Ottawa-based indie wunderkind Karim Rostom, AKA Kaspien, has broken a three-year musical hiatus with the release of “Cinder”—a sparkling recollection of an unforgettable first date. Today, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter brings the experience to life with the anticipated debut of the single’s music video. On “Cinder”, Kaspien details: “‘Cinder’ is about the most chaotic first date I’ve ever been on,” Back when I lived in Toronto, Cinder (not her real name) and I went on a date to a New Orleans-themed restaurant in Trinity-Bellwoods called Southern Accent. The owner waited on us; he ..read more

  Joey Valence & Brae by Connorpnw The seemingly endless stream of summer releases continues and we’ve got another round of tracks hitting our Playlist Refresh mix. This week’s additions highlight the latest from ___ to keep your listening selections varied and up-to-speed with what we think is Also Cool. Follow our accompanying playlist on Spotify - refreshed every other week! via Joey Valence and Brae Lugue It's been a while since we've heard anyone emulate The Beastie Boys successfully, but 22-year-old Joey Valence and Braedan Lugue give the genre a new life with a punk-inspire ..read more

  Summertime is in full swing, and we’ve got music for almost every occasion. This edition includes friends like Paul Jacobs, distraction4ever, and new finds like Medicine Singers and Dawn to Dawn. Whether you’re lounging at the park with a picnic and wine, camping in a nearby forest, or headed out to the club, our Playlist Refresh has something for you. Listen to our accompanying playlist below Paul Jacobs returns with his latest EP 185 On The Corner via Bonsound, delivering a mellowed out iteration of neo-psych sound he’s known for. A visual artist through and through, Paul’s lyrics ..read more

  Side By Side Weekend logo by Anna Rickenbacher Side By Side Weekend is putting the notion that Ottawa is a sleepy city to bed! Returning in-person this weekend at Club SAW from July 29th-31st, Side By Side Weekend is the 613’s hottest independent music festival. Championing a DIY ethos while granting artists of all experience levels and styles centre-stage, the three-day festival features co-presentations from fellow all-star local programmers: Cinqhole, Debaser, First Crush, Sitting On The Outside, and Ottawa Showbox. The stacked, genre diverse lineup features shoegaze, alternative f ..read more

  Pony Girl via Bandcamp The first official weekend of summer is here, and Also Cool HQ’s Playlist Refresh will help you celebrate. Soak up our latest selection of the finest tunes on the block. In need of some fiery new tunes to pump you up for a night out? Montreal sweetheart and pop star Isabella Lovestory has released her latest track “Cherry Bomb.” It’s a song for city girlies to hype each other up with, and perfect to get nasty to on the dance floor. Produced by Chicken, the swanky reggaeton single flaunts Lovestory’s prowess with a sugar-coated rush. Lovestory’s glossy self-direc ..read more

  Nick Schofield, shot by Christopher Honeywell To celebrate the one-year anniversary of his sophomore LP Glass Gallery, Hull-based electroacoustic composer Nick Schofield aptly unveils the music video for his new track “Light and Space.” Composed entirely on a vintage Prophet-600 synthesizer, “Light and Space” is a meditative soundscape inspired by the dance between its namesake within the National Gallery of Canada, located in Ottawa. On “Light and Space,” Schofield shares: “This composition conveys a core sentiment that inspired the making of Glass Gallery - the sublime light that f ..read more

  Tinkertoy Fog Machine, shot by Zoé Jacole A commonality of best friendships is that you often never see one friend without the other. This is the case for Montreal’s weird indie-pop duo Tinkertoy Fog Machine, who have remained nearly inseparable as roommates, coworkers and bandmates upon relocating to La Belle Province from their hometown of Ottawa, Ontario.  Tinkertoy Fog Machine, Tyrin Kelly (left) and Kai Thorpe (right), shot by Zoé Jacole Since meeting in high school and finding their footing in Ottawa’s DIY music scene, the pair have played a game of musical chairs in their ..read more

  Madeline Link of PACKS, photo courtesy of the artist Toronto’s PACKS are filling an indie-rock void with their sound that is equal parts laid-back and jangly, while also sophisticatedly pensive and bright. Before the pandemic hit, they were stirring a buzz with a collection of charming lo-fi singles, of which caught the attention of hometown label Royal Mountain Records, as well as Brooklyn’s Fire Talk Records. With the enlisted backup of close friends from the band Lovers Touch, lead songwriter Madeline Link has taken her solo songwriting project to the next level. The now four-piece ..read more

  Marie-Clo. Photo credit: Alex Brault Not to get all existential on a Friday morning, but what are you looking for? Who are you showing to the world? What more is there to see? Ottawa’s creative chameleon Marie-Clo toys with these questions on Shell(e) Pt III - and we’re hooked. Shell(e) Pt III is the latest notch in Marie-Clo’s belt, standing as the final chapter of her Shell(e) trilogy – out now for all to stream. This EP boasts indie-pop at its best, enhanced by the magic of Polaris-shortlisted producer Olivier Fairfield (Fet Nat, Timber Timbre). As a whole, the project captivates w ..read more

  “Comfrey And Calendula” cover art by Emily McPhee “‘Comfrey and Calendula’ is the most vulnerable song I have written to date. The process of writing it and performing it for the first time was extremely cathartic and healing for me. Now it’s time to put it out into the world.” - Fliss Meet Fliss, a self-described queer cowgirl crooner from Ottawa, Canada. Today, Fliss makes her debut with “Comfrey and Calendula,” a song written straight from the heart, and her most vulnerable work to date. The single teases at her to-be-released EP (out sometime in the early new year), which marks an ..read more