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.

"I really just wanted to make a song that inspires others to not give up on their dreams," country singer Sacha explained in a press release about her new single, "Hey Mom I Made It." The empowering song begins with Sacha reflecting on being young and getting "up to no good," before detailing her journey of personal growth and healing: "Yeah, I've been through hell and back again and I'm still standing," she sings on the explosive, infectious chorus, her smooth vocals shining. It's joyous to hear her sing so freely about finding happiness after hardship, especially through the lens of self-love. Armed with the wisdom of the present day, she assesses the choices of her younger self with tenderness. "If this becomes an anthem for even one person to carry on to the finish line, then I will feel I've done my job as an artist," she said. — Natalie Harmsen

Jazz pianist Anthony d'Alessandro is probably best known for his work with Juno Award-winning vocalist Caity Gyorgy (they just wrapped up a tour together), but he has now released his debut album as a leader, Searchin', and it's a hard-swinging, feel-good collection of five originals and two standards. He's well-surrounded by bassist Neil Swainson, drummer Ernesto Cervini and trumpeter Benny Benack III (who also sings on the Gershwins' "Someone to Watch Over Me.") On "Tune for Monty," a bouncy, calypso-leaning d'Alessandro composition named for Jamaican American jazz pianist Monty Alexander, the quartet shines. Benack III takes the first solo and it has a beautiful, cumulative build; d'Alessandro goes next with nice, fat chords and a right hand that covers most of the keyboard and touches on several styles in a short amount of time. And while Cervini plays a standard drum set, you can almost hear steel pans in your mind's ear. — Robert Rowat

We are often our own worst enemies, putting the most pressure on our own selves. On Toronto singer-songwriter Julian Taylor's latest single, "Weighing Down," he's here to deliver a simple and effective message, one that we can forget when our minds are clouded with self-doubt or self-criticism: "You've been so hard on yourself/ It's time to let things soften now/ Weighing down, don't let it weigh you down." Taylor, his acoustic guitar and Jim Hoke's serene pedal steel offer a calming presence, almost meditative in the way they ground listeners and brush away any stress or anxiety that they may be holding onto. In a statement, Taylor said of the track, "What I'm saying here is, I've got to relieve myself from all this hurt — and so do you." Pressing play on this song is a good place to start. "Weighing Down" is from Taylor's upcoming album, Pathways, out Sept. 27. — Melody Lau

Milton, Ontario's Billianne is back with a new single for all the people with their heads in the clouds. The pop-folk singer premiered "Daydream" live on NBC's The Today Show, with an endearing performance that captures the song's playfulness. The idea for the song was sparked after a thrift store visit when she prematurely shopped for items for an apartment she doesn't yet have — and who among us haven't jumped the gun a bit in similar ways? Billanne's serene vocals play tag with acoustic and electric guitar, drums and a resonant harp that makes the song feel weightless and dreamy. Since her cover of Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" took the Internet by storm in 2021, Billianne has wowed us with her takes on other artists's songs. But, she's also been devoted to flexing her own songwriting skills, and this new single seems like a sign of more original music to come: "Daydream marks the new avenue of my upcoming releases, and I couldn't be more proud of it and how it opens up this new world of sound for me," she shared in a press release. — Kelsey Adams

If you've ever thought about pinching yourself over your good fortune at finding "the one," then you'll relate to this charming song from pop/R&B musician Jesse Gold. There are echoes of Daniel Caesar's "Best Part" in the harmonies, but "Problematic" is more extroverted in its execution than the former song, with Gold's famously pliant tenor voice and facility with his guitar on full display. A group of backup singers gives a gospel lift to the chorus as Gold elucidates the song's title with soulful phrasing: "Our love is problematic/ I think I'm an addict/ Might get your name tatted/ Over my heart." — RR

905 Ty is a Toronto-area hip-hop artist who first took off a few years ago with compelling storytelling and catchy hooks. Now, he's back with his first release of 2024, "December 1st," a melodic single that samples Juno-nominated R&B singer Ali Gatie. The song begins with pitched-up vocals from Gatie's "It's You," before almost immediately dropping into heavy 808's, atmospheric background vocals and sparse percussion that leaves plenty of room for 905 Ty to fit seamlessly into the melodic pockets. The lyrics tell a raw story of pain, risk, loss and ultimately, freedom. 905 Ty raps vulnerably and showcases exactly why his fans are so eager to see him win. — Bhaven Moorthy

To prime fans ahead of a weekend where she's up for rock recording of the year at the East Coast Music Awards, Cape Breton, N.S., country-rocker Elyse Aeryn has released a fiery new single about finding what you need within yourself. "Letting go of the reins/ I'm in love with the freedom/ I'm in love with the way/ it's everything I've been needing/ and I don't need to be saved," she sings with swagger, savouring each verse and chorus laid atop a take-no-prisoners electric guitar. "I have a history of dating the same type of guy," she wrote on Instagram after the song dropped. "Confident. Adventurous. Gets what he wants. A little trouble. A lot of fun. Basically all the parts of me I was scared to meet. Well I finally met her and she's not afraid anymore. She's saddled up and she's ready to ride." Paired with a video that has some "Goodbye Earl" attitude, "Cowboy" is a welcome ride. — Holly Gordon

"Why'd you leave me down here with the ghost?" It's a question that Sebastian Gaskin asks in the chorus of their new single, "Ghost," and also one that anyone who's experienced the loss of a loved one ponders over and over. To be left with only memories of someone, to know you'll never feel their hug or kiss again or feel the weight of their hand in yours is overwhelming; it's the remnants of them that will keep you company now. With immense gusto, Gaskin sings straight from their soul over sweeping, bombastic beats (produced by Gaskin, Hill Kourkoutis and Justin Meli), as they learn to accept that although they'll never see the person again, their spirit is always near. In a press release, Gaskin shared that the song is about "the anger, and the confusion that often accompanies that grief, and the ways that we like to escape and distract ourselves from it. 'Ghost' is a catharsis."— KA

It's time to welcome a new addition to the boss bitch anthem canon. Calgary rapper Tea Fannie's latest single, "BBBO" (which stands for "Boss Bish Business Owners"), is a celebration of women's hustle, ambition and resilience. "F--k the roles, what we're told," she raps, "take a hold of the mould and behold what we can and will unfold." Over a steady groove and sharp horns, produced by and featuring Toronto's Junia-T, Fannie uses her own rise to inspire others through her hard work, commitment to craft, and even reminding others the importance of treating your team and others with kindness and compassion. In the final verse, she combines her confidence with a dose of manifestation, assuring listeners: "You cannot tell me that you'll see me at award shows/ That's sumn I already know." — ML