Dylan Sinclair's everlasting love song and 4 more songs you need to hear this week
Listen to fresh new tracks from AHI, Nia Nadurata, Richard Laviolette and more
Songs you need to hear is CBC Music's weekly list of hot new Canadian tracks.
Scroll down to discover the songs our producers are loving right now.
'Forever,' Dylan Sinclair
They don't want us together
They're tryna pull her away
They doubt I'm good enough for her
But still, my baby, she stays.
On his new single "Forever," Dylan Sinclair is determined to fight against the odds, hand-in-hand with his partner. The track opens with a gentle fluttering guitar riff, but don't let its delicate sound fool you. Throughout the song, the Toronto R&B artist stands strong despite external pressures, showing off a love that is, as he describes in a press release, "defiant, loyal and everlasting." "She's my lover forever," Sinclair declares, with a soaring falsetto reminiscent of Frank Ocean. "Forever" is off of Sinclair's upcoming debut album, For the Boy in Me, out Sept. 27. — Melody Lau
'Constant Love,' Richard Laviolette
"Richard was in touch with a deep magic, a deep, brave, river of song," reads the first line of Richard Laviolette's obituary, as written by friend Steven Lambke of Constantines. Laviolette died at the age of 41 nearly a year ago, and over the last five years of his life, the Guelph-based artist wrote, rehearsed and recorded All Wild Things Are Shy, a final album to be released on Sept. 5 via You've Changed Records. "Constant Love" is a tenderhearted tribute to Laviolette's mother, who died of Huntington's disease, which is what would eventually take Laviolette. A chorus of voices sing the lyrics, including Laviolette and oft collaborator Jessy Bell Smith, as well as Bry Webb (of Constantines) and Steph Yates (of Cots). Two simple verses, sung in community, pair with a gently strummed guitar, keys and vibraphone, eventually focusing on the final, gorgeous verse: "You were a constant love/ a shelter from the storms above/ you were a constant love/ you're in my heart and in my blood." It's comforting to receive these words meant for a parent, but it's also a warm, lasting hug from Laviolette for those missing a beloved musician and friend. — Holly Gordon
'Can We Not!,' Nia Nadurata
When an argument reaches its boiling point, one of the parties involved often utters the words, "Can we not do this right now?" in hopes of ending the fight before things get ugly. For indie pop singer Nia Nadurata, this type of tension with a friend became the basis for her song of the same name, which begins with her singing, "Don't make a scene." After a heated exchange and some eye rolls, Nadurata lets her exasperation show on the chorus: "I can't do this with you right now," she sings, before asking the other party to lower their voice. Each verse flits between exhaustion and agitation, but Nadurata's bright, bubblegum delivery adds a touch of charm that holds the intensity at bay. — Natalie Harmsen
'Life,' Naya Ali
In an era where every second is hijacked by our ceaselessly buzzing digital lives, Naya Ali's latest single, "Life," is a beacon of reflective tranquillity amidst the chaos. The track invites listeners to savour the transient beauty of existence, all while embracing the inevitability of change. It might seem like an existential deep dive, but "Life" is infectious and uplifting. The single's bouncy rhythm seamlessly fuses Afrobeats and pop, showcasing the Montreal rapper's skill in marrying sleek production with raw, heartfelt lyrics. "Nothing lasts forever everything fades/ By the time we pass we in the same place/ Give flowers to the ones and show you love them," Ali reminds us to be contemplate the fragility of life without rushing the process. The song was inspired by Ali's own reflections about life's fleeting nature, she shared in a press release that she "wrote this song when I saw how fleeting time is; one day our parents and loved ones won't be with us anymore, and we'll ask ourselves, 'How does any of this even matter?'" This track is an anthem for those navigating the relentless pace of modern life looking for a reminder to pause and find solace in any given moment. — Vanessa Conley
'My People,' AHI
My people, my people
The restless, unequal
We pray for the day we shine good on the evil
Down down, they can't keep us.
From the first plucky guitar chord, "My People" welcomes listeners into what will surely be an uplifting experience. Toronto artist Ahi's mix of roots, pop and folk allows for a deep well of emotionality throughout his music and his latest single is no exception. It follows "Black Monday" as the second release from his upcoming album The Light Behind the Sun, out Jan. 17, 2025. "My People" has the tone of the kind of songs chosen for the FIFA World Cup, or similar international sporting events: a simple, infectious melody; an endlessly inspiring message; and a clap-along chorus that you'll have memorized by the end of the first listen. It's a track about overcoming adversity, rising up and taking back your life. In times of turmoil, sometimes you need the reminder that those things are in fact possible. — Kelsey Adams
To hear more about these standout songs, tune in to CBC Music Mornings every Thursday (Canada-wide) with producer Ryan Chung and host Saroja Coelho, and Here and Now with Gill Deacon every Wednesday afternoon (in Toronto). Both are available via CBC Listen.