Jessie Reyez surrounded by Dua Lipa, Normani, Kehlani and Lisa in a torn-paper editorial collage

October 7, 2026 · Artist Feature

Jessie Reyez’s Second Catalogue

From Dua Lipa’s “One Kiss” to Lisa’s “Moonlit Floor,” the Toronto singer has helped write hits you might never have connected to her.

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Elisapie framed by her raised hands and colourful woven clothing in an Arctic-inspired torn-paper collage

October 7, 2026 · New Music

Elisapie’s New “Dreams” Connects a Familiar Song With an Inuk Story

Her Cranberries adaptation for North of North follows a Fleetwood Mac cover rooted in family memory.

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Esthero with the members of Elsiane and Beast in a torn-paper collage of records and studio equipment

October 7, 2026 · Listening Guide

Canadian Trip-Hop Classics

Esthero, Elsiane and Beast took trip-hop in different directions. Sixtoo offers a related route through instrumental hip-hop.

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Dylan Sinclair, Clerel, Charlotte Day Wilson, Witch Prophet and Dominique Fils-Aimé in a warm-toned torn-paper collage

October 7, 2026 · Listening Guide

Five Canadian Soul Singers Worth Your Time

Dylan Sinclair, Clerel, Charlotte Day Wilson, Witch Prophet and Dominique Fils-Aimé offer five routes into Canadian soul.

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Record shop collage for Northern Dial's October 2026 Canadian album guide

October 1, 2026 · New Canadian Music

Canadian Albums Coming in October 2026

Bruce Cockburn, Art d’Ecco, Ghostkeeper, Nickelback, PISS and more lead October’s Canadian album calendar.

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Torn-paper collage of early Canadian hip-hop artists, radio and Toronto imagery

October 1, 2026 · Canadian Hip-Hop History

Before Drake, Part 1: How Canadian Hip-Hop Found Its Voice

Before the industry caught up, radio, independent records and artists like Michie Mee, Maestro Fresh Wes and Dream Warriors built the foundation.

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Daniel Caesar in a Northern Dial torn-paper collage

October 1, 2026 · If You Like...

If You Like Daniel Caesar, Listen to These 6 Canadian Artists

Six different routes out from Daniel Caesar’s sound through Toronto R&B, psychedelic soul, folk and jazz.

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Monsune in the official video for Sure

September 26, 2026 · Artist Feature

Monsune Returns After Seven Years Behind the Boards

After years producing and writing for Drake and SZA, Toronto's Scott Zhang returns to the Monsune name with “Sure.”

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Kardinal Offishall in a Scarborough collage for Firestarter Vol. 2

September 26, 2026 · Artist Feature

Kardinal Offishall Returns With Firestarter Vol. 2, 25 Years Later

Kardinal's first solo album in more than a decade brings together T-Pain, Black Thought, Buju Banton, Idris Elba, Melanie Fiona and more.

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Northern Dial collage for New Singles in the Deck, September 2026

September 26, 2026 · New Singles in the Deck

New Singles in the Deck: 12 Tracks in Rotation Right Now

Monsune, ANJXLXE x Raccoon, Colin Léo, KARABA, Mulan and more join the latest Northern Dial rotation.

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Northern Dial collage for a 2026 guide to francophone hip-hop in Canada

September 21, 2026 · Francophone Hip-Hop

A Guide to Francophone Hip-Hop in Canada in 2026

Aswell, Jamaz, Koriass, FouKi and LeFLOFRANCO offer five different ways into francophone rap in Canada right now.

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Northern Dial collage featuring the 2026 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame class

September 21, 2026 · Canadian Music

The Songs Behind Canada’s 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame Class

The Tragically Hip, Feist, Mike Reno and Paul Dean of Loverboy and Roch Voisine enter the Hall of Fame Sept. 26. Start with the songs.

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Northern Dial collage about AI-generated music and Canadian independent artists

September 20, 2026 · Music & Technology

What AI-Generated Music Means for Canadian Independent Artists

AI music is changing streaming volume, copyright fights and artist identity. Here’s what actually matters for independent musicians.

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Northern Dial collage for the 2026 Polaris Music Prize Short List

September 20, 2026 · Polaris Music Prize

A Listener’s Guide to the 2026 Polaris Music Prize Short List

Ten albums, ten very different ways into Canadian music. Here’s where to start before the Sept. 22 ceremony.

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Northern Dial collage for new Canadian music released September 18, 2026

September 19, 2026 · New Canadian Music

6 New Canadian Releases to Hear This Weekend

Carly Rae Jepsen, Blonde Diamond, Orville Peck, Emma Worley, Weatherell and Joce Reyome lead this week’s picks.

