Kaia Kater's ode to the internet, and 6 more songs you need to hear this week

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. 

'The Internet,' Kaia Kater

The pandemic forced us all to rely on the internet for work, communication and connection. But in the case of musicians like Kaia Kater, translating live performances into virtual spaces came with some complications. During an early virtual performance, Kater was preparing her at-home set-up when she knocked a glass of water over her keyboard, killing her computer and causing her to cancel the gig. "It felt so bizarre, so different from what I was doing," she told Q's Tom Power, noting that she had just been on the road the month prior. That same night, Kater penned "The Internet," her first new single in three years. (It's been almost six years since her last album, Grenades.) "Carved my life just for the internet/ You take the leg, the wing, the shoulder and sing/ 'All Hail to Our God the internet,'" Kater sings, mixing the melancholy of isolation with a welcome dose of humour to lighten the mood. Complete with a bridge that tries to replicate the awkward moments of glitchiness where people's voices get chopped up, "The Internet" captures both the frustration but also some of the allure of digital life and screens. The fact that this modern tale is treated with a simple folk melody is something that only Kater can pull off magnificently. — Melody Lau

'Chicago,' Ekkstacy

Fresh off of a GQ Hype cover, pop-punk chameleon Ekkstacy has released the final single from his upcoming self-titled album. "Chicago" begins with a burst of guitar before building into a raucous number that's primed for propelling bodies into the mosh pit. Ekkstacy has a talent for weaving an undercurrent of sounds into his punk tracks, and glimpses of shoegaze crop up throughout the song to give it an unexpected sprinkle of gentleness. It's an effective combination that feels genuinely sweet rather than cloying, as he sings about a crush: "I think I found her finally/ I hope you feel this way about me." — Natalie Harmsen

'Vibes: Immaculate,' Kallitechnis

Kallitechnis sang about the soft life in her October 2023 single, and she's leaning further into that sense of pleasure and tenderness on "Vibes: Immaculate," the second release for her upcoming album, Mood Ring. Over a soothing guitar tone and muted synths, the Montreal R&B singer cocoons you in the sensuous, warm light of golden hour with the one you love, singing: "The hairs on the back of our necks are all raising/ the feeling's amazing/ and I want it over and over again." The words "over and over again" transform into a pre-chorus mantra, giving "Vibes: Immaculate" a delicious, affirmative energy for these cold January nights. We called Kallitechnis "truly one of the best new voices in contemporary R&B" a few years ago, and we stand by it. — Holly Gordon

'Chante's Groove,' TheHonestGuy feat. Zenesoul

After doing shows together last fall, TheHonestGuy (a.k.a. Mubarak Adeyemi) and Zenesoul were destined to unite on a single in 2024, and they wasted no time. "Chante's Groove" is the warm, romantic, funky bop we knew they'd make — and evidence of Adeyemi's continuing evolution. The title refers to his friend Chante, who challenged him to create a song that balances lyrics and melody on one hand, with an irresistible groove on the other. "I wanted to ... allow the listener to get into the lyrics and also just be able to move and have a vibe to the groove of the song," he told CBC Music. The groove is indeed undeniable, but not at the expense of tunefulness. Adeyemi's voice is a balmy breeze, and when Zenesoul joins him with her clear, pliable tone, the chemistry is real: "So captivated: the way you swayin' turns me on/ I'm activated: I wanna love you all night long." — Robert Rowat

 'A New Door Is Closing,' Talvi

If you're looking for an excuse to descend into existential ennui, Toronto singer Talvi has you covered with her new single "A New Door Is Closing."  Warm, ethereal tones and gentle guitar strumming lay the groundwork while Talvi's lyrics paint vivid imagery of the passage of time, and its effect on all things. Her compelling and haunting vocal is at its peak on the chorus, as she implores listeners to not sit still as time slips away around them: "A new door is closing/ As time's ticking slowly/ Don't watch through your fingers/ Look at it all closely." It's the exact kind of sweeping and heart-wrenching music we've come to expect from Talvi, and with her hinting a new album is on its way in the spring, it seems even more arresting songs are incoming. — Kelsey Adams

'Welcome to Nostalgia,' Ruben Young feat. Terrell Morris

Ruben Young's Instagram bio reads: "Sorry I'm late, I'm in Belize," explaining the Calgary-born singer-songwriter's ongoing hiatus from music. The last time listeners heard from Young was his 2021 track "TNT" featuring Los Angeles rapper Buddy, but now he's back with "Welcome to Nostalgia." Young commands your attention, belting "I get no love," hooking you with the tension in his voice. The song drives with warped guitars and infectious drums but it's Young's voice that gives off the titular nostalgia, reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Costello and even Teddy Pendergrass. Overall, the song becomes a reminder for Young: "Picture the past/ think of the last one you loved … you may think it will pass/ but if you're like me/ no, it won't." Nostalgia can be a gift and a curse, but it's up to us to choose whether we want that history to heal us or hurt us. — Ryan Chung

'Your Mind's Made Up,' Michael Feuerstack

Many of us have been there: ready to leave the nest; boxes stored in the basement; promises to write and call and visit. When Montreal singer-songwriter Michael Feuerstack noticed his friends' kids starting this cycle anew, it sparked "Your Mind's Made Up," the lead single to his upcoming album, Eternity Mongers, and a song filled with the curiosity of someone who still asks what it means to live. Made with a community of collaborators Feuerstack has known for years — Kyle Cunjak on bass, Michael Belyea on drums, Karen Ng and Tim Crabtree (a.k.a. Paper Beat Scissors) on woodwinds and Erika Angell and Laurel Sprengelmeyer (a.k.a. Little Scream) on backing vocals — "Your Mind's Made Up" radiates with parental warmth. "Send us a note/ if you're feeling alone/ you don't have to say much/ you'd be surprised what a couple of words can do for us/ we'll be waiting for your sweet return," Feuerstack sings, as the swing of the woodwinds and gentle lap of the drums offer to welcome you home anytime. Your mind's made up today, but who knows what tomorrow will bring. — Holly Gordon