These eight emerging Canadian artists cover a vast range of locations and styles, but they each infuse every track with so much heart and emotion. Meet Exclaim!'s latest New Faves, including Montreal's most in-demand vocalist and standout Newfoundland emo rockers, and then listen to them and more rising homegrown talent in our Spotify playlist.
BIG KILL
Vancouver, BC
For fans of: Grimes, Royal Canoe, JPEGMAFIA
Andrew Huculiak and Cayne McKenzie, formerly of Vancouver art-pop band We Are the City, have reinvented themselves musically as BIG KILL. Their self-styled "destructive pop" features big hooks, loud drums and heavily manipulated vocal melodies. With two experimental EPs — BIG KILL FUTURE and Except for U — released in the last two months, BIG KILL are just getting started.
Kieran Davey
CHUNG
Montreal, QC
For fans of: Griselda Records, Megan Thee Stallion
Montreal rapper CHUNG's recently released Chung Shui EP finds her teaming up with veteran producer Cotola for seven tracks filled with grimy beats and bars. With stellar production and impeccable delivery, CHUNG showcases her versatility and raw talent on this album, and it's not going unnoticed by the top artists in Buffalo's resurgent rap scene.
Antoine-Samuel Mauffette Alavo
Estyr
Toronto, ON
For fans of: Weyes Blood, Aldous Harding, Julia Holter
Estyr buries pop melodies beneath layers of electronic and folk textures as if they were a treasure hidden within vast, lush landscapes, and the journey's totally worth it. Her All Tied Up EP is rich with compelling details, like relatable musings on suburban alienation in "Suck It Up," the title track's acoustic guitar accents or the captivating vocals of "High on a Feeling."
Matt Bobkin
KALLITECHNIS
Montreal, QC
For fans of: Anderson .Paak, SZA
KALLITECHNIS has been building momentum for a while, becoming one of Montreal's most sought-after vocalists, and bringing her edge to collaborations with Lou Phelps and Gayance. Her new, aptly titled EP, BECAUSE IT FEELS GOOD, draws from a breezy brand of R&B and neo-soul. Standout single "SELFISH" is an infectious and endlessly replayable bop.
Daniel McIntosh
Nova
Toronto, ON
For fans of: Emotional Oranges, Goldlink, Wizkid
After moving to Toronto from Lagos, Nova has polished his ethereal and smooth blend of R&B, soul and Afrobeats. Drawing on his new life experiences, recent album S.T.A.Y II shows off his range, thanks to collaborations with artists from across the globe, as on singles "Can't Complain" (with Lagos-born Fasina) and "Precious Diamond" (with Toronto's Katasha J).
Papa Minnow
Leith Ross
Ottawa, ON
For fans of: Phoebe Bridgers, Adrianne Lenker, Haley Heynderickx
Ottawa-based 23-year-old indie-folk songwriter Leith Ross begs the question, what if kissing was just for kissing? Their gorgeously vulnerable tune tentatively titled "We'll Never Have Sex" garnered the attention of FINNEAS, Alessia Cara and millions more after going viral on TikTok last summer. Last year, the artist delivered their debut EP Motherwell, and followed up in 2021 with cottagecore single "Music Box" and two-song EP I'd Have to Think About It.
Allie Gregory
Swimming
St. John's, NL
For fans of: Modern Baseball, the Front Bottoms, Joyce Manor
Rock trio Swimming commit so hard to their brand of mathy emo that you can practically hear them hollering all the way from out east. Their More of the Same EP and debut album That's OK find them fighting against life's many ails with a ferocity belied by the releases' mild-mannered titles.
Matt Bobkin
Visibly Choked
Montreal, QC
For fans of: Dry Cleaning, Porridge Radio
Visibly Choked are the latest great post-punk band to emerge from Montreal. The music is tense, vocalist Gabrielle Domingue delivers the lyrics with captivating intensity, and there's chemistry between each of the band's five members. Their self-titled debut EP, out now, is hopefully the first of many triumphs for the band.
