Today’s New Music Spotlight is a mix of Canadian and American artists. There’s some cross over between Toronto and Las Vegas, with sprinkles of Los Angeles and Winnipeg thrown in for good measure. Genre-wise, songs hit the rock, pop, and country lists.

Let’s do this!

New Music from Palaye Royale, renforshort, David James, The Killers, and AWOLNATION

Artist: Palaye Royale
Hometown: Toronto, ON // Las Vegas, NV
Genre: Rock
Related: Cemetery Youth, YUNGBLUD, cleopatrick
Song: Lonely
Notes: The latest video release from the brothers Kropp, et al, is from the upcoming album, The Bastards, which is due for release on May 29th. Lonely opens with a warning and finishes up with hotline numbers. This video contains images of substance abuse, self-harm and violence and should be viewed with caution. Palaye Royale, are never afraid of controversy, and Lonely delivers a serious message. You’ve been warned.

Sadly, the band’s tour has been impacted by the COVID-19 postponements/cancellations. They’ll be back out on the road as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: renforshort
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Genre: Pop
Related: Billie Eilish, Bülow
Song: i drive me mad
Notes: Lauren Isenberg, stage name ren, dropped her EP teenage angst on Friday. The 17-year-old Toronto pop artist has been on the receiving end of accolades from Apple Music and SoundCloud. Her voice is warm and rich, and after listening to release, i drive me mad, is the song that’s stuck in my head. It’s catchy and fun.

Check out the EP and let me know which song is your favourite.

Links: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / YouTube

Artist: David James
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Genre: Country
Related Artists: Jojo Mason, Dan Davidson, Chad Brownlee
Song: If I Were You
Notes: On Friday, MDM Recordings artist David James dropped his new EP, If I Were You. I’m picking the title track off this one as my current favourite. I love the guitar, the country rap feel, and the messaging.

Did you know David has entered into a new partnership with Crafty Cocktails? The two will be collaborating to release a limited edition, co-branded cocktail box based off his favourite cocktails.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: The Killers
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Genre: Rock
Related: Franz Ferdinand, Kings of Leon, The Strokes
Song: Caution
Notes: The Killers are back! The lead single, off the upcoming album, Imploding the Mirage (release date May 29, 2020), Caution starts out slow and quiet and builds to a crescendo. The track features Lindsey Buckingham on guitar and it’s a beautiful tease for fans.

The “visualizer” video features butterflies and glistening hair. The band has May and June tour dates on the books.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: AWOLNATION
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Rock
Related:
Song: Slam (Angel Miners)
Notes: Slam (Angel Miners) is the latest song off the upcoming Angel Miners & The Lightning Riders which is set to be released on April 24, 2020, via Better Noise Music. The sweet vocals singing that there’s “Always someone watching, over you” is intermingled throughout the cut, and it feels like a reminder to all of us.

Created by director and animator Cole Higgins, the mixed-media video is dreamlike and beautiful to watch. The music is synthy, with great timing changes. It makes me want to move, and it has everything we expect from AWOLNATION. The scream at 3:52 is just a bonus. Confession, I was hooked 5 bars in.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

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Trish Cassling

Writer/Photographer/Editor

Toronto Music Blogger