Fall 2023 album guide: 19 new releases you need to hear

Fall is the time for get-back-to-itness, as school starts up and our summer daydreams cool with the shorter days and less beachy temperatures. It's also the busiest time for album releases, and this year's sweater-weather season is bringing some excellent Canadian contenders to our playlists. 

From debut albums to long-awaited comebacks to followup projects that are somehow shinier than their predecessors, the below list of 19 albums has something for everyone.

Artist: Dominique Fils-Aimé
Album: Our Roots Run Deep
Release date: Sept. 22

Dominique Fils-Aimé's Our Roots Run Deep is the Montreal-based jazz and blues singer-songwriter's most thrilling record yet. Her deliberate use of repetition — lyrical and vocal — is deliciously evocative: dizzying, comforting, disorienting, soothing, agitating, joyous, resistant, insistent. You feel it all, especially in the interplay between Fils-Aimé's powerful lead and the chorus of backing vocals that answer, echo and reaffirm her throughout. Add to that layers of hand drums, percussive beats and jolting flares of trumpet and there's no better sonic foundation from which Fils-Aimé could have grown her rich, vibrant new album. Our Roots Run Deep is a reset in Fils-Aimé's album cycle — her first trilogy began with her debut, 2018's Nameless, followed by 2019's Juno Award winner, Stay Tuned!, and concluded with 2021's Three Little Words — but it builds on her previous work and shows the blues/jazz/R&B singer-songwriter's evolution toward mastering her craft in just six short years. — Andrea Warner 

Artist: Russell Louder
Album: Fair-Weather
Release date: Sept. 29

"Every time I feel love/ I fight the feeling I'm going under/ I fear what I'm made of won't get me through to the other side," Russell Louder sings on "Going Under," their voice clear as a bell over plucked strings, courtesy of fellow Prince Edward Islander Kinley Dowling. Louder, who is now based in Montreal, has broken themself open for Fair-Weather, the sophomore album they mostly made in their bedroom with "found percussion, Ableton Live, and their father's classical acoustic guitar from the 1950s," according to the press release. Their voice ringing with uncanny notes of Florence Welch, Louder sings of infatuation ("Need"), of trying to be open to love while fearing a loss of self ("Going Under") and how the end of a relationship can lead to coming into your own ("Movie Queen") while crafting songs built on synth-pop, disco and folk, with perfectly placed strings. Louder's 2021 debut album, Humour, was longlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, and we see bigger things coming for Fair-Weather: an album created from such vulnerability, heart and danceability that it's impossible to ignore. — Holly Gordon

Artist: Aiza
Album: Sovereignty 
Release date: Sept. 29

"I got Fides in my blood/ like a lotus I grew out the mud," begins Aiza's debut album, Sovereignty. The lotus is a sacred flower in many cultures, symbolizing rebirth and re-emergence, and on this record Aiza is entering a new personal era. The title track, and the record as a whole, finds Aiza celebrating her healing and reclaiming autonomy. On "Little Girl," a song for her younger self, she sings: "Now that I know better, I promise to protect ya." She's in control, and she's flooring the gas pedal now that she's in the driver's seat. 

Aiza calls herself a "certified Afro-bop queen," and the songs on Sovereignty hold up to that bar. The Montreal-born artist of Burundian descent blends Afropop, R&B and more to create an enticing and fresh sound: "I want to make music that makes you move, and there's nothing better to me than the music in the African diaspora," she said in a press statement. From sassy sing-talking to sultry R&B vocals, she's experimenting as much with her voice as she is with sound. Elements from traditional Afrobeat, Ivorian coupé décalé, reggateon and samba find their way onto the record, with an assist from her partner and music producer, C the Reason. Sovereignty also includes collaborations with Divinity Roxx, a former bassist and music supervisor for Beyoncé. The mix of danceable tracks ("Kité," "Majimbo," "Alright") and slower, more emotional moments ("Rosé," "Little Girl," "Black Tea") makes for a full-fleshed experience. — Kelsey Adams

