It’s been a while since I’ve done a New Music Spotlight, but this week’s releases were impossible to ignore.

You’ll notice I couldn’t keep it to just five. Today’s NMS entries include a sweet range of genres including rap, rock, pop, reggae, dance, and more.

Does one of these songs hit home with you? Did I miss your favourite new release? Let me know in the comments or on socials.

Let’s do this!

Artist: MONOWHALES
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Genre: Indie / Pop / Rock
Related: The Beaches, Dear Rouge, July Talk
Song: All or Nothing
Notes: MONOWHALES are back with another rock/pop sensation. Juno Award-nominated producer Ryan  Worsley (Dear Rouge, Brave Shores) produced while mixing was done by JUNO Award-winning Mix Engineer Jason Dufour (July Talk, Tokyo Police Club).

“I wrote the beginnings of this song at home on my acoustic guitar,” says Circosta. “I had just gotten out of a long term relationship and was about to quit my job to work on MONOWHALES full time. I was taking a lot of risks, but there was no doubt in my mind that I was on the right path. I showed it to Zach who wrote the arrangement and finished the melodies. It resonated with the band right away, with Sally really making it her own right out of the gate with those thundering yeah’s.”

I love the messaging. We should all be doubling down.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple / All Or Nothing

Artist: TWRP
Hometown: Los Angeles // Toronto
Genre: 80s inspired Synth Rock / Electro funk
Related: Ninja Sex Party, PYLOT, Starbomb
Song: Only The Best
Notes: The latest release from Doctor Sung, Lord Phobos , Havve Hogan, and Commander Meouch is super upbeat, repeat worthy, and carries the expected energy of pure joy. Only The Best is the first release off their upcoming album Over The Top due on September 25, 2020. Be warned, it will make you move.
Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: Sbi Techn ft. Lindani M & Bryson
Hometown: Krugersdorp, South Africa (based in Durban, South Africa)
Genre: EDM / Dance / Electro House
Related: Pitbull, Tiësto, Love Inc.
Song: Crazy Love
Notes: This one hit my inbox and caught my attention. Crazy Love is stuck in my head. This track feels like Love Inc., Pitbull and Tiësto had a baby. It’s awesome, and it appears the rest of the world is way ahead of us on this one. Sbi Techn’s social numbers, and streams are off the charts.

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

Artist: Toots and The Maytals
Hometown: Maypen, Jamaica
Genre: Reggae
Related: Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, The Wailers
Song: Warning Warning
Notes: Warning, Warning is the lead up single to the long-awaited release of the band’s 10th studio album, Got To Be Tough. It delivers plenty of symbolism and continues the tradition of honesty and relevancy, to a rocksteady, ska beat. With 50 years in the music business the multiple GRAMMY® Award-nominated, and winning musician, vocalist, songwriter, producer and icon makes us feel that it was worth the wait.
Links: Web / Facebook / Instagram / Spotify / Apple

Artist: Run the Jewels feat. 2 Chainz
Hometown: NYC, NY / Atlanta, GA
Genre: Rap
Related Artists: MF DOOM, Danny Brown, JPEGMAFIA
Song: Out Of Sight
Notes: The video is directed by Ninian Doff, starring the cast (and characters) from the new Amazon Original movie Get Duked!, and it’s so much fun!
Out of Sight is from El-P and Killer Mike’s RTJ4 album released in June. Check it out.

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

Artist: Sheryl Crow
Hometown: Kennett, MO via Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Rock / Pop / Folk / Americana
Related: Melissa Ethridge, Jewel, Alanis Morissette
Song: In The End
Notes: A throwback to 90’s Crow, In The End is directed at American corporations and politicians. The song was co-written by Jeff Trott, her long-time collaborator. Crow has been advocating for Black Lives Matter and has been very vocal about her dissatisfaction with America’s president. The singer has been using her platform to shine a light on the issues that matter.

Links: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Spotify

Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Genre: Alternative Rock
Related: Jane’s Addiction, Stone Temple Pilots, Bush
Song: Cyr + The Colour of Love
Notes: The Smashing Pumpkins have two new songs for you. Cyr comes with a video they shot during lockdown in Chicago and Los Angeles. It was directed by Linda Strawberry and directed by Billy Corgan.

“Cyr is dystopic folly,” front-man Billy Corgan reveals, “one soul against the world sort of stuff, set against a backdrop of shifting loyalties and sped up time. To me it stands as both hopeful and dismissive of what is and isn’t possible with faith.”

The Colour of Love (audio track) is a great alt-rock tune which reminds us why we love The Smashing Pumpkins.

The current lineup features founding members Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin, who are joined by guitarist Jeff Schroeder and word is, there’s a new album on the way.

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

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Trish Cassling

Writer/Photographer/Editor

Toronto Music Blogger