New Faves | The Eh! List
CARCOSA
Vancouver, BC FOR FANS OF: SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, BRAND OF SACRIFICE, TRAITORS
Carcosa are Vancouver’s biggest deathcore TikTok stars. Their videos of metal pickup lines and puns rack up millions of views, but Carcosa are no joke. Singles “A Plague” and “Devoid” mix brutal breakdowns with flashes of black metal, nu metal and hardcore, making their debut album, Anthology, nothing short of monstrous. MAX MORIN
HONEYDRIP
Montreal, QC FOR FANS OF: EQUIKNOXX, BOXCUTTER, PEARSON SOUND
Anyone who knows their way around Montreal’s club scene will be aware of Honeydrip’s eclectic DJ sets. It’s no surprise, then, that her debut EP, ANTIEGO, is a hot soup of styles and off-kilter grooves. What is surprising is just how well she blends it. Dancehall, techno, dub and sharp cuts of dismantled club are all melted into something fierce. DARYL KEATING
CLEREL
Montreal, QC FOR FANS OF: LEON BRIDGES, KINGS OF CONVENIENCE
If you’re in need of more tenderness in your life, Jean Clerel’s songs are the answer. Clerel’s breezy and soulful folk music earned him a spot on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last fall. Since then, Clerel has continued to release enchanting songs including a pair of singles from 2020 and a recently released French EP entitled Interlude. LAURA STANLEY
JONCRO
Mississauga, ON FOR FANS OF: FUGAZI, SLINT
Setting Caribbean lore and memories of vocalist Daniel G. Wilson’s upbringing in Jamaica to noise rock, punk, post-hardcore and even some campfire folk, each of the eight songs of JONCRO’s debut album, Richmond Station, tells stories of post-colonial perseverance and pride. Guitar theatrics pair nicely with subtle percussive flourishes for a sound as creative as their storytelling. MATT BOBKIN
THE EFFENS
Toronto, ON FOR FANS OF: TEENAGE WRIST, JIMMY EAT WORLD, PLACEBO
The Effens take the DIY spirit of angst-ridden suburbia and blow it up to the level of early-’00s arena rock. Self-recorded and produced in a basement quilt room-turned-recording studio, the band’s third EP, Eventually, flirts with glam, pop, grunge and garage rock sensibilities, suffusing each of its six tracks with a dark, razor-sharp edge. OWEN MORAWITZ
IDRIS LAWAL
Toronto, ON FOR FANS OF: MICK JENKINS, TOBI
Idris Lawal fuses Afropop, rap, soul and highlife music into what he calls “Afrobop,” and with it, he’s emerged as an exhilarating artist on the rise. His soulsoothing, catchy and conscious music continues to deliver with a bopping birthday gift to himself in the form of his song “Spirit,” an alluring video for his major single “Wallflowers,” and an electrifying live performance at this year’s virtual Afrofest. PAPA MINNOW
CAITLIN GOULET
Vancouver, BC FOR FANS OF: KATE BUSH, LANA DEL REY, BILLIE EILISH
Métis songwriter Caitlin Goulet was emerging from a series of toxic relationships when she penned the tracks to her new album, Inside Thoughts. Released in July, the album explores themes of love, personal agency and growth through tough times, all channeled through Goulet’s signature dreamlike pop sound. The result is an album that is personal and empowering. FRANCIS BAPTISTE
ASHLEY SHADOW
Vancouver, BC FOR FANS OF: JULIA JACKLIN, SHARON VAN ETTEN, JENNIFER CASTLE
Rooted in her rich voice, Ashley Shadow’s folk rock music is enthralling. On September 24, Shadow will release Only the End (via Felte Records), the followup to her 2016 self-titled debut record. The album is highlighted by a gorgeous country duet with Bonnie “Prince” Billy and is coproduced by Shadow and Joshua Wells (Black Mountain, Lightning Dust). LAURA STANLEY