Artist: La Force
Album: XO Skeleton
Release date: Sept. 29

Ariel Engle is chameleonic in her craft, flowing through versions of herself as a member of Broken Social Scene, one-half of AroarA (with husband Andrew Whiteman) and All_Hands_Make_Light (with Godspeed You! Black Emperor founder Efrim Manuel Menuck) as well as a frequent collaborator with Big Red Machine (Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon), Patrick Watson, the National and more. But as La Force, Engle's solo moniker, the Montreal-based singer is a singular vision, and her sophomore album, XO Skeleton, is a haunting dissection of life, death and the love that connects them. Engle meant to make a dance record with XO Skeleton, but the pandemic forced an inwardness that excavated something else out of her, as she and co-producer Warren Spicer (Plants and Animals) spent two years recording what would become the new album in Engle's basement each morning before lunch. "I grew up in this house," Engle said on her website. "It's where my dad died. It's where I got married. It's both completely dead and completely alive." While the songs on XO Skeleton are intimate and sometimes gutting, there's so much life in them that together the pop and R&B tracks make a dance record anyway — just one that might make you cry while shaking all the feelings out. — HG

Artist: Fefe Dobson
Album: Emotion Sickness
Release date: Sept. 29

Fefe Dobson is back with her first album since 2010's Joy, and her confessional pen is still as brilliant as it ever was. Emotion Sickness is packed full with rollicking, high-energy pop punk and Dobson's signature frenetic vocal delivery, but even at its most brash, the album still sees Dobson vulnerably spilling her heart out. Love is an ever-present theme in her music, and on this record she's exploring all its facets: from feeling noncommittal ("Hungover") to head-over-heels ("Fckn in Love"), to the exciting promise of new love ("Recharge My Heart") to the bitterness that comes when a connection is about to break ("Too Late"). The essence of the Fefe Dobson we met as a teenager on her debut, self-titled album in 2003 is still present, but she is now more seasoned, thanks to two decades of life experience. She remains fun and feisty, with an added finesse. It's a welcome return full of sublime musical moments — like on "Too Late," with its lively kick drums that make scream-singing "The way you love could make a sinner out of a saint" so satisfying. — KA

Artist: Jeremy Dutcher
Album: Motewolonuwok
Release date: Oct. 6

Jeremy Dutcher's debut album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, was a defining moment for the classically trained singer from Tobique First Nation, winning the 2018 Polaris Music Prize and the 2019 Juno Award for Indigenous music album of the year. The album, which held the voices of Dutcher's ancestors singing traditional songs within Dutcher's incredible new arrangements, also announced the arrival of one of the country's most stunning new voices. Six years later, Dutcher is expanding his ambitious debut vision with a followup record, Motewolonuwok, a mix of experimental pop, art rock and Dutcher's classical training that is part protest, part healing. 

"I wanted it to be like an expansion of the sound world of the first record, so that a string quartet then becomes a full orchestra. Or a couple singers become a whole choir," Dutcher explained in the album trailer (the strings are arranged by fellow Polaris winner Owen Pallett). "And that, to me, felt like a really good way to zoom in and try to tell these hard stories in a beautiful way." It's the first time Dutcher is releasing music in English, as he explained via press release: "Shared tongue is a beautiful gift, with a complicated reason." He added that including English gives him a direct line of communication to settlers, to share stories of his community's healing and resilience. In the video for "Take My Hand," a clip of two-spirit elder Gayle Pruden, Dancing Bear, appears before the song, as she says: "Don't ever ever be ashamed of your language; this is the language that was given to us. And don't ever ever be ashamed of the way you look." Dutcher's stirring love song that follows is in English, with words in Wolastoqey punctuating verses as his native language is projected behind him. Working within community and expanding his sound, Dutcher centres the queer, Indigenous experience — and has again made a moment-defining record. — HG

