Apple Music & Spotify Playlists
Apple Music Playlist
Spotify Playlist
Top New Tracks by Montreal Producers (Winter 2023)
Whether you’re looking for something uplifting, more dark and evil, explorative and organic, or funky and novel, you’re sure to find something here that your ears will enjoy. Open the playlist, listen to the tracks, add them to your own playlists, and explore more music by each of the artists. The following tracks are in no particular order and encompass many subgenres and feelings, so be sure to listen to all of them.
Jares - Rage: Rage is a fitting title for this track, not for the emotion it will induce in you, but for the energy that the synths and violin samples conjure. A new release on Berlin's Deep Tale Records, you are sure to be enraptured by this excellent track. Check out the discussion of this track in the Artist Interviews Podcast, Episode 2 with Jares!
Jares - Rage
Rage is a fitting title for this track, not for the emotion it will induce in you, but for the energy that the synths and violin samples conjure. A new release on Berlin's Deep Tale Records, you are sure to be enraptured by this excellent track. Check out the discussion of this track in the Artist Interviews Podcast, Episode 2 with Jares!
Lost Bird - Omw: In this track, Lost Bird weaves vocals ("I'm on my way"), an analogue arpeggiated chord loop, and groovy drums. You are sure to find yourself locked into the evolving arpeggiated sound and the looping vocals, which Ducharme has artfully altered and mixed with repitched versions of itself.
Lost Bird - Omw
In this track, Lost Bird weaves vocals ("I'm on my way"), an analogue arpeggiated chord loop, and groovy drums. You are sure to find yourself locked into the evolving arpeggiated sound and the looping vocals, which Ducharme has artfully altered and mixed with repitched versions of itself.
Rebel of Sleep - Marmoreal: When this track opens with its thick reese bass and driving drums, you know you'll be set for the journey ahead. A distinctive arpeggiated rhythm enters shortly thereafter and you'll find that you get wrapped up in a warm, melodic, progressive adventure.
Rebel of Sleep - Marmoreal
When this track opens with its thick reese bass and driving drums, you know you'll be set for the journey ahead. A distinctive arpeggiated rhythm enters shortly thereafter and you'll find that you get wrapped up in a warm, melodic, progressive adventure.
The Holy - Other Side: The Holy brings a darker atmosphere with this bass heavy, acid driven weapon. The main acid riff ostinato (repeating pattern) features a prominent leap to the devil's interval (a tritone). The riff changes timbre effectively throughout the track to keep our interest. Play this track when you want to summon a demon—they will bring fire.
The Holy - Other Side
The Holy brings a darker atmosphere with this bass heavy, acid driven weapon. The main acid riff ostinato (repeating pattern) features a prominent leap to the devil's interval (a tritone). The riff changes timbre effectively throughout the track to keep our interest. Play this track when you want to summon a demon—they will bring fire.
modim - Seven Arrows: A delicate piano riff begins the track as a stuttering synth begins to creep into the texture. Thereafter, creative drums with unusual texture enter the mix and another hypnotic synth lures the listener into a trance. This trance is soon interrupted, however, with a glitchy, stuttered drum beat. Listen to this track to widen your mind and stretch your senses (the entire album— Little Cakes—is worth a serious listen!).
modim - Seven Arrows
A delicate piano riff begins the track as a stuttering synth begins to creep into the texture. Thereafter, creative drums with unusual texture enter the mix and another hypnotic synth lures the listener into a trance. This trance is soon interrupted, however, with a glitchy, stuttered drum beat. Listen to this track to widen your mind and stretch your senses (the entire album— Little Cakes—is worth a serious listen!).
Cacti - Who You With: Characterized by its rhythmic piano riff, artfully chopped vocal samples ("I can't keep my mind off you") and addictive drop with tasteful noise bursts, Cacti's "Who You With" is a track you'll want to add to all your House sets.
Cacti - Who You With
Characterized by its rhythmic piano riff, artfully chopped vocal samples ("I can't keep my mind off you") and addictive drop with tasteful noise bursts, Cacti's "Who You With" is a track you'll want to add to all your House sets.
Dexter Crowe - Platypus: This seven and a half minute journey will place you in a new space, one typified by an enveloping rhythm built with tasteful percussion, subtle and effective synth work, and a progressive structure. Put this on and prepare to be transported.
