Priyanka's fierce pop bop and 6 more songs you need to hear this week

Here at CBC Music, we're always on high alert for new songs by Canadian artists.

This week, we're listening to new tracks from:

• Maria-Therese.
• Priyanka featuring Ralph.
• Elijah Woods.
• Jules is Dead.
• Malody.
• Quake Matthews.
• Sydanie.

Scroll down to find out why you need to listen, too.

What new Canadian tunes are you currently obsessed with? Share them with us on Instagram @cbc_music. 

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.

'Amore,' Maria-Therese

"Pass me the drink and I might just kiss you," Maria-Therese teases on "Amore," a sultry jam that unfolds over the course of a long night as she pursues a love interest. "This is the first song I've written about falling for a girl, and being open about it. It's scary to have that out in the open, but I wanna be honest about who I am," the R&B/soul singer wrote on Instagram. As Maria-Therese alternates between fantasizing about her special someone and the exciting reality of the romantic tension between them, she slowly begins pining. Her silky vocals are filled with yearning, easily conveying the spark she feels. With an infectious melody, a coy chorus and plenty of vocalizing, the track is a compelling serenade that captures the magic of flirtatious joy. — Natalie Harmsen

'Bad Bitches Don't Cry,' Priyanka feat. Ralph 

We're coming up on three years since Priyanka took home the crown on the inaugural season of Canada's Drag Race, and it feels like the drag superstar has been hustling nonstop. From magazine covers and ad campaigns to launching her own successful pop career, Priyanka's ubiquity has been well-earned and vital in a time when drag bans have not only impacted the U.S., but have also threatened artists and events in Canada. "Bad Bitches Don't Cry," the Toronto artist's latest single from her upcoming album, may have originated from a quote from the reality series Selling Sunset, but it also doubles as a spirited rallying cry against detractors of drag. "Let's go, they told me no/ I'm at the top, yeah, check my flow," she raps with confidence. (The track is given an extra pop boost here with Ralph, who matches Priyanka's energy perfectly.) As hard as some may try, you can't break a bad bitch — and some of the fiercest bad bitches around are undoubtedly drag queens like Priyanka. — Melody Lau

'Make Believe,' Elijah Woods

Teasing this song on Instagram, Elijah Woods wondered what it would sound like if you took drums like Pink Pantheress, vocoder like Imogen Heap, guitar like Fall Out Boy, piano like Hozier and lyrics "like the inside of my soul" to craft a track. Well, wonder no more: "Make Believe" is out, and it's all those inspirations, wrapped up with a pretty pop bow. Which is not to say it's an unabashedly happy song. On the contrary, it's "the story of fighting for someone who's already emotionally gone," Woods said via press release. "The song's anthemic chorus highlights the desperateness [of] trying to be the glue in a relationship." Woods's soul evidently has some dark corners, but this song shines bright, beautiful light on them. Watch for his new EP, What if it Was Great, due out June 16. — Robert Rowat

'Red Is My Favourite Colour,' Jules is Dead 

Jules is Dead learned to play the guitar when they were 14; just three years later, the Barrie, Ont. artist has signed to a major label and is releasing their debut single, "Red Is My Favourite Colour." It's been a quick ascent for the 17-year-old, who has amassed over 300,000 followers on TikTok alone, yet their new single sounds like it was created by a pop-punk veteran. A sombre piano intro quickly gives way to an emo/punk rush as Jules is Dead sings about losing yourself to a relationship and later realizing "it isn't healthy and your happiness doesn't depend on them," as they shared in a press release. Their sound will easily win over the hearts of pop-punk fanatics, especially if you're a fan of recent revivalists like Willow and Meet Me at the Altar. It's been two decades since Avril Lavigne, a pioneer of pop-punk, emerged from a small town in Ontario. Now, Jules is Dead is ready to take on that mantle. — ML

'Breathe Air Into the Wound,' Malody

For years, CBC's East Coast Music Hour has run the series The Story and the Song, where artists from the region are commissioned to create original music. This year, artists wrote work around the one-word theme "emerging," and submissions included an incredible debut single from Malody. The Halifax-based artist studied jazz piano in university and has played for years with other bands (including Alexander and the Great Ones), but this is their solo introduction. "Breathe Air Into the Wound" is an addictive first song for any catalogue, built around shuffling percussion and dreamy harmonies. "Wanna see me?/ Vulnerability/ But the mirror it was shattered/ when I slammed the door on the world," Malody sings, letting the song's dark heart out between the bright and bouncy keys. Whereas "emerging" is often an outward feeling, Malody told host Bill Roach that they wanted to focus on emerging from within: "I wanted this song to feel like ... pushing yourself a little bit into that discomfort, into those wounds I guess that you've hidden away. No matter how hard you try to shut away those feelings, to shut away the reality that is you, you can't. It's still there, it's still burning. You have to breathe air into it, you have to reignite it." To hear the full story behind their song, head to the 38-minute mark on this episode. — Holly Gordon

Listen to all eight commissioned pieces from The Story and the Song via YouTube, and listen to the full shows — and the stories behind the songs — via CBC Listen.

'Daddy Is a Legend,' Quake Matthews

"Music is medicine for the soul," is a quote that sums up the feelings and emotions of Quake Matthews in the sombre and truthful track, "Daddy Is a Legend." Featuring a heavy piano sample and hard-hitting drums, the song is about his late friend, battle rapper Pat Stay, and analyzes Stay's legacy and impact on the rap scene. Matthews takes a different approach to the song by not necessarily making it a tribute, but rather an open letter to the children of his musical brother in arms. This song becomes Matthews's therapy session, as he leaves it all on the table for Stay's children to know that their father was indeed a force within the industry. The track also encourages everyone to carve out their own path in life. The Halifax rapper doesn't miss a step with his thought-provoking lyrics, but within the pain in the track, Matthews finds healing after loss. — Ryan Chung 

'Bubble 4 a Winna,' Sydanie

It's been three years since we've heard new music from Toronto rapper Sydanie, and I am so relieved the drought is over. Her previous single, 2020's "Purple Carousel" went double platinum in my house and her latest release has her back in her element, delivering sickening bars over dancey house beats. "Bubble 4 a Winna" is the lead single off of Sydanie's upcoming album, Eclectic Circus and Jim Anderson and Josh McIntyre's nostalgic '80s house production gives a sneak peek into the sounds that will be present in her new music. "I struggled as a rapper to articulate what my sound is. I cover such a wide range of genres and the album displays what I do and what I'm good at. It translates my artistry in a way that's cohesive and makes sense." she told chew magazine. 

Sydanie's chameleon-like voice cannot be held back by convention: whether she's spitting fire over thrashing synths or bopping on a melodic beat like on "Bubble 4 a Winna," she's fully in control. Thanks to serene background vocals by Travis Knight, the song has a lovely ethereal quality to it. Lyrically, it's an ode to a romantic partner who treats you right. As Sydanie raps in the chorus, she'll serve thrills, give butterfly kisses, pack lunches and book impromptu trips for someone who is worthy of being adored. — Kelsey Adams