem was produced by Konstantin Kersting (who did Tones & I’s viral “Dance Monkey”) so it’s no surprise that the song is an instant earworm. Explaining what “F U Goodbye” is all about, Peach PRC says: “This track was about reclaiming my power over one of the most damaging experiences of my life – and putting the blame where it belongs. The verses sort of lull the perpetrator into a false sense of calm, but the chorus is me fully unleashing my rage and refusing to play the insipid little victim.” Peach PRC’s Manic Dream Pixie is due out on April 28.
Listen to Peach PRC’s new single “F U Goodbye” below.
Drew & Ellie Holcomb – Nashville husband-and-wife duo Drew & Ellie Holcomb are currently on the road with their An Evening with Drew & Ellie Holcomb: The Residency Tour, with the Americana pair touching down in Tennessee for a run of what should be emotional shows starting on March 23. Drew & Ellie started their love story after meeting at University of Tennessee in Knoxville, which makes their Tennessee return a romantic homecoming of sorts. If you’re in the Tennessee area, you can catch Drew & Ellie Holcomb at the Bijou Theatre on March 23, 24, & 25.
Listen to Drew & Ellie Holcomb’s latest single “Bones” below.
