Do you feel that breeze? August's New Faves crew are here to usher in the shortening days and cooler nights, to soundtrack your evening stroll down the sidewalk as a gentle wind stirs your hair. Time marches on even as the world around us burns, and fall is still on the way — let this month's crop of up-and-coming Canadian artists ease the transition. From thoughtful folk-pop by way of Ontario to East Coast thrash and metal from Alberta, this month's New Faves have a little something for everyone.
Keep reading to meet Exclaim!'s latest New Faves, and head over to our Spotify playlist to hear them alongside our previous homegrown favourites.
Ariana Fig
Hamilton, ON
For fans of: boygenius, Maggie Rogers, Taylor Swift
Pop singer-songwriter Ariana Fig not only dropped her sophomore EP Maroon in 2023, but the hard-at-work artist followed up her larger project with the fruit-flavoured summer single "Cherry Coke" — a somber, piano-heavy ballad about nostalgia and lost relationships. The classically trained violinist references iconic female songwriters like Stevie Nicks and Alanis Morissette as personal influences — artists who remind Fig to remain vulnerable when creating, a quality she hopes similarly inspires her listeners.
Sarah-Jessica Rintjema
Knull
Charlottetown, PEI
For fans of: SPY, Tørsö, Drug Church
Since 2020, Charlottetown's Knull have released a string of genre bending hardcore EPs. The group's debut LP, Offering, sees their sound fully realized, laying heart-squeezing lyricism on a bed of ethereal noise. The record is one of deep emotionality, coupled with crisp production and explorations in sonic storytelling via its interludes. Ranging from meditative ambience to distortion that raises hairs in the cochlea, it's an immersive listen front to back.
Alec Martin
Jivy Lewis
Toronto, ON
For fans of: Belly, Jazz Cartier, Killy
Jivy Lewis is all substance and no gimmicks. In a world where the 2-minute TikTok-friendly single is the fastest claim to fame, Jivy opts for a more old-school early 2000s lyric-heavy approach to his music — effortlessly switching between the gritty battle rapper and clever backpack artist in a fusion that makes him unique. For Jivy, lyrics and substance are always at the forefront. He's an exciting artist and someone to watch as he continues to master his craft and his production budget grows.
Vernon Ayiku
Lowheaven
Toronto, ON
For fans of: Deftones, Cave In, Planes Mistaken for Stars
Lowheaven announced themselves like a crowbar to the back of the head. The new project of former Sparrows singer Dan Thomson, the brand new Toronto band just released their first single and music video "Cancer Sleep." It's a masterclass in building nervous tension before delivering blunt-force trauma, drawing on the dark sounds of '90s metal and post-hardcore classics like Deftones, Glassjaw and Converge as well as the body horror of David Cronenberg. Their debut EP collapse arrives August 25 via Skeletal Lightning, the U.S. indie label that also rosters several emo upstarts such as Harmony Woods, Dikembe, Dreamtigers and Pool Kids.
Adam Feibel
Peace Flag Ensemble
Regina, SK
For fans of: Alice Coltrane, Nala Sinephro, Floating Points
On first listen, one might lean toward connecting Peace Flag Ensemble's Astral Plains and the quintet's home province of Saskatchewan with isolation and indifferent coldness — but once you dive in, the reality couldn't be more different. The jazz ensemble takes as much room as they need to breathe on warm and inviting songs such as "You Can't Pin Joy Like a Moth'' and "Burner Phone" before bashing you over the head with ripping free jazz energy on "Love Notes (For Eli)." With a blend of improvisation, field recordings and a well rounded band, headphones are definitely recommended.
Joe Smiglicki
SHEBAD
Guelph, ON
For fans of: Hiatus Kaiyote, BADBADNOTGOOD
SHEBAD want you to open yourself to absorbing it all. Held down by the trio of bassist Mark Spagnolo, singer Claire Voy and drummer Toby Binder, the DIY collective are a constellation of various Guelph musicians charting course for jazz-funk futurism. Latest single "Patience" is a three-minute, 15-second avant-soul odyssey orbiting a bricolage of influences to spin somewhere limitless.
Megan LaPierre
Simone
Calgary, AB
For fans of: Deafheaven, Respire, Dream Unending
Simone are a two-piece black metal band from Calgary who caught a vast majority of the heavy music community by surprise with their debut record Love Forever. Their thoughtful and emotive brand of black metal is reminiscent of Sunbather-era Deafheaven while also referencing genres like skramz and post-rock. Their sound is refreshingly unique within the Canadian heavy music scene, and having just completed their summer tour with Echthros, Simone's got plenty of positive momentum.
Mark Tremblay
TkMN
Ottawa, ON
For fans of: the Weeknd, Fetty Wap
Dive into the dynamic soundscape of Ottawa's hip-hop sensation TkMn with his latest single "Do Sum." Infused with a vibrant dancehall vibe, "Do Sum" finds TkMn breaking away from the norm, delivering an exciting and fresh sonic experience. TkMn is redefining the game one beat at a time.
