New Music Wednesday

Alternative pop artist ROKI started writing and producing music at a young age as a creative outlet, and later headed up multiple bands. After taking a brief hiatus from music to pursue her love of filmmaking, she returned, producing new tracks with Ben Kaplan (Mother Mother) and Winston Hauschild (Wanting Qu). During the process of recording her debut solo album, MOTHER, she experienced the greatest changes and challenges of her life: becoming a mother while losing her own. The latter spun her into a darker state, and unsure how to process her grief she poured herself into her music.

Looking forward, ROKI will be releasing a song every couple months until early 2024 when her Lovable EP drops. This EP heralds a new era of sound for ROKI – dreamier, brighter, “loved up” and hopeful for new possibilities.

Dreamy and honest lead single, “The One,” is about watching the person you love hold back the hurt in their life and bear it on their own to save you from feeling it too. ROKI wanted to write this song to reassure those individuals that it’s okay to feel hurt because that’s part of being human, and you should feel comfortable sharing those feelings with your partner. Whatever the reason for hurt may be, your loved ones will be here for you.

Calgary’s Kayla Williams is a yacht-pop songstress who pays homage to ’70s soft rock royalty, such as TOTO, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, and the Doobie Brothers. A seasoned musician, Williams adds her bold feminine flair to the genre, delivering a positivity-forward, feel-good throwback tribute with a glittery, vibrant energy.

“Come Close” is a summer anthem! I wanted to write a really upbeat, catchy and danceable tune with a retro feel but through a pop filter. Lyrically it’s about those good chemicals you get flooded with when someone you’re into comes close. It’s lovey dovey, flirty and one of the most feel-good songs I’ve ever written.

20-year-old Mylie Taylor is a Toronto-based artist drawing inspiration from the 90’s grunge rock scene. Her writing puts a spotlight on the darkest parts of life, with all of her songs relating back to mental health as a core theme. She shares the most vulnerable parts of herself, discussing topics many view as uncomfortable: mental illness, addiction, and death. 

“Wish I didn’t hate getting older, so many didn’t get the chance,” she sings on “Better Yet,” a heavy song with complex emotions surrounding mental health.