Jessie Reyez and Ari Lennox's powerhouse collab, and 5 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.

'Just Like That,' Jessie Reyez feat. Ari Lennox

On "Just Like That," two queens of love and heartbreak pair up for a stirring, downtempo R&B number. Jessie Reyez and Ari Lennox have such complementary vocal styles, it's shocking this was their first collaboration. Where Reyez's last two singles were raunchy and brusque — "Ridin'" featuring Lil Wayne and "Shut Up" featuring Big Sean" — this collaboration with Lennox is melodic and sultry. The guitar-driven melody gets a bit of rhythmic punctuation from bongos that give the production a lilting energy. The two singers trade verses about finally finding the right kind of love: "I just want somethin' that's good for me/ I got a feelin' that you could be good for me." The duet came together quite organically: Reyez was asked to come into one of Lennox's studio sessions to provide creative feedback, and afterwards she invited Lennox to be part of her upcoming record. "It was a gift to watch [Lennox] in the studio. Her voice is incredible, and hearing her on my song was a gift," Reyez shared in a press release. Here's hoping listeners have the good fortune of hearing these two team up again in the future. — Kelsey Adams

'Sickä,' Dom Vallie

A sample of the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize" adds a nostalgic and immediately recognizable flair to Dom Vallie's boisterous new single, "Sickä." "I feel like I'm Biggie, hypnotize 'em with my magic," he raps on the chorus, giving the iconic rapper his flowers. Vallie cheekily brags about the women he's bagging and the hits he's writing, all while showcasing his sharp and dexterous flow. By letting everyone know he's an artist who is "sicker than your average," he lets his ego dominate the song over bouncing beats to charming and clever effect. It wouldn't be a Dom Vallie song without some namedropping, and aside from Biggie, he also shouts out Lyrical Lemonade founder Cole Bennett: "If life gon' give me lemons, I'm calling Cole Bennett." "Sickä" might just be his most infectious single yet, thanks to that sample and the hooky chorus. Judging by the positive reactions to the song on TikTok and Instagram, it's clear Dom Vallie has successfully injected new life into a timeless classic, creating a fresh banger that feels primed for virality. — Natalie Harmsen

'Whitney,' Boslen

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're high off adrenaline/ Xes and Oes, put down your phone," raps Boslen, kicking off his final song of 2024 with a sharp — but heartfelt — demand for your undivided attention. The Vancouver artist recorded "Whitney" with singer Louise Burns, who was pregnant at the time, and the song is written through the combined lens of approaching parenthood and Boslen becoming a proud uncle. "[Burns] and I had a lovely conversation about how we both feel about the younger generation growing up around technology, and how important it is to just remember the grass, the trees, and being a kid while growing up," he wrote via email. "I just wanted to speak to my five-year-old nieces and my nephews so when they grow up we can have a conversation about it." Burns's voice calls from above as she repeats the refrain, "All my life I've been so numb," while Boslen busts out verse after verse about agency and independence atop a rolling drum beat and crunchy synths. As we all deal with the reality of constant technological stimulation, "Whitney" is all you'll need to refocus and appreciate the world outside. — Holly Gordon

'Sexy Clown,' Marie Davidson

Authenticity is encouraged but not always rewarded in music. Where is the line between following proven formulas and asserting one's own identity? Marie Davidson explores this on her latest dance floor anthem, "Sexy Clown." Over brash beats and whistle-like sirens, the Montreal artist admits that sometimes, "Being a pleaser, I'd love to be your bitch/ and offer you my heart right on the selfie stick" — but at what cost? Ultimately, Davidson rejects all rules, refusing to fit into any one box in favour of being her true self no matter what anyone thinks. Switching between her signature sing-talk style and a more melodic delivery, she reminds listeners: "You like it when I'm mean? You find it sexy?/ Don't get it confused, 'cause I do it for me." — Melody Lau

'Loose Ends,' Half Moon Run

Before they tackle a brand new album, Half Moon Run's current endeavour is to finish off a series of previously unreleased songs, so it makes sense that the first in this series is about wrapping up unfinished business. "Loose Ends" was recorded during the sessions for the band's 2023 album, Salt, but didn't make it onto that album. Thematically, the song is reminiscent of all those best-laid plans we had for 2024, and maybe there's still enough time to return to one or two before the year slips away. The music is jaunty and whimsical enough to fit in around the holidays: "Loose Ends" feels like a Christmas song for anyone who's trying to avoid Christmas songs. I'm imagining a moment when friends and family gather, someone tunes up an acoustic guitar, another starts plunking away at the piano, and it all eventually organizes into a sing-along like this. — Nathan Gill

'East Wind,' Caley Watts

For the uninitiated, "East Wind" is a phenomenal introduction to the understated magic of Caley Watts. The Cree singer-songwriter grew up in Nuxalk Territory (around Bella Coola, B.C.) and the rivers, mountains and rainforests that surrounded her provide ample inspiration for her songwriting. Listening to "East Wind," it's easy to imagine oneself whisked far away from the insularity of daily life, to somewhere wilder and grander. There's a listless tone to the song, as if Watts is on the precipice of a major breakthrough but unsure of what it might be. It's a certain kind of uncertainty many artists and creators grapple with: "It's far from over when you've arrived/ you've only made it to the other side/ when you're trying to find the way," Watts sings. Her arresting vocals glide over the pared-back production, until the electric guitar takes centre stage in the song's latter half with a time-stopping solo. And more breathtaking music is on the way: Watts's debut album, River's Daughter, will be released in May 2025. — KA