The leaves are changing colours and fall is officially setting in here in Toronto, but thankfully, the new music is hotter than ever. This week’s instalment of What’s Going On is packed with delicious surprises for your personal playlists. So grab your pumpkin spice latte and crank up the tunes. As always, if you dig what you hear, follow and stream these artists.
Elysia Biro – Jazz-pop singer, songwriter and pianist Elysia Biro is getting tender and vulnerable on “Clever,” an elegant study of heartache wrapped in beautiful piano and soaring vocals. Drawing inspiration from legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Norah Jones, and Joni Mitchell, the Vancouver Island native brings timeless sophistication to modern pop heartbreak. Sometimes the softest songs hit the hardest, and “Clever” proves it. Catch Biro on the road with Stephen Day for a run of US dates in November.
Listen to Elysia Biro’s new single “Clever” below.
Michael Kiwanuka – Michael Kiwanuka is back with “Summer Clothes,” his first new music since revealing he suffered a stroke. Gorgeously understated despite its lush symphonic scope, the track finds the acclaimed British singer-songwriter embracing beauty in the everyday. Recorded before his recent health struggles, his forthcoming album FUDGE was delayed nearly a year, making this deeply soulful return feel all the more meaningful. Welcome back, Michael. Personally, I can’t wait to hear the album.
Listen to Michael Kiwanuka’s new single “Summer Clothes” below.
Vaticanjail – Chilean-Irish artist Vaticanjail is a breath of fresh air. Liberated and unapologetic, her new single “DVSL” hits hard. It also serves as the latest single from her new EP this could have been a text. A catchy blend of heavy bass, shadowy electronics and dreamy vocals, the track turns romantic disillusionment into a celebration of identity, friendship and girlhood. Think vodka soda-fueled chaos, girl talk and finding your people. Honestly, that’s the kind of late-night vibe I can get behind.
Listen to Vaticanjail’s new single “DVSL” below.
Haiden Henderson – Pop music has a new crown prince! Haiden Henderson is out now with “dumblond,” the latest taste of his highly anticipated debut album bleach. Featuring musicians from Hans Zimmer’s orchestra (oooh fancy!), the provocative track seamlessly mixes heady alternative pop and rock while exploring masculinity and desire. Following his much buzzed-about MTV VMAs appearance, Henderson is clearly ready for his full pop-star era. Blond ambition? He’s got it!
Listen to Haiden Henderson’s new single “dumblond” below.
Slurve – Long Island duo Slurve are introducing themselves with “Progress,” their debut single that blends ’80s alternative, ’90s rock and early-2000s emo urgency. Formed when veteran musicians Ian Kenny and Dominick D’Agostino reunited to write “a couple songs” and somehow ended up with twenty, the track tackles the difference between getting older and actually growing. Here’s hoping we hear more from Slurve soon.
Listen to Slurve’s debut single “Progress” below.
