With Pretty Demons (Remastered 2026), Andrew Spice revisits his acclaimed 2003 debut with renewed clarity and resonance. Rooted in piano-driven indie songwriting, the album captures the emotional turbulence of coming-of-age as a queer person in the late 1990s; a time when finding belonging often meant confronting hostility, isolation, and fear. Upon its original release, Pretty Demons received raves from publication after publication: “so sensitive it will break your heart” (The Varsity), “a genuine talent whose lyrics are carefully wrought poems” (NOW Magazine), “manages to put his finger on our collective hearts” (The Toronto Star). The album was also nominated for Outstanding Debut Recording at the OutMusic Awards. Now, more than two decades later, its themes of love, loss, identity, and survival remain strikingly relevant.
Following the success of Pretty Demons, Spice’s next step was unusual: He earned a Ph.D. and became a clinical psychologist. Then, while continuing to practice in psychology, he made a nearly-unprecedented return to the music industry after 22 years with the release of 2025’s With Animals. Produced by two-time JUNO Award nominee Matthew Barber, With Animals garnered worldwide press acclaim, international airplay, and tour dates at esteemed Canadian venues such as the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
The Imaginary Band, the latest project from longtime Chilliwack, BC musician Andrew Christopher, expands from concept to fully realized collaboration on their self-titled debut album. Blending folk, rock, and Americana influences, the record captures the spontaneity and chemistry that happens when talented musicians gather in the same room and let creativity lead the way.
“I had written the songs and recorded some acoustic versions,” Andrew explains. “Then these incredible musicians came into my life and we just had to finish the songs with their added touches of brilliance.” What followed was a recording experience that felt both focused and free-flowing. Over two intense days in the studio, each musician stepped fully into their role while maintaining a supportive and lighthearted atmosphere. “We knew our assignments,” he recalls. “But of course, we kept it fun, lighthearted, and encouraging in a supportive atmosphere. People trying to out-solo each other in healthy competition was a highlight.”
Alternative rock artist Em Armstrong breathes new life into “Maybe Probably Never,” an edgy, bold, and empowering anthem about closure, self-respect, and choosing yourself.
“This song came from a tough breakup and sparked the realization that the wrong people can’t keep coming back into my life whenever it’s convenient for them,” Armstrong shares. “It’s a reminder that if someone truly cares, they show up the first time.”
The title itself reflects the emotional limbo she once felt. “‘Maybe, probably I’ll go back,’” Armstrong says, echoing the confusion that followed the split. “Spoiler alert: I never did.”
“You In The World” arrives as one of the most quietly powerful moments on Jont’s forthcoming album Walk Right Through (out May 15th). It’s a song that feels less written than revealed. Loving, fulfilled, and deeply reflective, the track unfolds as a universal declaration of connection, gathering together threads of romantic love, parenthood, time passing, and the deeper knowing that there is both only this moment and still meaningful work left to do.
The song emerged at the close of an intense and unusually focused creative cycle. In the spring of 2024, 10 songs arrived over 10 weeks; not summoned, but insistent. “They were wanting to be written,” Jont says. Some carried specific purposes: one written for a friend in hospital who needed reminding of what she still had to return to; another facilitating forgiveness and healing after a long-held rift with an ex-partner. Each song arrived as a response to something real, urgent, and human.
