New Music Monday: Five Tracks that look to the return of the sun

New music from The Linda Lindas, Kyle Poulin, Young The Giant, Odd Marshall, and Arkells

After enduring the coldest weeks of the season so far, where the mercury plummeted and the wind chill turned every commute into an expedition, this week’s New Music Monday arrives as a thermal relief. As the low temps begin to retreat and we catch the first faint scent of a late February thaw, these five tracks serve as the perfect transition from the mid-winter deep freeze toward a much-needed spring.

The Linda Lindas - "California Sun"

The Linda Lindas bring a blast of West Coast heat just when we need it most with their vibrant take on "California Sun." The track is a high-energy jolt of power-pop brilliance, swapping the biting winter wind for a fuzzy, sun-drenched guitar riff that demands a higher volume. Their signature youthful defiance and harmonized vocals turn this classic surf-rock energy into a modern anthem for anyone daydreaming of asphalt instead of ice. It’s a sonic tanning bed for the soul, radiating enough warmth to melt the stubbornest snowbank on your driveway.

Kyle Poulin - "But, I Digress"

Emerging artist Kyle Poulin delivers a sophisticated, introspective gem with "But, I Digress." A familiar face to Northern Ontario music fans, Poulin is a former member of The Rivers—a band rooted in the Eagle Lake and North Bay areas—and that seasoned musicianship shines through here, the track is a masterclass in melodic storytelling. Poulin’s vocal delivery is smooth yet weary, navigating a landscape of clever lyrical detours and lush, organic arrangements that feel like a conversation in a dimly lit room while the frost finally thaws on the windowpane.

Young The Giant - "Different Kind Of Love"

Young The Giant returns to the airwaves with "Different Kind Of Love," a track that shimmeringly captures the band’s knack for anthemic indie-rock. Built around a driving rhythm and Sameer Gadhia’s crystalline, soaring vocals, the song explores the complexities of evolving relationships with a sense of widescreen wonder. There is an airy, expansive quality to the production that mirrors the feeling of a late-winter sky turning from grey to blue. It’s a refreshing, upward-looking track that encourages listeners to embrace the changing seasons of the heart.

Odd Marshall - "On My Way"

Odd Marshall provides the perfect soundtrack for the road ahead with "On My Way." This track is steeped in a gritty, soulful determination, blending bluesy undertones with a steady, propulsive beat that feels like tires finally finding dry pavement. The vocal performance is raw and authentic, carrying a "bags-packed" urgency that resonates with anyone ready to leave the doldrums of winter behind. It’s a song about forward motion and the optimism of the journey, serving as a gritty reminder that better weather—and better days—are just over the horizon.

Arkells - "Next Summer"

Closing out our list are Hamilton’s favorites, Arkells, with the aptly titled "Next Summer." The track is a quintessential Arkells anthem—big, brassy, and impossibly infectious. While the ground might still be hard, Max Kerman and company are already looking toward the festivals and patio nights that await. With its soulful horn section and sing-along chorus, "Next Summer" is a manifesto for optimism. It’s a high-octane promise that the cold is temporary and the best nights of the year are currently being written.

Whether you are seeking the introspective comfort of a melodic ballad or the high-voltage heat of a summer-ready anthem, these new releases provide a much-needed signal fire in the wake of the winter’s harshest chill. As the days slowly lengthen and the ice begins to crack, let these songs be the soundtrack to your transition into the light.

Sources:

• Apple Music
• The Countdown
• That Eric Alper