The Weeknd's new album standout, and 4 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.

'Open Hearts,' the Weeknd

The Weeknd has borrowed inspiration from a number of filmmakers over the years, from Alfred Hitchcock to David Lynch. His penchant for cinematic drama is what makes his music feel larger than life. On his latest album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, he continues to follow that inclination, providing an accompanying film, expected to release in May, which urges one to imagine where each song may fit on a soundtrack. "Open Hearts" is the bleeding climax of the hypothetical story, finding the Weeknd hesitant to open up to love again after heartbreak. The Max Martin and Oscar Holter-produced track is infectious and exhilarating, as the two Swedes build the frenetic framework for the Weeknd's anxieties to metastasize. The epic chorus, with heart rate-raising synths and the Weeknd's signature falsetto, brings everything together: "Where do I start/ when I open my heart? It's never easy falling in love again." — Kelsey Adams

'We Like,' Pierre Kwenders and Poté

Almost three years after his Polaris Music Prize-winning album, José Louis and the Paradox of Love, Pierre Kwenders is back with a new EP titled Tears on the Dancefloor, out Feb. 26. Its lead single, "We Like," featuring Paris-based musician Poté, continues to radiate the same warmth and love as the Montreal-based artist's previous work. Tender synths and an upbeat drum rhythm build into a beautifully frenzied dance chorus with the repeated refrain, "We like to fight on/ we like oh face it." The track is a "rallying cry for unity, a song for connection and celebration," as described in a statement, and in turbulent times like this, Kwenders (who dedicated this track to the people impacted by the current conflict in eastern Congo) reminds us that we mustn't succumb to the darkness. "We Like" is an important act of joyful resistance. — Melody Lau

'Salt,' Charlie Houston

The age-old concept of rubbing salt in the wound gets applied to a breakup by Charlie Houston on "Salt," a new track from the Toronto artist's debut album, Big After I Die. The song's first line cements Houston in the throes of a heart-wrenching split: "You kept saying sorry between my guttural cries," she sings. Over minimal folk instrumentation, she grapples with the out-of-control feeling that comes from being the dumpee: "Pour some salt in my eyes," she sings on the chorus, before adding, "′cause it's not my fault, if I'm too much." Houston asking for the sting of salt to distract from the pain of being jilted evokes a helplessness that pierces the heart. Her ability to convey these emotions so viscerally is undeniable, and she saturates every note with feeling. — Natalie Harmsen

'Goliath,' Jessie Reyez

Jessie Reyez has a sharp pen — and tongue — when it comes to betrayal and heartbreak, but the rapper and R&B artist is just as skilled at leaning into the sweet promise of an all-encompassing love. "When I say I love you/ I mean I would pull every star from the sky down/ or square up with any Goliath/ I'll moonwalk it through any fire," she sings on the chorus of "Goliath," a slow jam that keeps things simple, letting Reyez slide in and out of her falsetto as she professes her unwavering commitment alongside that slinky low end. She flips the switch for one rapped verse that shows some warning signs — "Deleted every contact from my phone, baby/ if I'm honest, I ain't tryna talk to no one but you" — but who wants to think about the consequences so close to Valentine's Day? — Holly Gordon

'Tempo,' Tommy Genesis and Kito

Winter is typically a sleepy time, one for hibernation and reclusion, but Tommy Genesis wants us to wake up and dance on her new single, "Tempo." From the first seconds, high-octane energy permeates throughout the song thanks to Australian producer Kito. The drums are pounding and the bass is booming as Tommy Genesis makes her demands: "I need somebody with tempo/ your blood, your pain, your spirit dance/ I need somebody to take home." If you're looking to go zero to 100 in a split second, turn this track on and crank the volume. The Vancouver-born and raised artist has been teasing a new album in 2025, so more ear-busting beats are on the horizon. — KA