Canadian Music: More Than Just O’ Canada
Home of the beaver, maple syrup, and excessively apologizing. These are all staples of the Canadian brand that may come to mind when you think of the Great North; however, if you’re like me, then you may have also thought of the amazing music scene Canada has to offer. With the 2025 Juno Awards fast approaching (March 30, 6:00 p.m. MDT), I wanted to provide a list of some of my favourite Canadian bands. From punk music you can thrash to, to laid-back indie rock, here are 10 of some of the best Canada has to offer.
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Alexisonfire
This hard-core rock band formed in 2001 in St. Catherines, ONT. Though they broke up in 2012 after performing their Farewell Tour, in 2022, the band reunited and released their album Otherness, a more refined version of the music they made when they were younger, which the band claims to be the best music they’ve ever released. Alexisonfire is known for their explosive and aggressive yet still melodious music. If you want to dip your toes into the ocean that is Alexisonfire, I would suggest starting with their song Boiled Frogs from their 2006 album, Crisis.
2. Metric
Even if you didn’t realize, you’ve probably heard one of Metric’s songs before, specifically Black Sheep from the film, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, 2010. In the movie, the song is sung by the talented Brie Larson. The band wrote the song specifically for the soundtrack, which consists mostly of extraordinary Canadian music artists. Metric has a unique sound that exists at the intersection of electronic music and rock, but my favourite component of their music is the lyricism. Additionally, I had the amazing opportunity to watch them perform at the 2024 Stampede, and lead singer, Emily Haines has an unapologetic stage presence that provides even more eccentricity to their music. Some of my favourite songs of theirs include: Gimme Sympathy, Wet Blanket and Stadium Love.
3. Arkells
Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, the Arkells are Canada’s Rock band sweetheart. Formed in 2006, the band is still going strong nearly 2 decades later, with 9 JUNO awards under their belt and holding the record for most wins in the best group/duo category with six wins. Arkells’s sound combines alternative rock with some soul/Motown influences. Less than a week ago, tickets to their hometown concert, The Rally, went on sale. Along with other musicians, the Arkells will be putting on a highly anticipated show dedicated to the city where it all started, Hamilton. If you’re interested in this band, listen to songs like Oh, The Boss is Coming! and 11:11.
4. The Beaches
My personal favourite on this list. I have seen them in concert twice, and they have been my number one artist since 2020; I can proudly say I am a certified Beaches expert. Contrary to popular belief, the band’s name is not a play on words, but rather originates from the Toronto neighbourhood where 3/4 of the members grew up. The band is known for their indie-pop rock music, with relatable lyrics revolving around love (and heartache) as well as other universal experiences of girlhood. Their song Gold is great for when you need to amp yourself up, whereas If a Tree Falls is an emotional ballad that never fails to make me ponder the meaning of life. But, without a doubt, my favourite song of theirs is Edge of the Earth, a perfect mix of lyrical genius and a beautiful melody that will get stuck in your head.
5. Peach Pit
Peachpit is a cultural phenomenon that has amassed 2.3 million monthly listeners from Vancouver. Peach Pit is known for their ethereal, dreamy guitar accompaniments to heartfelt lyrics. Peach Pit has a distinctive sound that brings a fresh new look to the indie-rock genre. By far, my favourite part of the Peach Pit discography is the guitar tracks, which often play a prominent role in their songs. Personal standouts from this band are Drop the Guillotine and Shampoo Bottles.
6. Tokyo Police Club
In March of 2024, Tokyo Police Club released their last and final single, Just A Scratch/ Catch Me If You Can, as they announced their disbandment in January earlier that year, but nonetheless, the band had still solidified their place in the Canadian Indie-rock hall of fame of the 2000s. Tokyo Police Club is known for their catchy melodies, instrumentals reminiscent of the post-punk genre and overall fast-paced, energetic vibe. If this band from New Market, ONT interests you, I would suggest listening to Nature of The Experiment and Your English is Good.
7. Mother Mother
If you had an alt phase in 2020, you’re definitely familiar with this band from the small city of Quadra Island in British Columbia. Mother Mother was formed in 2005 and has released nine studio albums since. While they were very popular in the 2000s, their prominence skyrocketed in 2020 thanks to TikTok and their viral songs like Verbatim, Hayloft and Burning Pile. In February of this year, the band embarked on their Canadian tour with openers Cavetown and Winnetka Bowling League, making stops in cities across Canada. This summer, Mother Mother is heading out on their EU/UK tour, as well as performing at Lollapalooza. If you somehow missed the craze that was Mother Mother five years ago, you should definitely check out their album O My Heart.
8. PUP
PUP, AKA Pathetic Use of Potential, is a punk rock band from Toronto, trademarked by their dysfunctional and chaotic music. Initially, I was introduced to this band by their music video for their song, SLEEP IN THE HEAT, featuring a young Finn Wolfhard (fellow Canadian) and was immediately hooked. Even now, I still hold a soft spot for that song, especially knowing it was written about the untimely passing of lead singer Stefan Babcock’s pet chameleon, and I definitely encourage you to either watch the video or listen to the song.
9. Tegan and Sara
This twin-sister duo from Calgary, Alberta, are known for their synth-pop sound, but most importantly for their contribution to the 2014 film, The Lego Movie. That’s right; you’ve probably danced to this band when you were 5 years old listening to Everything is Awesome. Tegan and Sara hold a special place in my heart because so many of their songs were frequently played on Canadian radio in the 2010s during my childhood. From songs like Closer to Where Does the Good Go. However, despite their prevalence in my childhood, I did not realize they were Canadian or from the same town as me until I watched their TV show, High School, based on their lives growing up in Calgary. Highschool tells the story of how Tegan and Sara came to be, and their journey navigating the qualms of high school and their growing passion for music.
10. Fade Awaays
Last but certainly not least is the band, Fade Awaays. In all earnestness, I only found out about this band while researching for this blog post, but while I only just discovered them, they have already found their way into my daily playlist. Unfortunately, this discovery also led to the realization that the band released their last EP, Material Things, as an homage to the passing of their late founding member Reid Macmaster, who suddenly passed away in 2022 while the band was working on the song. In 2023, the band released a statement saying they would continue their journey as a band with Reid in their hearts. However, they have not posted since 2023 on their Instagram. Still, I am excited to see what lies in the future for this band.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You made it to the end of my long list of bands, and hopefully, you’ve found some new music that resonates with you. If you have some time during your day, give some of these bands a listen and channel your inner Canadian patriotism. And, if you want to discover more Canadian artists, tune in on March 30th for the JUNO awards, the biggest night for Canadian Music. (Some of these bands are nominated/ performing!)
All of the photos in this blog (minus the featured image) are from me and my amazing friends attending concerts. Remember to support local artists if you can, big and small!