Dexter Crowe - Platypus
This seven and a half minute journey will place you in a new space, one typified by an enveloping rhythm built with tasteful percussion, subtle and effective synth work, and a progressive structure. Put this on and prepare to be transported.
Jares - Sam's Voyage Pt II: While this track fits in the best of clubs, you'll also want to put it on your headphones to study every nuance, from the groovy bass, toms, and kick, to the atmospheric piano chords, analogue arps, and long range progressive structure. Don't miss the piano breakdown 4 minutes in and the triumphant return to the full, orchestral sound. This track will fill your heart and make it beat stronger.
Jares - Sam's Voyage Pt II
While this track fits in the best of clubs, you'll also want to put it on your headphones to study every nuance, from the groovy bass, toms, and kick, to the atmospheric piano chords, analogue arps, and long range progressive structure. Don't miss the piano breakdown 4 minutes in and the triumphant return to the full, orchestral sound. This track will fill your heart and make it beat stronger.
URICKAIM - Before the Beginning: The first thing you'll feel when this track starts is a smile. The pulsating main synth will draw you in, and the snare work, vocal chops, and well thought out structure will keep you grinning throughout the entire track.
URICKAIM - Before the Beginning
The first thing you'll feel when this track starts is a smile. The pulsating main synth will draw you in, and the snare work, vocal chops, and well thought out structure will keep you grinning throughout the entire track.
Kridelka - Funk Trip: What happens when you mix class House elements, an absolutely funky bassline, and a ripping 303 acid line? This track answers this question precisely: the results are stunning. Kridelka's bassline typifies the best parts of funk and the 303 acid line hits in all the right places. Add this track to your funky house sets and watch it light everyone up.
Kridelka - Funk Trip
What happens when you mix class House elements, an absolutely funky bassline, and a ripping 303 acid line? This track answers this question precisely: the results are stunning. Kridelka's bassline typifies the best parts of funk and the 303 acid line hits in all the right places. Add this track to your funky house sets and watch it light everyone up.
Truwayz - Orbitar: Orbitar features a wonderfully unusual chord progression and an active bassline that drives this track forward. Non-descript vocal samples, future house chords, and fun percussion are woven in to the driving texture to great effect. This uplifting track will send you orbiting, just like the extrasolar planet 315 light years away that this track is named after.
Truwayz - Orbitar
Orbitar features a wonderfully unusual chord progression and an active bassline that drives this track forward. Non-descript vocal samples, future house chords, and fun percussion are woven in to the driving texture to great effect. This uplifting track will send you orbiting, just like the extrasolar planet 315 light years away that this track is named after.
SimbaSol - Rhodes: This progressive house, tribally influenced track will bring you on a journey, one that will have you encountering uplifting piano chords supported by analogue synth swells, hand played djembes, and an submersive environment that will surely lead your feat to move and your heart to sway.
Simbasol - Rhodes
This progressive house, tribally influenced track will bring you on a journey, one that will have you encountering uplifting piano chords supported by analogue synth swells, hand played djembes, and an submersive environment that will surely lead your feat to move and your heart to sway.
6RAJ - Disincentive: Driving toms, a huge round kick, and a thicc bass create a rich and groovy low-end that drives this track for over nine minutes. Listen for the distinctive arpeggiater, which brings a mysterious, artifact-like effect and a droning bass layered over the groovy bottom-end that fills out the space. This track will have you sailing through the night as it pounds your chest.
6RAJ - Disincentive
Driving toms, a huge round kick, and a thicc bass create a rich and groovy low-end that drives this track for over nine minutes. Listen for the distinctive arpeggiater, which brings a mysterious, artifact-like effect and a droning bass layered over the groovy bottom-end that fills out the space. This track will have you sailing through the night as it pounds your chest.
No doubt, I missed many great new tracks released by Montreal artists. Be sure to explore their music in the artists section—I am confident you will discover some great new underground music. Finally, if you have or know a track you think would fit well on this list, send me a message on Instagram and I’ll be sure to give it a listen! I’ll be updating this list throughout the winter months of 2023.
About the Author
Thomas Posen @thomasposen
Thomas is a music scholar, pianist, and electronic composer-producer based in Montréal. He is passionate about Beethoven’s music, the history of music theory, and electronic dance music. You can listen to his music on SoundCloud and learn more about him on his personal website, thomasposen.com.