Check out all the new music of the week with Your First Listen! Hosted by SONiC Music Director Brandy Taylor, get the scoop from your favourite artists on their latest work and discover new songs from upcoming artists. Your First Listen airs Sundays at 8pm and Tuesdays at 11pm.

1. Rural Alberta Advantage – “Bad Luck Again”

Rural Alberta Advantage are back with another single of 2017’s The Wild. The lyrics are raw, telling a story of loss. The music video shows an intimate behind the scenes look at the trio wearing socks in the studio. RAA will be back in town playing K-Days July 27!

2. Childish Gambino – “This Is America”

“This Is America” is a commentary on the black community within America and America’s culture. Filled with political and cultural references, the lyrics express pop culture’s perception of the black community though Childish Gambino’s eyes. The video contains loads of hidden meanings and has racked up over 212 million views on YouTube.

3. King Princess – “1950”

Mikaela Straus, better known as King Princess, is just 19 years old but has already gained over 2 million YouTube views on her debut single. The song pays tribute to the LGBTQ community  that faced barriers in expressing their queerness decades ago. She explains by saying, “Queer love was only able to exist privately for a long time, expressed in society through coded art forms. I wrote this song as a story of unrequited love in my own life, doing my best to acknowledge and pay homage to that part of history.”

Every week, it’s Your First Listen to the the newest alternative music. Hosted by SONiC Music Director, Brandy Taylor, Your First Listen airs twice a week, Sundays at 8pm and Tuesday at 11pm. 

Filed under: Childish Gambino, King Princess, RAA, Rural Alberta Advantage, YFL, your first listen