In Canadian radio, a portion of all aired content must be Canadian-made. But in the age of streaming — as less and less people opt for the radio over an app — listening local has become a personal preference rather than an obligation, leaving so much talent without the depth of recognition they deserve. So, the following is a list of artists from each province and territory worth supporting with your streams.
Yukon
Hailing from the capital city of Whitehorse, FRANKLIN’s “gateway metal” sound has been taking the local scene by storm. Kirsty Wells (vocals and bass) and Evan Joels (drums) make up the self-described “melodic sludge metal duo”. Currently, they are the only metal band in Yukon with a femme-presenting frontperson. Their latest album, decay, was released on January 31, 2026. On each track, Wells’ vocals ebb and flow seamlessly between her hauntingly beautiful singing and commanding screamo, complemented by the distorted bass tones and the steady punch of Joels’ drumming. Over the summer, they will be playing in Calgary, AB (June 17) and across British Columbia.
Northwest Territories
Nestled in the small community of Bechokǫ̀ o, NWT, Digawolf (aka Jesse James Yatlayi) is a JUNO-nominated songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, sound engineer and film composer. While he initially was set on becoming a painter as a child, his older brother’s musical influence rubbed off on him, prompting him to follow in the footsteps of his five older siblings as a musician. His latest album, Trapline (April 25, 2025) is infused with elements of his Tlicho heritage, from the contemporary use of Tlicho drums, to the traditional Tlicho singing on “New Years Day”, to the coming-of-age storytelling within the lyrics from a uniquely Tlicho perspective. Diga’s vocal gravel adds a captivating texture to each track, bringing the raw emotion to life in a way that feels as familiar as a memory.
Nunavut
From the hamlet of Panniqtuq, Riit (Rita Claire Mike-Murphy) is a JUNO-nominated electropop artist that combines contemporary pop synths with traditional Inuit throat singing to craft a truly singular sound. Alongside creating music, she also has a hairstyling diploma and was the host of early education series, Anaana’s Tent. Riit’s newest single, “Ikiaqqik (Levitating)”, was released on April 4, 2025. The Inuktitut-sung reinterpretation of Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” was recorded for the sitcom North of North, which follows a young Inuk mother trying to find her own way after publicly leaving her husband in a small Arctic town where everybody knows everything about each other.
British Columbia
Fionn is a Vancouver-based band composed of twin sisters Alanna and Brianne Finn-Morris. Sporting a hyperfeminine pink-and-glitter aesthetic, Fionn are proudly claiming their femininity in the boy’s club of the rock scene. The duo’s latest album, scum., released on October 17, 2025. Fionn blends earworm melodies and pop culture references with the truest emotions in womanhood: rage, disgust and disappointment. As announced in a recent Instagram post, a deluxe version of the record with two new songs will be available on June 12, 2026. They currently have a handful of shows planned across Ontario and in their hometown of Vancouver, BC from June into December.
Alberta
Zoo! was formed in Calgary by Jake Johnston, Joshua Viviers and Mattias Sampson when the three members instantly connected on their hockey team back in 2021. Their newest EP, Wait For Me (August 1, 2025) feels like sunshine distilled in the form of soundwaves. Influenced by the Australian surf-rock scene, their infectious guitar riffs are full of warm, carefree energy — nothing short of perfect for a pool party or late night drive. In a new Instagram post, Zoo! announced their tour around western Canada for the summer, travelling through Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia from May 21 to July 25.
Saskatchewan
Born in Nigeria and raised in Regina, Zochi (Uzochi Lolia Ifeanyiukachu) is an unapologetically queer afro-pop artist. After experiencing intense stage fright in her early career, she’s bolder and ready to follow her heart wherever it may lead her. Her newest single, “Sozo”, dropped on April 28, 2026, featuring Zochi’s soothingly soft voice, a hint of horns, and a mesmerizing beat that you can’t help but dance to. Her first EP is currently available for purchase through a pay-what-you-can model on her website. In a new Instagram post, she announced that another song will be released in June alongside tour dates.