Artist: Drake
Album: For All the Dogs
Release date: Oct. 6

After building suspense — and a collection of bras — during his It's All a Blur tour, Drake's latest solo record will drop on the first night of his upcoming Toronto shows. In June, the rapper released his first poetry book, Titles Ruin Everything: A Stream of Consciousness, and teased the release of his eighth studio album by stating that he created For All the Dogs to go with the book. If the album doesn't borrow some lines from the collection, fans will likely be disappointed to miss out on would-be lyrics such as: "No one is gaslighting you/ you're just so toxic that you're flammable." "I think some of the best Drake verses that I ever heard are on this album," his friend and frequent collaborator Lil Yachty revealed on a podcast, adding to the hype. But it's not just soon-to-be classic Drake-isms that await: there's also a long-anticipated collaboration with friend and fellow Young Money alum, Nicki Minaj. While "Search and Rescue" and "Slime You Out" are the only singles from the project so far, the melodic tracks harken back to the sounds of Take Care, which is a good indication of what's to come. — Natalie Harmsen

Artist: Omega Mighty
Album: Notorious & Noble
Release date: Oct. 6 

Just two years after releasing her debut album, Me & Youforia, Omega Mighty is back with her sophomore release, Notorious & Noble. Continuing to build on a sound that combines dancehall, reggaeton, hip-hop and R&B, Mighty (sister of Haviah) explores the intersectionalities of being Black, both sonically and lyrically, in her new music. That's best reflected in the album title, at once looking at the idea of Black people as noble kings and queens, and the contrary, which often views them through "notorious" stereotypes. At those cross-sections are topics of love, relationships, racism and female empowerment as Mighty invites a number of guests on Notorious & Noble including Taabu, Vicky R and Melxdie. And on the grooving, confident "Temporary Baby," Zenesoul joins Mighty as she warns her subject: "I'll love you forever/ but then I'm a cold gyal." "The duality of my upbringing has left me feeling displaced for a long time," Mighty said in a press release. But through the process of creating music that reflects both her personal culture and the culture she surrounds herself with in Toronto, Mighty has finally landed on an identity that she can call her own — one that will make bodies around the world dance and move in celebration of this unique Canadian Caribbean sound. — ML 

Artist: Tobi
Album: Panic
Release date: Oct. 12

After a steady release of singles, the anticipation for Tobi's upcoming album has felt like a slow burn. The singer-rapper has always been a confessional writer, and with this record, he explores some of his most intimate, innermost struggles with refreshing openness. The instrumentation gives him room to come out swinging, as he spotlights the Land Back movement and Black death on "Flatline," and plays with his flow on the syncopated track "Hoodwinked." His bars demonstrate a certain maturity, an artist who has lived through some taxing personal traumas — but Tobi seamlessly blends the personal with the political for an enthralling listen from start to finish. It's not all heavy-hitting rap, though, with some gospel-tinged soul songs rounding out the album, such as "Keep From Falling," which is arguably Tobi's most gleaming track to date. — NH

Artist: Munya 
Album: Jardin 
Release date: Oct. 12

The seeds for Munya's upcoming album, Jardin (French for garden), were first planted on a summer day when Josie Boivin and her sister were picking raspberries. "It was a beautiful day and one of those moments when you feel high on life," she said in a press release. "I was filled with gratitude for the place I'm from, for the natural world I'm so connected to." On Boivin's followup to her 2021 full-length debut, Voyage to Mars, she pays tribute to the people who helped her grow into the artist she has become today. Her influences range from her mother and grandparents to musicians including Shania Twain, Marvin Gaye and Maria Callas, the last one likely stemming from Boivin's time performing and studying opera as a teenager. But musically, Boivin doesn't sound like any of those artists. In fact, her soft-pop delivery is the opposite of Callas, and her lo-fi synth-pop sound strives to recreate the feeling of that laid-back, sunny, raspberry-picking day. "Hello Hi" is the album's bubbly opener, painting a serene soundscape of coos; "Un Deux Trois" pays homage to another pair of Boivin's musical inspirations, Daft Punk and Giorgio Moroder, with its synth parts feeling like they were directly lifted from a Discovery B-side. Jardin helps us understand Boivin better, as a person and songwriter, but its ultimate success is the joy it will bring out in its listeners. — ML

