Sounds on Sunday: July 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of Sounds on Sunday, an occasional series where we showcase new and upcoming releases perfect for a relaxing Sunday (or any other day, for that matter). For this episode, our musical choices seem to be centred in Canada, with a nod to Norway and the Middle East. So join us as we listen to, and hopefully learn more about, Justine Giles, Drea Lake, Marthe Halvorsen, and Tenise Marie.

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Photo credit Aaron Reimer

First up, we have new music from Justine Giles in the achingly romantic ‘Past Life’. Relationships don’t always work out, but that doesn’t mean they don’t stay with you for better or worse. The slow build of ‘Past Life’ benefits from Mark Troyer’s production, which allows things to get big when needed, while emphasising Sarah Houston’s piano contribution. ‘Past Life’ is a quality single, and I look forward to hearing more from Justine Giles.

Press release: TORONTO ON -- On her new single “Past Life,” Justine Giles continues to explore personal growth and healing through her songwriting. The track poured out of her following an unexpected encounter with an acquaintance with whom she’d had a complicated history, prompting Justine to reflect on how we often remain connected to such people, whether we want to or not.

"Past Life" is available on all streaming platforms

“Past Life” is Justine’s first new music since her 2024 EP Another Chance, which collected the singles she’d recorded after moving from Toronto to Calgary in 2019 where she was immediately embraced, and in 2024 was named Calgary’s Solo Artist of the Year as part of the YYC Music Awards. Another Chance also received strong local radio support from CJSW, which helped it reach the Earshot National Folk and Roots Top 10.

Justine is ready to open a new chapter with “Past Life,” with its multi-layered arrangement and emotional vocal performance illustrating the creative strides she has made. Funded in part by Calgary Arts Development, “Past Life” was produced by Mark Troyer at Calgary’s Evergreen Sound and features Justine’s friend Sarah Houston on piano, both of whom contribute greatly to the song’s cinematic dynamics. Justine says the sense of musical tug of war at its heart reflects the message contained in the song’s lyrics.

“One minute it’s vulnerable, intimate and raw, the next it’s large, loud, and strong. It pulls you in and then it spits you back out again—such is life.” She adds, “I guess some things just can't be explained, but also, two things can be true at the same time. I've always been a believer in soul connections and learning important lessons through these relationships.”

Female empowerment has always been the foundation of Justine’s work. Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, she self-released her debut album Shine in 2014, and within a few years was named the Northern Ontario regional winner of CBC’s annual Searchlight competition. Moving to Toronto, she participated in Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) program, while performing often in the city, and being invited to appear on CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show.

Once in Calgary, she quickly established her local reputation through performances at many of the city’s prominent venues and partnerships with the National Music Centre to create youth-oriented programs. These efforts earned Justine recognition from Calgary’s long-running White Hat Awards as an “Exceptional Rising Leader.”

“Past Life” now shows Giles is ready to take the next step to international status, as it displays why she is one of the most compelling new voices on the Canadian singer/songwriter scene.

https://www.justinegiles.com/

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Photo credit: Jen Squires

We stay in Canada for the first taste of the upcoming debut album from Drea Lake in the shape of ‘4U’, which benefits from a clever arrangement and pleasingly unconventional instrumentation choices, most notably Olivia Esther’s French horn and Nicholas Baddeley’s percussive beats. With Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, and Feist mentioned as influences, and with further single releases ahead of the album, Drea is another artist to keep on your musical radar.

Press release: TORONTO ON -- After sharing a handful of singles over the past several years, Canadian singer/songwriter Drea Lake is preparing to show off her full range on a debut full-length album, A Call From Somewhere Else, set for release in autumn 2025. Today, she offers the first preview, "4U," a song that displays Drea's distinctive approach to her craft, mixing unconventional arrangements with instantly memorable hooks, all held together with her soaring vocals.

"4U" is available on all digital platforms

“‘4U’ is really an anthem for love, commitment and the sense of freedom that goes along with living in the country,” Drea says. “It’s the song on the album that I most hope people will bounce to. Olivia Esther also added something special to it with her French horn and Nicholas Baddely added some wonderful train-style beats. It’s just one example of the care that we put into this song overall.”

That care certainly extends to the rest of Drea’s new material, co-produced and featuring the renowned Quebecois acoustic guitarist Antoine Dufour, along with a host of other contributors drawn from the worlds of Canadian roots, jazz and classical music. Blending genres has always been a major focus of Drea’s compositional style, and she came to the album sessions with about 20 songs she felt had the most potential for collaboration. These were eventually whittled down to the final eight songs, which she describes as coming together “without any loose ends. I can’t take them any further at least for now, and that’s when you need to share them with others.”

Drea maintains that her primary inspiration is her connection to nature, something she experiences through splitting her time between rural southern Ontario and areas surrounding Montreal. “The moods of the songs on this album range from joyous elation, to more quiet, almost soothing, forms of joy, to dreaminess, a sense of mystery and caution, to heartbreak and reflective regret. In most songs there are lessons we learn from the natural world, such as different forms of love, friendship, spirituality and musical camaraderie. Under all of those themes lies nature.”

