The City Feels / The Great Now

    

The Skinny Review:
The City Feels is the solo project from Toronto-based artist Andrew Champion. The story behind his new EP, The Great Now, is nothing short of remarkable. When life got in the way, good and bad, Andrew had to put the music on hold, working on it in bits and pieces over five years. And the result is a collection of songs that show depth and emotion in an accessible and truly enjoyable style, anchored by the focus track "The City Feels (like home)". With a debut EP this well done, The City Feels is an project to watch out for.

In Their Own Words:
“I just moved to Toronto, it was the beginning of summer, I found myself walking around the city often and feeling inspired by the whole vibe of the city,” says Andrew. “I remember I’d be walking and just thinking of ideas for lyrics or songs, then I’d go home and demo them out. I decided I wanted to create my own record on vinyl, just of my own music. So I started the process of creating the EP.”

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Your Friend, Death / "Heart Don't Beat No Fear"

  

The Skinny Review:
“Heart Don’t Beat No Fear” introduces the band’s new direction with a raw mix of alternative, garage, and blues rock. With a gritty, bluesy sound, the song explores the frustrations of modern relationships and how technology and constant screen time are creating emotional distance between people. Through an engaging and powerful track, the band highlights the importance of real communication and connection.

In Their Own Words:
“It's the idea of being ready to go all-in with someone you’re interested in,” says Your Friend, Death’s Ryan Boyer. “But due to a lack of communication from the other person, you back off and put on a front in order to protect your own feelings.”

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Keyside / "Lemon & Lime"

  

The Skinny Review:
Keyside is back with a bright, feel-good new track, “Lemon & Lime,” a hope-filled anthem that captures carefree summer energy. The song channels the simple magic of summertime hangouts in parks with friends, wrapped in warm, sunlit vibes. It leans into those memorable nights where everything feels limitless; it has a sense of invincibility running through it. The single perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being young and carefree.

In Their Own Words:
 “It's about those nights where you're completely out of control in the best possible way: carving your name somewhere you shouldn't, being with someone you can't stop thinking about, that feeling that nothing can touch you."

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Gatlin Black / Modern Spirit

  

The Skinny Review:
Gatlin Black’s seven-track debut Modern Spirit blends a classic rock feel with a modern edge, creating something that sounds both familiar and new. Crunchy, distorted guitars work with vocal layering to create a style that is gritty yet easy to listen to, while subtle genre crossovers keep things from feeling predictable. The EP shows the band turning real-life experiences into focused, creative songs..

In Their Own Words:
“Modern Spirit was both a statement and a turning point for Gatlin Black,” says the band. “To come out of the gate guns blazing, hoping to create a buzz but also to learn as much as we could about the songwriting/releasing process so we could become a music making factory. We chose to record with producer Jordon Zadorozny and engineer Rich Allen with a clear purpose: not just to capture the songs at a high level, but to push ourselves deeper into the craft of making records. The goal was never simply to release music; it was to become the kind of band that can write, perform, record, and produce our own work from the ground up. In that sense, Modern Spirit reflects the DIY mindset of the modern era—artists building and running their own creative engine.”

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Krooked Tongue / "Blood Shark"

   

The Skinny Review:
Krooked Tongue's latest single,“Blood Shark” kicks off with heavy guitar fuzz and distorted vocals that carry through the whole track. Fast drums, shifting sounds, and big, punchy choruses come together in a loud, perfectly frenzied way, with Oli Rainsford’s rough voice and sharp lyrics highlighting feelings of frustration and unease. The band's new album, I Know A Place, is out now.

In Their Own Words:
“‘Blood Shark’ is a jumper cable to the lazy and uninspired aspects of ourselves. A fat uppercut to our excuses for why we can’t, or don’t do the things we want to do. Everyone experiences nodus tollens at some point in their existence. Where it seems the vicissitudes of life are too turbulent to navigate. The walls are closing in and there’s not a ladder in sight. But we often need change to inspire the solution, taking a step back and approaching our inescapable slump from a different angle.

“‘Blood Shark’ is a plea to find a will so strong that it becomes in itself, unstoppable. The metaphor of the ‘Blood Shark’ encapsulates the foibles of our decisions. When it’s all said and done, when we’re being lowered into the ground, the ‘Blood Shark waits at the bottom of your grave’. It feasts on a life left unfulfilled, reassuring you with a beguiling grin that it's OK that you didn’t follow your dreams. It’s a villainous reminder that there’s still time to fight back and give the big fish an inedible final judgement."

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Ryan Thomas Smelle / "Nothing Left Of My Heart"

    

The Skinny Review:
“Nothing Left Of My Heart” comes across like a brooding farewell to someone, revealing a more layered and polished side of the artist’s usual folk sound. Ryan Thomas Smelle pairs heartfelt lyrics with catchy melodies, even with his music's new direction. The song captures the feeling of love slipping away, while sitting with the emotions and allowing yourself to feel them.

In Their Own Words:
“Every once in a while I’ll dive into an old song book to see if I could retool a song, and I found this gem,” he says. “Simple yet visual in its story. The bones were tracked in my own studio and when I shared them with Johnny Dee at Highfield Studios, another vision was unleashed and produced with more swagger. The final product runs parallel to my normal folk singer-songwriter flair with an element of alt pop.” 

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Succulents / "Underdog"

    

The Skinny Review:
Indie newcomers Succulents make their debut with "Underdog," a song shaped by a period of seclusion and introspection. The track feels personal and intimate, with a wistful warmth and a sense of nostalgia. Mixing a lo-fi style with rock riffs, the poppy harmonies bring it all together in a catchy and accessible indie package.

In Their Own Words:
“’Underdog’ centres on a mischievous protagonist deliberately trying to provoke their partner, delighting in pushing buttons and watching the sparks fly. There’s a darkly playful edge to the narrative, not unlike the gleeful antagonism found in The Twits, wrapped in warm, fuzzed-out indie-pop textures.
 
"It started life as an acoustic, finger picking song and then I realised it would be better louder. At the time I was also playing in a kraut-punk band called Chew Magna and I was really into Can and kraut-rock middle eights, so there’s an obvious nod to that time in my life too.”

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