5 cool Canadian female musicians to watch out for

Global soul senstation: Cold Specks

The deep husky voice of Al Spx (a.k.a. Cold Specks) is so arresting that when Jools Holland heard it, he invited her to be on his U.K. TV show before she’d even cut her first album. The 26-year-old Etobicoke, Ont., native’s music, self-described as “doom soul,” has been at the top of critics’ lists ever since. She’s played Toronto’s famed Massey Hall four times and heads out on a European tour this month to promote her second album, Neuroplasticity, released August 26. “My first record was gloomy; it was written about a very real time in my life, but when I started touring, it was over and I felt like a bit of a fraud. With this album I decided to be more playful. Now I enjoy my live performances so much more.”

Why we love her: She’s the opposite of a manufactured pop star and has created a totally new, goosebumps-inducing sound. 

Inspiration: “I started writing the record in an isolated cottage just outside Glastonbury, U.K. There’s this 12th-century church on top of a hill, and it attracts a lot of hippies. You can’t buy socks in the town, but you can find crystals and cauldrons. My new songs reflect that weird atmosphere.” 

Dream collaboration: “I would love to duet with David Bowie.”

Rising indie star: Andrea Lo, singer, The Belle Game

She’s got a voice big enough to fill stadiums, yet Andrea Lo of this “dark pop” quintet is totally original, rehearsing with her band in a basement decorated with cat-hologram stickers. The Vancouverite never saw herself making music — before the Belle Game formed in 2009, she worked a corporate job. But when its debut record, Ritual Tradition Habit, came out last year, Pitchfork named “River” Best New Track, and there’s been no turning back.

Pre-show practices: “I meditate and fix a cup of tea — things to soothe my anxieties so I can go out and be vulnerable and genuine.” 

On performing: “The whole interaction of a show is quite amazing, how performers engage with the crowd and how a crowd engages with the performers. It’s a back and forth cycle and everyone is giving out something of themselves.”

Best new act: Lauren Mann, singer and pianist, Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk

If you haven’t yet heard this charming folksy five-piece led by Lauren Mann, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be singing along. Hailing from Alberta, the group recently won CBC’s 2014 Searchlight contest, an annual hunt to discover the nation’s best new act, for the song “I Lost Myself.” They get compared to Mumford & Sons, but Lauren’s sweet vocals, accompanied by whistling and ukulele strums, give them a sound and vibe all their own. 

Inspiration: “My husband and I got married in 2010 and we travelled across Canada that summer. It was my first really big adventure and I connected with people from coast to coast — I spent the following fall writing most of Over Land and Sea.” 

Small-town scene: “We started an open mike at a coffee shop here in Brooks, Alta., where we’re currently based; we’ve been trying to find and connect with people who play music in this community. It all takes time, but it’s exciting because we can just try things and see how it goes.”

<b>Chillwave babe: Carmen Elle, singer and guitarist, Diana & Army Girls

Ever since Carmen Elle’s cousin signed her up for an open mike (against her will) at 14, she’s been a major player in the Toronto music scene. The singer and guitarist for two bands — chillwave foursome Diana and garage pop duo Army Girls — Carmen’s goal is to be the best front woman of all time. While juggling both bands can make for a challenging schedule, they’re in a good flow: Army Girls is recording and gearing up for a big year, while Diana is entering writing mode after touring their superb debut, Perpetual Surrender. 


Why we love her: Carmen’s voice is like velvet. Her soft, dreamy vocals (she gets compared to Feist and Sade) are addictive. 

On performing: “It’s my favourite thing to do. I really care about the audience — it’s almost like hosting a party or having a conversation.” 

Dream collaboration: “Björk. I love that she’s hugely famous and has remained weird. People like to have a cohesive idea of who you are, but she’s avoided that.” 

Sensational soloist: Megan Bonnell

When she’s not singing her smoky ballads, Megan Bonnell escapes to her hometown of Caledon, Ont. for a hit of nature. The inspiration for her debut album, Hunt & Chase, came from her rural upbringing. “My go-to images are nature. Even though I live in the city, I’m always nostalgic for my childhood,” she says. The summer saw her perform at Toronto’s Field Trip festival and the Gateway Festival in Bengough, Sask. — now she’s ready to get back in the studio. “I grew up singing cheesy Dixie Chicks songs at the Caledon Inn, just down the hill from my house. I’m grateful for those embarrassing moments; they mean I’m prepared for anything!” 


Most memorable show: “My first European show was in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and I played solo in this massive 800-seat Gothic cathedral — it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.” 

Inspiration: “I’m always thinking about my ancestry and things I’ll never know about fully. Songwriting is a way to put the puzzle together the best I can.”