Jhamesha Milord-Ashford
Listen to tracks from these and other New Faves on our Spotify playlist:
Keep reading to meet Exclaim!'s latest New Faves, and head over to our Spotify playlist to hear them alongside our previous homegrown favourites.
Ariana Fig
Hamilton, ON
For fans of: boygenius, Maggie Rogers, Taylor Swift
Pop singer-songwriter Ariana Fig not only dropped her sophomore EP Maroon in 2023, but the hard-at-work artist followed up her larger project with the fruit-flavoured summer single "Cherry Coke" — a somber, piano-heavy ballad about nostalgia and lost relationships. The classically trained violinist references iconic female songwriters like Stevie Nicks and Alanis Morissette as personal influences — artists who remind Fig to remain vulnerable when creating, a quality she hopes similarly inspires her listeners.
Sarah-Jessica Rintjema
Knull
Charlottetown, PEI
For fans of: SPY, Tørsö, Drug Church
Since 2020, Charlottetown's Knull have released a string of genre bending hardcore EPs. The group's debut LP, Offering, sees their sound fully realized, laying heart-squeezing lyricism on a bed of ethereal noise. The record is one of deep emotionality, coupled with crisp production and explorations in sonic storytelling via its interludes. Ranging from meditative ambience to distortion that raises hairs in the cochlea, it's an immersive listen front to back.
Alec Martin
Jivy Lewis
Toronto, ON
For fans of: Belly, Jazz Cartier, Killy
Jivy Lewis is all substance and no gimmicks. In a world where the 2-minute TikTok-friendly single is the fastest claim to fame, Jivy opts for a more old-school early 2000s lyric-heavy approach to his music — effortlessly switching between the gritty battle rapper and clever backpack artist in a fusion that makes him unique. For Jivy, lyrics and substance are always at the forefront. He's an exciting artist and someone to watch as he continues to master his craft and his production budget grows.
Vernon Ayiku
Lowheaven
Toronto, ON
For fans of: Deftones, Cave In, Planes Mistaken for Stars
Lowheaven announced themselves like a crowbar to the back of the head. The new project of former Sparrows singer Dan Thomson, the brand new Toronto band just released their first single and music video "Cancer Sleep." It's a masterclass in building nervous tension before delivering blunt-force trauma, drawing on the dark sounds of '90s metal and post-hardcore classics like Deftones, Glassjaw and Converge as well as the body horror of David Cronenberg. Their debut EP collapse arrives August 25 via Skeletal Lightning, the U.S. indie label that also rosters several emo upstarts such as Harmony Woods, Dikembe, Dreamtigers and Pool Kids.
Adam Feibel
Peace Flag Ensemble
Regina, SK
For fans of: Alice Coltrane, Nala Sinephro, Floating Points
On first listen, one might lean toward connecting Peace Flag Ensemble's Astral Plains and the quintet's home province of Saskatchewan with isolation and indifferent coldness — but once you dive in, the reality couldn't be more different. The jazz ensemble takes as much room as they need to breathe on warm and inviting songs such as "You Can't Pin Joy Like a Moth'' and "Burner Phone" before bashing you over the head with ripping free jazz energy on "Love Notes (For Eli)." With a blend of improvisation, field recordings and a well rounded band, headphones are definitely recommended.
Joe Smiglicki
SHEBAD
Guelph, ON
For fans of: Hiatus Kaiyote, BADBADNOTGOOD
SHEBAD want you to open yourself to absorbing it all. Held down by the trio of bassist Mark Spagnolo, singer Claire Voy and drummer Toby Binder, the DIY collective are a constellation of various Guelph musicians charting course for jazz-funk futurism. Latest single "Patience" is a three-minute, 15-second avant-soul odyssey orbiting a bricolage of influences to spin somewhere limitless.
Megan LaPierre
Simone
Calgary, AB
For fans of: Deafheaven, Respire, Dream Unending
Simone are a two-piece black metal band from Calgary who caught a vast majority of the heavy music community by surprise with their debut record Love Forever. Their thoughtful and emotive brand of black metal is reminiscent of Sunbather-era Deafheaven while also referencing genres like skramz and post-rock. Their sound is refreshingly unique within the Canadian heavy music scene, and having just completed their summer tour with Echthros, Simone's got plenty of positive momentum.
Mark Tremblay
TkMN
Ottawa, ON
For fans of: the Weeknd, Fetty Wap
Dive into the dynamic soundscape of Ottawa's hip-hop sensation TkMn with his latest single "Do Sum." Infused with a vibrant dancehall vibe, "Do Sum" finds TkMn breaking away from the norm, delivering an exciting and fresh sonic experience. TkMn is redefining the game one beat at a time.
Jhamesha Milord-Ashford
Listen to tracks from these and other New Faves on our Spotify playlist:
