Victoria Staff / "My Whole Life Long"

 

The Skinny Review:
Canadian indie-pop artist Victoria Staff has just released her sophomore EP, entitled I Wake Up Smiling :(. The EP features new highlight single "My Whole Life Long," a surprisingly joyful song about finding love. It's a standout gem among the four wonderful songs about the artist's journey through love, life, and mental health.

In Their Own Words:
"Instead of being a cathartic outlet, “My Whole Life Long” finds Staff communicating through a new lens, one where her storytelling is centered around a place of joy. Her public autobiography this time tells the story about love found, not love lost. So many relationships are one sided, but “My Whole Life Long” tells a story where both people were in it together as equals."

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THUNDERCLAP! / "The Littlest Monster"

 

The Skinny Review:
What's Halloween week without a spooky Halloween song? Niagara, ON artist THUNDERCLAP! has just re-released his fan-favourite single, "The Littlest Monster". This song is haunting and theatrical, with a catchy and kooky style that makes it worthy of a spot beside the seasonal classics.

In Their Own Words:
“I wrote the nuts & bolts of this song on Halloween 6 years ago in the deep woods of Quebec with the celebrated writer Leigh Kotsilidis. On the fly I took some friends out to guerrilla film a night of trick or treating, knowing that I was going to release it the following year, sooo it was only 3 weeks before release that I finished the song, recorded a demo, edited the video, got my animator collaborator to do his part, recorded the final version (with Matt Keighan) and abracadabra!

But my most strategic tool for this particular project: a hard deadline, baby…

I toiled for the perfect lyrics although they came relatively fast. I wanted the song to give kids the type of willies that MJ’s Thriller gave me when I was a lad, as well as the fun of the Monster Mash, & I feel I achieved that. It all turned out to have a vaudevillian feel which I didn’t plan for but certainly gives it its own finger print.”

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Shealagh Rose / "Radio Silence"

 

The Skinny Review:
"Radio Silence" is a gorgeous new song from Hamilton, ON singer-songwriter Shealagh Rose. With a folk pop sound and emotional delivery, the melodic simplicity allows the vocals to really shine through.

In Their Own Words:
I think some people may interpret [“Radio Silence”] to be about a romantic relationship ending, but I actually began writing this song during a time when a close friend and I weren’t speaking. It was after a big argument which was sparked over a series of small annoyances with each other. I had never experienced a falling out of a friendship like that before and felt horrible about the situation. It felt worse than a break up. If you’re curious, we thankfully made up and apologized and we’re still closer than ever!

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The Trampoline Delay / "Little Lucy"

 

The Skinny Review:
The newest single from The Trampoline Delay is quick and infectious, with a chorus that will hook listeners immediately. Along with the band's usual indie rock style, this single has a pop-punk feel to it that matches well with the subject matter. To properly listen to this song, be sure to turn it way up.

In Their Own Words:
"‘Little Lucy’ is about watching someone self-destruct and trying to snap them out of it. Lucy’s caught up with the wrong crowd, doing things that drag her down—whether it’s drinking, drugs, whatever. It’s that downward spiral you can’t always pull people out of. The first chorus is a wake-up call, like, ‘Get it together,’ but by the end, it’s more desperate, like, ‘Please wake up,’ after it’s too late."

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Olivesque / "Anomaly"

 

The Skinny Review:
Mellow yet boppy, the latest single from Olivesque bring a melancholy feel to a bedroom pop sound. The vocals are gorgeous and soothing, and the song is catchy, emotional, and undeniably compelling.

In Their Own Words:
“’Anomaly’ follows a character drowning in bad habits and maps the manipulation and thought process behind selfishly wanting someone to stay when you refuse to meet their needs. “Am I your Anomaly?” is an insult, it's a clear recognition that someone deserves better when you're asking them to ignore their instincts. I think subconsciously we are all guilty of manipulation in some form, some worse than others.”

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Bottlemoth / "Landslides (people change)"

 

The Skinny Review:
Indie folk five-piece band Bottlemoth has recently released a new single, "Landslides (people change)". Just ahead of their debut album release, the new single mixes indie rock and math rock, with signature changes and accessible melodies. It's infectious and instantly enjoyable.

In Their Own Words:
“Sometimes change is expected, and sometimes it’s a surprise. It can be terrifying, though more often than not change can be necessary. The last few years have been a bit of a whirlwind, and I first wrote this song when Chess and I moved back to Somerset from London. It was a real period of reflection and change for the band. We can dwell on things, we can hunker down in a rut. Taking some time to look inward is important, and I can forget that. It’s a cool revelation to think we are forever finding ourselves again and again. "

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Ryan Thomas Smelle / "Sad Song"

 
The Skinny Review:
Canadian musician Ryan Thomas Smelle has recently release his new album, Goodbye Polar Bear. Along with the album, he has re-released "Sad Song" as the focus single. "Sad Song" is melancholy and emotional, as the title suggests - with lyrical and vocal depth, Smelle takes listeners along on his journey through grief.

In Their Own Words:
“Every once in awhile I sift through some old recording ideas for inspiration and stumbled across a file titled ‘Sad Song’. To my surprise, it was a complete song and not just a snippet. I was in the midst of grief over the passing of my daughter and have no recollection of creating it. I immediately wanted to add to my upcoming album.

The album in general has a raw edge to it and this song takes the cake. I played through the song in several takes without stopping and layered them on top of themselves. You will notice that the guitar seems to increase in frequency and intensity ever so slightly throughout the song and this adds to the emotional swell. I added subtle lead guitar and some poignant piano to emphasize the passing through grief into brighter future of hope. ”

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