As you’ve noticed, this week’s instalment of What’s Going On isn’t coming to you on its usual day. With the convergence of World Cup fever and Toronto Pride this weekend, I partied just a little too hard. But fear not, there’s no shortage of standout releases demanding your attention. We’ve got solid new releases from rising acts, plus the latest from Carly Rae Jepsen and Brandon Flowers. As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to follow and stream these artists.
Carly Rae Jepsen – Perennial Canadian pop pixie Carly Rae Jepsen is back in sparkly form with “On Wires,” the lead single from her upcoming huge double album Day and Night. Built on Kyle Shearer’s shimmering production, the track captures the euphoric feeling of early desire, where friendship starts to blossom into something new and exciting. Set in the album’s “day” cycle, it radiates warmth and immediacy, marking a bold, emotionally fluid new chapter for the pop princess. Her double album is set to drop on September 18. Millennial gays rejoice!
Listen to Carly Rae Jepsen’s new single “On Wires” below.
BODEGA – New York art-rock troublemakers BODEGA have a new album on the way. All Inside Aquarium is due out October 9 via Chrysalis Records. Alongside the album announcement comes the release of the self-titled lead single and a surreal video directed by Nikki Belfiglio. Recorded live in a converted church studio in Leeds with producer Matt Peel, the track leans into tighter, melodic ‘80s rock energy. A little existential and a little psychedelic, “All Inside Aquarium” is one of the best things you’ll hear this week.
Listen to BODEGA’s new single “All Inside Aquarium” below.
Brandon Flowers – The moment you’ve all been waiting for. After more than a decade away from dropping solo material, Killers frontman Brandon Flowers returns with THRASHER, his new album due out August 21. Lead single “Plans” serves as a great introduction to what you can expect from the rest of the album, trading in arena-sized rock bravado for a warmer, more lived-in Nashville sound. You won’t have to wait long to hear the new material live. Brandon Flowers will be out on the road starting this September in support of THRASHER, with a stop in Toronto on Sept 24 at HISTORY. He reads as spiritually Canadian, no?
Listen to Brandon Flowers’ new single “Plans” below.
Waterparks – If this summer wasn’t jam-packed enough, Waterparks return with “BETTER THAN THERAPY,” a high-voltage new single from their upcoming sixth album JINX, due out July 24 via BMG/Rise Records. Driven by Awsten Knight’s raw reflections on emotional burnout and chaotic intimacy, the track turns dependency and connection into neon-lit confession. The album is built on fractured identity and sharpened self-mythology. Something to look forward to.
Listen to Waterparks’ new single “BETTER THAN THERAPY” below.
Mock Media – BC art-rock collective Mock Media keep the chaos simmering with “Straight Line,” the sprawling closing track from their forthcoming album Rat Bastard, due out July 17 via Mac’s Record Label. Framed as a two-part eruption, the track shifts from a ritualistic groove to atmospheric, rave-tinged catharsis, fusing organic folk with hazy EDM energy. The genre-warping band has a unique maximalist vision, so I guarantee you’ll hear nothing else like Rat Bastard this year.
Listen to Mock Media’s new single “Straight Line” below.