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VIBI angeldies

September 12, 2026 · On Repeat

On Repeat: VIBI’s “angeldies”

The Canadian singer-songwriter follows Building the Band, “wildwoman” and “killshot” with another release in a fast-moving 2026 run.

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LØLØ the punisher

September 12, 2026 · Artist Feature

LØLØ Knows Exactly Where the Sore Spot Is

On “the punisher,” the Toronto singer-songwriter turns post-breakup doom-scrolling into one of the sharpest songs on god forbid a girl spits out her feelings!

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Torn-paper collage for Northern Dial's September 11 Canadian new music roundup

September 11, 2026 · New Canadian Music

5 New Canadian Releases to Bump This Weekend

Mattmac, CG Tears, Jon McKiel, Starpainter and a 30-year Hip Club Groove return lead this weekend's picks.

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Mattmac in a northern Manitoba torn-paper collage

September 11, 2026 · Artist Feature

Mattmac’s Smoke Signals Carries Home, Distance and Memory

The Garden Hill artist connects home, Southern rap influence and his long creative partnership with QuestionATL.

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Hip Club Groove in a Halifax and Nova Scotia torn-paper collage

September 11, 2026 · Artist Feature

Hip Club Groove Return After 30 Years With “Dead Words”

The Truro-to-Halifax rap group reconnects for its first new song in three decades.

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Toronto torn-paper collage for Northern Dial's If You Like Drake feature

September 11, 2026 · If You Like...

If You Like Drake, Listen to These 5 Canadian Artists

Five routes out from Drake's catalogue through current Canadian rap and R&B.

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Rochelle Jordan in a Toronto torn-paper collage

September 11, 2026 · News Hit

Rochelle Jordan Expands Through The Wall With Disc 2

The Toronto-raised artist opens her remix series to Chad Hugo, Terry Hunter, Shanti Celeste and Bianca Oblivion.

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M Is for Montreal Part 1 collage featuring five Montreal artists

September 3, 2026 · M Is for Montreal

M Is for Montreal, Part 1: Five Montreal Artists to Hear Right Now

Five Montreal artists, five new 2026 releases, and one starting point for exploring the city’s current sound.

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Montreal torn-paper collage featuring a Canadian artist

September 10, 2026 · If You Like...

If You Like Kaytranada, Listen to These 5 Canadian Artists

Five different routes out from Kaytranada’s sound: house, R&B, Caribbean club music, funk and Montréal beat culture.

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Enola Bédard in a Quebec City collage

September 3, 2026 · Northern Dial After Dark

Enola Bédard Finds Her Voice in Motion on “Unavez”

The Canadian artist turns dance, multilingual pop and emotional tension into a new chapter.

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Northern Dial After Dark photo collage

September 2, 2026 · Northern Dial After Dark

Northern Dial After Dark: Five Canadian Artists to Hear Tonight

Five distinct Canadian voices across R&B, hip-hop, pop and independent music.

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Koko Love in a Montreal torn-paper collage

April 25, 2026

Artist Feature: Koko Love

Montreal's Koko Love emerges from his Miko past with a stripped-back, patient sound on debut album The Cost of Freedom.

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Lia Pappas-Kemps in a Toronto torn-paper collage

April 24, 2026

Artist Feature: Lia Pappas-Kemps

Toronto artist Lia Pappas-Kemps delivers a restrained, carefully shaped debut with Winged — a record that knows exactly what it wants to hold back.

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livingthing in a Toronto torn-paper collage

April 23, 2026

Artist Feature: livingthing

Toronto-based indie electronic artist livingthing commands attention on Northern Dial After Dark with dreamy synth-pop and steady momentum.

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Ghostboyrj in a Brampton torn-paper collage

April 23, 2026

Artist Feature: Ghostboyrj

Toronto-born, Brampton-raised producer Ghostboyrj builds a steadily expanding catalog of beats and collaborations across the city's underground.

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TAURO in a Toronto torn-paper collage

April 13, 2026

Artist Feature: TAURO

A Toronto collaboration between Cynthia Tauro and Brendan Canning, TAURO’s Act I maps change and emotional recalibration with indie-soul precision.

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Haley Smalls in a Toronto torn-paper collage

April 10, 2026

Artist Feature: Haley Smalls

Toronto-born independent R&B artist Haley Smalls keeps momentum high with 2025 projects The Cure IV and Matches.

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LÖV — Saskatchewan editorial collage

April 10, 2026

Artist Feature: LÖV

Treaty 6 Saskatchewan-based Cree R&B/soul artist LÖV is building momentum with viral single Mama and her upcoming album Iskwêw.

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Puma June — Toronto editorial collage

April 10, 2026

Artist Feature: Puma June

There's a moment in Puma June's music where you can't quite place the genre — and that's exactly the point.

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