From raucous partying to moody introspection, these six underrated cuts from 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadian artists make the perfect soundtrack for whatever unfolds post-dusk
By Kinza Zafar
“HOT LOVE – BOY HARSHER REMIX” — DEBBY FRIDAY & BOY HARSHER
Polaris Music Prize-winning electronic musician Debby Friday invites us to a retro-futuristic goth disco world with her track “Hot Love,” remixed by synth-wave duo Boy Harsher. With a background in industrial and experimental sounds, the Toronto artist crafts music that is confrontational and at times melancholic, while maintaining the complexity that has earned Friday mass critical acclaim.
“TELL ME DOES SHE LOVE THE BASS” — LESBIANS ON ECSTASY
Lesbians on Ecstasy is a Montreal-based electro-punk band most known for their 2004 self-titled debut album that dropped following a landmark tour with Le Tigre. The band’s concept was born at a party when two bandmates were inspired by an acoustic cover of Melissa Etheridge’s “Like the Way I Do,” which the band reworked into a dance-floor anthem. Lezzies on X saw a gap in the scene for dance remixes catering to lesbians, so they set out to create their own with an explosive, anarchic exploration of sapphic love and lust.
“AGAINST THE WALL” — JESSY LANZA
Hailing from Hamilton, singer, producer and composer Jessy Lanza is known for her ethereal medley of electronic pop, R&B and experimental music, which is a dreamy contrast to the harsher elements in the mix on“Against The Wall.” The track is deeply emotive, with Lanza’s vocals swirling through a backdrop of lush, sensuous production.
“HEAVY METAL” — CINDY LEE
Cindy Lee is the alter ego of songwriter, guitarist and drag artist Patrick Flegel from Calgary. Lee takes us on a journey with the raw, minimalist beauty of “Heavy Metal.” With sparse instrumentation and a vulnerable, almost haunting delivery, the track exudes fragility while capturing the strength inherent in overcoming darkness. It’s a soft yet potent exploration of identity, wrapped in a shimmering aura of punk glam.
“DON’T COME TO THE WOODS” — BACKXWASH
Montreal’s Backxwash delivers a mix of darkwave and horror rap in this track that channels pure visceral emotions. Lyrically, it’s striking yet meditative—perfect for those moments when the night feels a little too still and the thoughts too loud. The Zambian-Canadian rapper and producer won the Polaris Music Prize in 2020 for her sophomore album and is reportedly working on new material.
“PLAY GROUND” — ZOON
The solo project of Daniel Monkman, an Anishinaabe artist from Manitoba, Zoon synthesizes shoegaze and texture-rich ambient soundscapes to make what they call “moccasin-gaze.” “Play Ground” feels like floating through an otherworldly landscape, a sonic journey through nature and the self, filled with reverberating guitars and swooning vibrations.
Want to listen? Go through the Spotify embed down below!
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