Artist: Aysanabee
Album: Here and Now 
Release date: Oct. 20

The release of Aysanabee's debut album, Watin, in 2022 was a watershed moment for the emerging Oji-Cree singer-songwriter. It was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize, singles "We Were Here" and "Nomads" found radio success and he was nominated for contemporary Indigenous group or artist of the year at the Juno Awards, among countless other accolades. Following that momentum, his upcoming EP, Here and Now, reveals an artist deep in his groove. Aysanabee has rounded out his sound, blending elements of gospel, roots, soul and rock. The production and his earth-shattering voice put him in line with artists like Matt Corby, Hozier and Kings of Leon. Even though he hasn't created a project as straightforward, thematically, as Watin — an album born out of conversations with Aysanbee's late grandfather, about his residential school experience — the omnipresence of reality as an Indigenous person and the enduring trauma of colonialism still find their way into this new work.

In a press release, Aysanabee shared that this is the first of more records that will "explore the impact of colonization on Indigenous love in this country." On "Letting Go" and previously released single "Alone," he's coming to terms with the dysfunctional nature of his relationships, and the possibility that their ending could be the healthiest outcome. The grand, swelling instrumentation on "Alone" and Aysanabee's heartbreaking revelation that "loving you means losing me, no matter what I do" is one of the most poignant moments on the record. "This country never made me feel worthy of love," he shared in the same statement. "Through this record, I wanted to be honest by facing my own fallibilities when it comes to building and keeping relationships." — KA

Artist: Shay Lia
Album: Facets
Release date: Oct. 20

With a colourful mix of R&B, amapiano, reggaeton and more, Shay Lia weaves together her most global album yet with Facets. "This work speaks to all of the lives I've lived in different cities, countries, times and spaces," Lia noted in a press release. Many tracks usher listeners to the dance floor, particularly the crisp, club-ready "On the Low," which reunites Lia with frequent collaborator Kaytranada. Hip-swaying rhythms combined with Lia's silky vocals create a joyful explosion of sound that's both fresh and nostalgic, as there are celebratory nods to Prince and Jamiroquai, who are Lia's inspirations. "It's impossible for me to sit comfortably in one specific genre because while my vision is clear, my influences and experiences are layered," she said. The kaleidoscopic, tropical blend is a full-course sonic meal for those hungry to hold onto the last few weeks of summertime before autumn creeps in. — NH

Artist: Rêve
Album: Saturn Return 
Release date: Oct. 20 

Hot on the heels of her 2023 Juno win for dance recording of the year, Montreal pop artist Rêve is finally releasing her debut album, Saturn Return. It's been a quick ascent for Rêve, who has amassed more than 140 million combined global streams in just two years. Her hits "CTRL + ALT + DEL" and "Headphones" are larger-than-life dance anthems that recall early 2000s Europop, a sound that's been carefully crafted by producers (and Rêve's 31 East label heads) Banx & Ranx. "I wanna dance like Michael and sing like Whitney," she sings on "Whitney," which features a literal interpolation of Houston's "I'm Every Woman." While Saturn Return lands Rêve closer to The Fame-era Lady Gaga, these songs mark a promising beginning for the rising pop star, who has the potential to reach the same heights as her musical heroes. — ML