Manitoba
Out of Winnipeg, Begonia (Alexa Dirks) is a JUNO award-winning alternative pop artist whose voice by any other name would sound just as sweet. After being a vocalist in folk band Chic Gamine, she’s truly blossomed into her own under her rex begonia-inspired identity. Her latest album, Fantasy Life (October 24, 2025), features her soft and soulful vocals front-and-centre, supported by gorgeous instrumentation that shifts in genre unpredictably from track to track and keeps the listener eagerly on their toes from beginning to end. Begonia’s Fantasy Life Tour is coming up this fall, from September to November, with 22 dates across Canada.
Ontario
From the Mississauga portion of the GTA is Luna Elle, a JUNO nominated Ghanaian-Canadian R&B artist. She was uniquely co-signed by Shaquille O’Neil over Instagram back in 2021 in a video repost showcasing her stunning baritone voice type. Her latest release was a remix of her song “AMPM” (March 27, 2026) in collaboration with Maryland-based Ghanaian rapper, Foggieraw. This marks Elle’s first ever feature from another artist. On the track, her mesmerizing vocals are sweet as honey, a perfect vessel for the deep yearning in her lyrics. She is complemented well by the underlying playfulness in Foggieraw’s verse, crafting a dynamic tonal experience for the listener.
Quebec
Born and raised in the village of Quaqtaq, Nunavik, Beatrice Deer is an award-winning “Inuindie” artist, film composer and host of the Northerned podcast on YouTube and Patreon. On the side, she also provides simultaneous interpretation services between English and Inuktitut. She showcases these multilingual abilities in her music by singing in Inuktitut, English, and French. Her latest album, Inuit Legend, released on April 3, 2026. With striking storytelling sung primarily in Inuktitut, Deer’s vocals play off of the guitar in a beautiful synergy on each and every track. She has two upcoming live shows this summer in Ottawa and Morin-heights.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Formed in 2016, Rum Ragged is a folk band that incorporates traditional folk instruments into their compositions — such as the bouzouki and bodhran. The four-piece band composed of Aaron Collis, Mark Manning, Colin Grant and Zack Nash was nominated for Traditional Roots Album of the Year at the JUNO awards back in 2021. The band name stems from the phrase “run ragged,” due to the band’s affinity for touring near constantly, and Newfoundland’s trade history with Jamaica of salt fish in exchange for rum. Their latest release was their Christmas album, All the Bells and Wassails, on November. 28, 2025. The record featured entirely original holiday tunes that keep the comforting warmth and traditional folk feel of their other works.
Prince Edward Island
From Charlottetown, the trio of Julien Kitson (guitar and vocals,) Patrick Stephen (guitar and vocals) and Spencer Swaine (bass and vocals) formed Gizmo in 2021. The rock band’s latest single, “Celestial,” released on May 13, 2026. Their vintage inspirations shine through loud and clear in their instrumentation and productions while simultaneously creating something new and exciting. According to a piece by Dennis Ellsworth for The Buzz, Gizmo has already recorded their first album — spending a non-stop week in the studio, recording by day and sleeping over by night. The band hopes for their first full-length album to release within the first half of 2026. Gizmo has a summer tour lined up from June to August across Ontario, with an additional show in Montreal.
Nova Scotia
Elyse Aeryn is an award-winning roots rock artist from Cape Breton full of energy, soul, and a little bit of twang. Her latest album, Everybody Loves You… (February 26, 2026,) was inspired in part by a motorcycle crash that left her with several broken bones, a community-boosted GoFundMe to help with any expenses, and a new outlook on life. The entire record became a tribute to living — growing more vulnerable than ever as a result of Aeryn’s reconciliation with her own mortality. This raw emotion comes through in her fiery vocals, contemplative lyricism, and electrifying guitar solos. She has a handful of shows planned across Nova Scotia throughout the summer.
New Brunswick
Les hay babies are a francophone folk-rock trio from Moncton made up of high school best friends Julie Aubé (banjo), Katrine Noël (ukulele) and Vivianne Roy (guitar.) On October 4, 2024, they released their latest album, Tintamarre. The sound of the record was inspired by the band’s writing retreat in Louisiana back in the spring of 2023, where they found themselves at home among the local Acadian community. The album features a country-inspired twang on Roy’s guitar, along with some cowbell in the opening track, and some gorgeous three-part harmonies from the whole band that elevates the songs in a subtle yet poignant way. Over the summer, they will be playing across Quebec and New Brunswick from June to August.
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