RGM presents The Maple Leaf Roundup #17
And we’re back! Told you we would be. We currently find ourselves inundated with fine Canadian music on a scale that is - wait for it - unprecedented. I assure you, however, we are fully equipped to manage the current surge. Honestly, we are. So, without further facetiousness, here are five more Things You Must Hear from our cousins across the water.
Jeffery Straker by Ali Lauren Photography
We begin with Saskatchewan-born Jeffery Straker, a seasoned singer songwriter and pianist who is preparing to release his eighth LP next year. His latest single, ‘Morning Light’, muses on the fragility and brevity of human existence and is lightly dressed in brushy snare and soothing, rolling banjo. It certainly provided us with a welcome moment of uplifting calm and has put Mr Straker firmly on the RGM radar. Our advice: take as necessary to settle nerves and comfort soul.
Rooks photo credit: Kristy-Anne Swart
We go now - somewhat abruptly I fear - from philosophical folk to full-on no-nonsense rock with Calgary-based trio Rooks, who will release their debut LP, The High Road, on 6th November. The band’s infectious new single ‘Yeah’ boasts a chorus that even your dog could sing with no rehearsal. The tongue-in-cheek lyrics “hey man, I don’t think I’ve heard this one” and star-jumping video tell you everything you need to know about where this band is coming from and, frankly, it’s a place you want to be. Big guitars, bags of energy and a howling harmonica are sometimes all you need and ‘Yeah’ is a track to which you simply can’t say no.
TWRP photo credit: Tucker Prescott
In another Maple Leaf curveball moment, Toronto’s TWRP (or Tupper Ware Remix Party to give them their full name) represent this edition’s disco wildcard. The retro stylings of ‘Only The Best’ see the band plundering the tropes of the early eighties as they mix guitars and synths with a summertime groove to deliver this irresistibly funky homage to… their mums. And why not? If you secretly love a little Phoenix or Daft Punk then this could well be your next clandestine affair. Have your keytar at the ready; TWRP release their new album, Over The Top, on 25th September.
While we’re in Toronto, we invite you to cast your minds back to Maple Leaf #6 when the quite wonderful four-piece Wild Rivers first graced our pages. The band’s co-lead vocalist Devan (aka Devan Glover) has recently issued the reflective ‘Real Shot’ as a solo single. The song, which explores the what-ifs of a past relationship, was co-written and beautifully produced by Adam Boukis and is a fine piece of melancholic pop that showcases a more soulful side to the singer-songwriter. If you can only spare two and half minutes of your time, spare it on this.
Credit: Francesca Ludikar
We stay in Ontario’s capital for Monowhales, the young trio whose bounce-around-in-your-pyjamas anthem ‘All Or Nothing’ is - if there is any justice - surely destined to dominate pop charts the world over. This ear-worm of infuriating proportions packs a playful rock punch and we think it presents the perfect opportunity to see what your speakers are really made of. Go ahead and acquaint your neighbours with this nugget of singalong joy today. We must, however, state that RGM cannot be held responsible for any damage to equipment and/or noise-related fines incurred.
Well, that’s that. Thank you very much for joining us. We hope that you’ve found plenty to enjoy within this instalment of The Maple Leaf and have made some new musical friends in the process. As long as Canada keeps singing, we’ll be here to share all the best bits so, until we meet again, we implore you to persist in being nothing less than excellent to one another.
The Maple Leaf is a Rich Barnard production for Red Guitar Music.
And we’re back! “From whence?” I hear you cry, in your florid way. Back from Canada, of course. We swam all the way, on our backs, our music-loving arms filled with a freshly picked bunch of hot new songs, gifted to us from our creative compadres ‘cross the waves. Imagine that. And we did it all for you.