Yara El-Soueidi
Listen to tracks from these and other New Faves on our Spotify playlist:
BIG KILL
Vancouver, BC
For fans of: Grimes, Royal Canoe, JPEGMAFIA
Andrew Huculiak and Cayne McKenzie, formerly of Vancouver art-pop band We Are the City, have reinvented themselves musically as BIG KILL. Their self-styled "destructive pop" features big hooks, loud drums and heavily manipulated vocal melodies. With two experimental EPs — BIG KILL FUTURE and Except for U — released in the last two months, BIG KILL are just getting started.
Kieran Davey
CHUNG
Montreal, QC
For fans of: Griselda Records, Megan Thee Stallion
Montreal rapper CHUNG's recently released Chung Shui EP finds her teaming up with veteran producer Cotola for seven tracks filled with grimy beats and bars. With stellar production and impeccable delivery, CHUNG showcases her versatility and raw talent on this album, and it's not going unnoticed by the top artists in Buffalo's resurgent rap scene.
Antoine-Samuel Mauffette Alavo
Estyr
Toronto, ON
For fans of: Weyes Blood, Aldous Harding, Julia Holter
Estyr buries pop melodies beneath layers of electronic and folk textures as if they were a treasure hidden within vast, lush landscapes, and the journey's totally worth it. Her All Tied Up EP is rich with compelling details, like relatable musings on suburban alienation in "Suck It Up," the title track's acoustic guitar accents or the captivating vocals of "High on a Feeling."
Matt Bobkin
KALLITECHNIS
Montreal, QC
For fans of: Anderson .Paak, SZA
KALLITECHNIS has been building momentum for a while, becoming one of Montreal's most sought-after vocalists, and bringing her edge to collaborations with Lou Phelps and Gayance. Her new, aptly titled EP, BECAUSE IT FEELS GOOD, draws from a breezy brand of R&B and neo-soul. Standout single "SELFISH" is an infectious and endlessly replayable bop.
Daniel McIntosh
Nova
Toronto, ON
For fans of: Emotional Oranges, Goldlink, Wizkid
After moving to Toronto from Lagos, Nova has polished his ethereal and smooth blend of R&B, soul and Afrobeats. Drawing on his new life experiences, recent album S.T.A.Y II shows off his range, thanks to collaborations with artists from across the globe, as on singles "Can't Complain" (with Lagos-born Fasina) and "Precious Diamond" (with Toronto's Katasha J).
Papa Minnow
Leith Ross
Ottawa, ON
For fans of: Phoebe Bridgers, Adrianne Lenker, Haley Heynderickx
Ottawa-based 23-year-old indie-folk songwriter Leith Ross begs the question, what if kissing was just for kissing? Their gorgeously vulnerable tune tentatively titled "We'll Never Have Sex" garnered the attention of FINNEAS, Alessia Cara and millions more after going viral on TikTok last summer. Last year, the artist delivered their debut EP Motherwell, and followed up in 2021 with cottagecore single "Music Box" and two-song EP I'd Have to Think About It.
Allie Gregory
Swimming
St. John's, NL
For fans of: Modern Baseball, the Front Bottoms, Joyce Manor
Rock trio Swimming commit so hard to their brand of mathy emo that you can practically hear them hollering all the way from out east. Their More of the Same EP and debut album That's OK find them fighting against life's many ails with a ferocity belied by the releases' mild-mannered titles.
Matt Bobkin
Visibly Choked
Montreal, QC
For fans of: Dry Cleaning, Porridge Radio
Visibly Choked are the latest great post-punk band to emerge from Montreal. The music is tense, vocalist Gabrielle Domingue delivers the lyrics with captivating intensity, and there's chemistry between each of the band's five members. Their self-titled debut EP, out now, is hopefully the first of many triumphs for the band.
Yara El-Soueidi
Listen to tracks from these and other New Faves on our Spotify playlist:
