Press releases and new music notifications took a while to get going as we progressed out of the holiday season and into 2025, but once February rolled around, the arrivals notification into the GDW email inbox was pinging non-stop. So much great music landing on our radar, yet so little time and space to devote to many of them. Passing over some of these tracks would be such a great disservice, however, so here’s a quick and concise compilation of some releases that you may have missed…
Steph Cameron, “Rain”
It seems like an eternity since we last featured music from Saskatoon, SK indie-folk artist Steph Cameron – one who amazed us with her two stunning albums in 2014 and 2017 respectively. Teasing with new music (“Today”) last October, Steph now shares this hauntingly poetic ballad, “Rain,” which blurs the lines between longing and memory. “Rain is about the dissipation of the soul and the search for those we’ve loved and lost,” Steph shares. “It reflects on connecting with those who have passed by finding them in the earth, the elements, and the natural world.”
Sechile Sedare, “Hold On”
Yellowknife, NWT siblings Jay and Leela Gilday have carved successful individual career paths, and both have featured here at GDW over the years. We have seen both artists in concert, but never together – and while they have frequently toured collectively closer to home, never have they ‘officially’ collaborated as a duo – until now. Performing under the moniker Sechile Sedare (translates as ‘my younger brother, my older sister’ in the Dene language), the Gilday’s combine their contemporary roots sounds to create this stunning debut that blends their sounds, styles, and natural sibling chemistry in perfect harmony.
Julian Taylor & Jim Cuddy, “Tulsa Time”
Oh, come on! As if we could let this one pass us by. Everybody knows that we are huge fans of Toronto troubadour Julian Taylor, and as for Jim Cuddy – do we have to spell it out for you??? Originally performing a cover of this Don Williams tune on stage at the iconic Horseshoe Tavern, Taylor and Cuddy decided to formally record the song, transporting listeners back to the golden era of country music in the process. “It’s such a classic country staple,” shares Julian. “I’ve loved it for a long time and what a pleasure it is to sing it with one of my friends and heroes.”
The Southern Residents, “Devyn Gale”
We’re always on the lookout for emerging bands, and did we ever strike gold when this debut single from BC-based bluegrass band The Southern Residents landed in our laps. Founded by Tom Taylor and Adrian Dolan, and featuring an eclectic mix of BC musicians, this single tells a tale of a BC firefighter who lost her life to a wildfire outside Revelstoke in 2023. “I was heartbroken after reading the story,” Tom shares. “Devyn needed a folk song to celebrate her, and to mark the sacrifice that she, and other brave men and women have made to protect Canadian communities … [from] forest fires.”
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
