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 10pm and Tuesdays at 10pm.

1. Barns Courtney – “99”

Although Barnaby George Courtney was born in Ipswich, England, he grew up in suburban Seattle playing video games. He wrote the song “99” as a tribute to childhood fun. He says, “I think society is sick with this strange and horrendous bug called adulthood”. The song shouts out Nintendo, Atari and Sony Electronics.

2. The 1975 – Love It If We Made It

“Love It If We Made It” is a social anthem focusing on the negativity in today’s society, hoping for a positive outcome. The band saw today’s world, specifically the American political climate, and wrote the song to instill hope in fans for the future. Frontman Matt Healy explained the song’s inspiration and the source of the lyrics to Beats Radio 1 saying, “It’s quite outward and it’s me kind of looking out. It’s an interesting one because there’s not a lot of context in a lot of the things that I say in that it’s direct quotes of people or their headlines I’ve read”.

3. The Raconteurs – “Sunday Driver:

After a ten year hiatus, the Raconteurs have returned with a face melter. The first song off their upcoming untitled LP brings the band back to their twangy, alternative roots. The band has kept quiet about album details, but guitarist Brendan Benson did say that the band would tour in 2019…

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 10pm and Tuesday at 10pm.

Filed under: Discover New SONiC Music, New Music Discovery, YFL, your first listen