Matthew Ryan Jacobs / "Slow Down"

    

The Skinny Review:
Matthew Ryan Jacobs is back with “Slow Down,” a slow-burning single that stands out with its unique structure and reflective lyrics. The song feels personal yet open-ended, with the artist's usual knack for great lyrics. Smooth vocals and a sharp blend of folk and indie rock give the track a rich and engaging sound.

In Their Own Words:
“The inspiration behind “Slow Down” was to just be honest,” says Matthew Ryan Jacobs. “I wrote almost all of the lyrics before there was any of the music. It also seems that the more personal a song is, the less I typically want to say about it. I don’t think it’s too cryptic, so if you’re listening closely, you can probably figure some of it out.”

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MOONRIIVR / "Force of Habit"

    

The Skinny Review:
"Force of Habit" mixes upbeat indie rock energy with a darker emotional edge, as well as vintage-inspired rhythms and surfy guitar tones. The song moves from feelings of loss and frustration into a loud, emotional ending that feels freeing and powerful. The newest single from the upcoming album,  MOONRIIVR Vol. 2, it balances catchy momentum with genuine emotional weight.

In Their Own Words:
At its core, “Force of Habit” is “...about letting go of the past and searching for a new way forward,” the band explains. That emotional arc drives the song’s momentum. What begins as reflective and restrained gradually unravels into beautiful, noisy chaos.

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Flair / "Ritual"

    

The Skinny Review:
“Ritual” is a dark and gripping release from Flair, capturing the harsh realities of addiction and mental struggle. The band builds an eerie atmosphere with distorted voices and raw lyricism, giving the track a heavy emotional weight throughout. Taken from their forthcoming EP For Lack of a Better Word, the single shows Flair continuing to sharpen their intense post-indie sound.

In Their Own Words:
"Ritual is a hate letter to addiction, and to the ritual of crack dependency. This track was originally our second ever single release. With high hopes as it really was our first attempt at deep, meaningful lyrics that portrayed who we are as a band. As the song has grown and developed, we felt strongly that we should match its growth with a fresh new recording and breathe new life into a song that gets our strongest crowd reaction. We felt Ritual demonstrated the darker, grittier side of our sound, and the perfect complement to Nausea, reminding you that it's always darkest before the dawn."

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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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