Tasha The Amazon, feat. RetcH, Nowhere
Rapper and erstwhile Bengal tiger handler Tasha The Amazon has a new mixtape on the way and the lead single, which she also co-produced under her Bass and Bakery moniker, finds her playing the part of a plundering villain. A collaboration with New Jersey MC RetcH, Nowhere is a menacing banger that rides a noir-ish piano line as Tasha raps about busting through a ceiling and destroying a couch (but not necessarily in that order).
Tory Lanez, Say It
Not only is Tory Lanez’s debut major label single Say It nodding to early ’90s R&B with a hefty sample from Brownstone’s classic If You Love Me, the intro to the song’s music video is giving us early-’90s-Janet-and-the-girls-hangin’-out-talkin’ shit vibes. Except he’s with a bunch of dudes and J-Lo is nowhere in sight. (Pump’er boo! PUMPAH!) The rising MC recently signed a deal with Interscope via Mad Love, the imprint run by producer Benny Blanco who loves Brownstone so much he covered If You Love Me with his production duo BenZel and Jessie Ware in 2012.
Fresh Snow, Proper Burial
Former NOW cover stars Fresh Snow are releasing a new EP, Won, on September 11 via Hand Drawn Dracula. The instrumental psych-rockers are introducing the world to the new record with a conspicuously groovy bass line and a singer. And not just any singer but Carmen Elle of Diana, who lends her detached cool to lead single Proper Burial. Of course, nothing says ‘detached’ quite like no singer at all but we’re feeling the new direction nonetheless.
Fake Palms, YTMATLDPH
Michael le Riche-fronted rock band Fake Palms have been releasing singles for the better part of 2015 in the lead up to the release of their self-titled debut LP on August 28 (via Buzz Records). The third one is YTMATLDPH, which pits rugged guitar ruffs against and an ooh-y, gooey melody. The approach places Fake Palms among the recent strain of Toronto indie bands looking back to the era when loud and noisy rock decided that the punk thing to do was to go pop.
Adria Kain, Higher
The latest single from Toronto singer Adria Kain’s Island In My Mind album is an anthem about trading suburban life for the big city grind. It’s a song about work ethic, embracing the hustle and enjoying life. It’s also filled with the kind of wistful and dreamy sonics one typically finds in songs that prominently feature the word ‘higher’ albeit in a slightly different context. Kain headlines The Hustle: Edition 8 at The Piston on August 20.
Born Ruffians, We Made It
Toronto-via-Midland rockers Born Ruffians are releasing their fourth album RUFF via Paper Bag Records on October 2. Lead single We Made It is a drôle ditty about faking it until you make it. Full of wry, Lou Reed-y cadences and loud-quiet-loud chord changes, the song plays out like a meandering internal monologue but as far as catchy singles go, this one makes it.
kevinr@nowtoronto.com | @kevinritchie