Although Drea self-effacingly describes herself as a “perennial beginner” in terms of her musical evolution, the focus she has put into her craft has set her apart from some of her contemporaries within the folk music field, despite her slim discography to date. But that’s all about to change with her upcoming album, which for all intents and purposes will be her formal introduction to the wider music world.

https://drealake.com/

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Photo credit: Andreas Ellingsen

Another artist in harmony with nature is Marthe Halvorsen, who also calls Canada home but hails from Norway. ‘The Willow Tree’ will transport the listener to a place of peace, a feeling of calm further enhanced by the lyric video. Self-produced, Halverson’s hushed, unhurried vocals and classical guitar are augmented by gentle electric guitar and a dash of violin on what is a rather lovely introduction to an upcoming album.

Press release: "The Willow Tree" is the new single from Montreal-based Norwegian artist Marthe Halvorsen, and it’s a song that feels like a breath of fresh air in a noisy world. Rooted in the rhythms of nature and guided by a deep sense of inner stillness, the track is a gentle yet powerful ode to healing and release.

Written, performed, and produced by Marthe herself, the song invites listeners to settle in and let go—offering the Willow tree as both sanctuary and symbol. It’s about what happens when we stop running and start listening—when we allow ourselves to be held. "From underneath the Willow tree / the wind it whispered down on me / A gentle breath upon my skin / as I received the medicine" Marthe’s delicate vocals and spacious folk-pop production create a world that’s intimate, sacred, and grounded. There’s nothing rushed here. Every word lands with care. Every note feels earned. "The Willow Tree" is part of her upcoming sophomore album, which continues her exploration of nature, transformation, and the quiet wisdom that lives in between.

Drawing from her Northern Norwegian roots and deepening her role as a producer, Marthe’s sound is raw, reflective, and refreshingly unforced. With this new release, she reminds us that sometimes the most radical act is simply to be still—and that freedom often begins with letting go.

www.marthehalvorsen.com

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Photo credit: Louis Bockner

We spread our wings with Tenise Marie as the Canadian singer brings an already interesting backstory to the table while examining her Assyrian heritage. Set for release on July 11th, ‘Off The Record’ is a lovely record. Tenise sings beautifully and also adds acoustic guitar, as well as, in keeping with the Middle Eastern influence, Oud on the delicate ‘Aegean Sea’. The album was made possible in part through a Research & Creation grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, which is something Canada seems to do well, and should be a lesson to other countries…

Press release: Singer-songwriter Tenise Marie is set to release her highly anticipated (and self-produced) new album Off The Record on July 11, 2025 — a genre-blending and deeply personal project that chronicles her journey through identity, healing, and self-discovery. Born of exploration, both geographic and emotional, the album was inspired in part by Tenise’s travels to the Assyrian homeland in Iraq, a transformative experience that became a catalyst for reclaiming her roots and embracing the full complexity of who she is.

Rooted in her mixed heritage — Assyrian, French, and British — and shaped by her upbringing in the Quaker community of Argenta, BC, Off The Record captures the emotional and spiritual layers of Tenise’s story. The songs reflect her desire to let go of perfection, accept vulnerability, and share the rawness of life’s beauty and difficulty. “This album honours all of the pieces of the mosaic I am,” says Tenise. “I endeavoured to embrace all of my duality: of my heritage, of my experiences, of my nature and my nurture. I may be a citizen of the world, but I will always be a daughter of the mountains.” The album was made possible in part through a Research & Creation grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, which supported the writing process. With that support, Tenise dedicated time to studying the Assyrian language, history, and music, while also travelling to Iraq to connect with her ancestral roots. “Initially, I thought I would create a concept album based solely on my experience in Assyria,” she reflects. “But over time, I realized that embracing my Assyrian identity helped me feel more whole in all areas of my life. These parts of me are not conflicting — they’re co-existent. Breaking apart all of my pieces gave me the opportunity to craft a mosaic that’s stronger and more complete than ever before.”

Sonically, Off The Record blends the warmth and intimacy of folk with the soulfulness of R&B, jazz, and gospel, while introducing the intricate textures of Middle Eastern instrumentation. Tenise’s voice — simultaneously tender and powerful — is the anchor, supported by acoustic guitar, piano, and oud. Her lyrics are confessional and poetic, inviting listeners into stories of travel, grief, friendship, heartbreak, and resilience. Influenced by artists like Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and the musical traditions of her Assyrian ancestry, Tenise weaves Western and Eastern folk elements together to create a sound that feels at once timeless and entirely her own. Reflecting on the album’s creation, Tenise shares: “As someone with mixed heritage, I’ve often felt on the edge of something — torn in all four directions, longing to belong somewhere. My mother was adopted, and while she bravely searched for her biological family, we grew up disconnected from our matrilineal culture. It was my mother who taught me the importance of identity. Empowered by the internet, I took it one step further — I started learning about our Assyrian heritage. That journey changed me. It gave me a stronger sense of self and deepened my connection to everything else I come from. I wanted this album to capture that entire chapter of my life — not just the history I uncovered, but the personal growth it inspired.”

www.tenisemariemusic.com

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