Welcome to another instalment of What’s Going On, Biff Bam Pop’s weekly new music roundup. This week, we’re focusing on rising talents emerging from the Canadian music scene that need to be on your radar for 2024. Canada has a long history of diverse artists from British Columbia to Newfoundland who have added to the nation’s musical tapestry. We’re spotlighting a curated crop of younger acts who are poised to leave their own mark on Canada’s legacy in music: New West, PARIS., LAVI$H, Lili-Ann De Francesco, and Aysanabee. As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to stream and follow the artists.
New West – One of the most intriguing acts coming out of Toronto right now is New West. The collective, consisting of Kala Wita, Vella, Ben Key, and Noel West, dropped their debut album Based On A True Story… this past October via Giant Music/Republic Records/Universal Music Canada. With their genre-defying sound and confessional lyrics, it’s no surprise that New West have quickly been making inroads globally. 2023 saw them make their debut at Austin City Limits and land their first late-night talk show with a stellar performance of “Those Eyes” on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! Expect to see so much more from New West in 2024.
Listen to New West’s “Those Eyes” ft. Zeph below.
PARIS. – Burgeoning Burnaby, British Columbia hip-hop/R&B artist PARIS. already has a pair of majorly buzzworthy hits to his credit and he’s sure to keep that buzz going with “Me N Mines.” The new release sees PARIS. teaming up with Northern California-based rapper MBNel. Both artists sound right at home rapping over the Gwalla-produced track about their respective come-ups. “Me N Mines” also stands out as a major collaboration between two rising Filipino hip-hop stars. How did the collaboration with MBNel come together? According to PARIS.: “Me and Nel got in contact over Instagram. He always showed me love and we officially linked up when him and his team asked me to be a part of their tour stop in Toronto back in 2022. That’s when we locked in. Nel has always been super cool and he supported my music. Vice versa. We both were amped to get a record in together. We’d send some open verses over text and this one clicked. I’m looking forward to performing together in the future. Us both being Filipino and pursuing hip hop is a big step for sure.”
Listen to PARIS.’s new single “Me N Mines” with MBNel below.
LAVI$H – Def Jam Recordings artist LAVI$H has gotten major co-signs from huge Canadian acts like Drake and Jessie Reyez, so you know his star is only going to continue to rise. The singer from Winnipeg by way of Lusaka, Zambia released his debut EP You Made A Big Mistake this past spring to critical acclaim and is poised for an even bigger 2024. With a sound that can be best described as future-soul, LAVI$H pulls from the past and other styles while still being very rooted in contemporary R&B. Hearing other sounds upon arriving in Canada helped to develop his ear. LAVI$H explains: “When I came across all these other genres, it was crazy. I couldn’t stop searching for more.”
Listen to LAVI$H’s new single “Your Biggest Fan” below.
Lili-Ann De Francesco – If French Canadian singer-songwriter Lili-Ann De Francesco isn’t already on your radar, she needs to be. The Quebec native prides herself on being authentic with her music. Released last year, her debut EP Inhale showcases just how intimate and relatable her lyrics can get. If that’s not enough, the project’s stadium-ready sound provides a glimpse at just how big Lili-Ann De Francesco can become. What’s the new EP all about? Lili-Ann states: “This EP is my story, my life from the past 2 years. Having the chance to share my deepest feelings with the world is an honour. Writing inhale was scary, fun, relieving, crying, laughing… mixed emotions, but it was all worth it.”
Listen to Lili-Ann De Francesco’s “her” below.
Aysanabee – A relative newcomer to the scene, Aysanabee is making a name for himself. The Oji-Cree singer-songwriter dropped his debut single “We Were Here” in 2022 and the momentum hasn’t let up since. This past October saw the release of Aysanabee’s new EP Here and Now and a tour supporting Dan Mangan, solidifying his place as one of the most intriguing alt-rock artists emerging from Canada. This is all part of a grander vision for Aysanabee, as he says: “This is the first of more records that will explore the impact of colonization on Indigenous love in this country. This country never made me feel worthy of love, and in turn never made me feel worthy of the love of another. Through this record, I wanted to be honest by facing my own fallibilities when it comes to building and keeping relationships.”
Listen to Aysanabee’s “Here and Now” below.