Artist: Bruce Liu
Album: Waves
Release date: Nov. 3

"The sea is always changing, and my approach to the music I play is never fixed," said Bruce Liu, elucidating the title of his debut studio album. Waves also describes the ripple effect his first prize at the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition has had in classical music circles, generating a tsunami of interest in Liu's every move. The elegance and spontaneity that impressed the Chopin jury will serve Liu well in this seemingly personal selection of music by French composers spanning two centuries: Jean-Philippe Rameau (Les Sauvages, Les Tendres Plaintes, La Poule), Charles-Valentin Alkan (a Barcarolle and Le Festin d'Ésope) and Maurice Ravel (Miroirs). Expect silky sonorities and dazzling technique. — Robert Rowat 

Artist: Cory Weeds and his Little Big Band
Album: Home Cookin'
Release date: Nov. 3

Cory Weeds' saxophone was stolen the night before the concerts and recording sessions for Home Cookin' were set to take place. A jazz musician with a more precious disposition might have pulled the plug, but not Weeds. The proverbial show went on with a rapidly improvised solution, and we're richer for it. Weeds' first album with a "little" big band, 2018's Explosion, featured a predominantly American roster, whereas Home Cookin' puts Vancouver's finest on display. They're a tight unit across eight tunes, six of which were arranged by longtime Weeds collaborators Bill Coon and Jill Townsend. No surprise to see two compositions by Horace Silver, who's basically Weeds' godfather, style-wise. Weeds honours his actual father, jazz guitarist Bill Weeds, with a tremendously peppy reading of his composition "Corner Kisses," arranged by Coon. Also included are Cory's gorgeous ballad, "Blossoms in May," and the earworm streaming above: Thad Jones' "Thedia," the perfect vehicle for Cory's lyrical, soulful playing. — RR 

Artist: Okan
Album: Okantomi
Release date: Nov. 8

Since their thrilling first album as Okan (2019's Sombras), band co-leaders Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne have showcased a dynamic musical partnership that's breathtakingly original and exhilarating. Following Okan's Juno Award-winning sophomore release, 2020's Espiral, Okan returns with its third — and most ambitious and best — album yet. Okantomi deepens Rodriguez and Savigne's exploration of their personal and musical ancestry, and the complexity of their lived experiences as Black, queer, Afro-Cuban Canadian immigrants. Drawing on foundational rhythms and beats from their shared Afro-Cuban roots and the fusion of influences at the heart of Cuban music, they've crafted a unique jazz-roots-classical-pop-tropical hybrid that feels transcendent and timeless. 

The Grammy- and Latin Grammy-nominated artists' brilliant creative spark and love of music is evident in their interplay throughout the record (Rodriguez plays the violin and Savigne is the percussionist, and both sing). This is especially vivid in the new video for Okan's most recent single, "La Reina del Norte," which features the couple playing with the entire Okan band at an outdoor festival. Rodriguez sings with flirty bravado and flounces with her violin as she and Savigne lead the audience in a choreographed dance alongside their toddler. Looking at the surface, it's pure joy. Looking a little deeper, it's also joy as a form of resistance. This is the power of Okan. — AW 

• For more on Okan's upcoming album, listen to the Sept. 26 episode of Frequencies with Errol Nazareth

Rumoured releases

A section to highlight some buzzy albums and shorter projects.

Artist: Mattmac
Album: That Sauce Vol 1
Release date: November

After being crowned this year's winner of Searchlight, Oji-Cree rapper Mattmac has been gearing up for the release of his next album, which follows 2022's Blurred Visions. — NH

Artist: Battle of Santiago
Album: TBA
Release date: TBA

The Canadian Afro-Latin post-rock band is about to head to Spain for a few shows and a residency at the Institute of Culture in Barcelona, and will be pairing that timing with a soon-to-be-announced album. Get a taste of what's to come with Battle of Santiago's summer single, "Blossom." — HG

Artist: Keys n Krates
Album: In:Tension
Release date: TBA

Keys n Krates' influences are vast, as the Toronto electronic trio fuses house, hip-hop, dance music and more with its unique member makeup of two DJs and a drummer. With In:Tension, the group is leaning hard into its dance side, and has been dropping banger after banger since early this year. — HG