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Songs you need to hear is CBC Music’s weekly list of hot new Canadian tracks.
Scroll down to discover the songs our producers are loving right now.
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Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor, Carly Rae Jepsen
Carly Rae Jepsen is no stranger to a sad dance anthem. For her, love and heartbreak must both be expressed on the dance floor, a place of catharsis where the body processes a wide spectrum of emotions. Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor finds Jepsen pleading for resolution, asking to “forget our fight” and work things out instead. The song starts as a slow build, synth rhythms circling the perimeter as she breathlessly teases out the end of each line: “I’ve been all of your desires/ I’ve been a good and been a bad girl.” But when the chorus hits, everything comes alive like a ray of light hitting a disco ball. “Don’t leave me on the dance floor,” she sings, her voice bursting with fear, desperation and hope. “I’m already falling, I’m all in/ Don’t leave me in the dark to face another song alone.” It comes as no surprise that Jepsen was inspired by ABBA to create “something with a perfect pop melody,” as she noted in a statement. Consider her mission accomplished; another excellent sad dance anthem added to Jepsen’s catalogue. — Melody Lau
One in a Billion, Wolf Castle feat. Cadence Weapon and Jessa Sky
“If you’re a native, you’re enough,” raps Wolf Castle on One in a Billion, writing a self-love letter to anyone who needs it, conveying the words the artist from Pabineau First Nation needed to hear himself growing up. Back with his second single of the year, Wolf Castle teamed up with Polaris Prize winner Cadence Weapon and singer-songwriter Jessa Sky for a jazzy, chill number that lets each of its stars bring their full selves forward. “Now I tell the truth and they question me/ manifested everything next to me/ bordered on obsession how I elevate my specialty,” raps Cadence Weapon on his verse, mirroring Wolf Castle’s feelings as Sky sings, reassuringly: “You don’t have to change it baby/ your perfect form came from creation/ never listen to their hatred.” One in a Billion is unassuming and soothing, but its heart is strong and prideful, crafted by three artists whose voices sound made for each other (hint, hint). — Holly Gordon
More Than Man, Remsen
Toronto rapper Remsen pours out the contents of his spiraling mind on new single, More Than Man. With transfixing lyricism, the song unravels into a treatise on identity, brotherhood and masculinity. There’s a desperate immediacy to Remsen’s words that contrasts the mellow energy of the self-produced track: “I live my life like a dead man/ In my head, man/ I ain’t got nothing to lose,” he sings in the first verse. Remsen began releasing music in 2019, and in the seven years since has evolved his sound countless times. This current moment finds him blending toned-down Nigerian highlife rhythms with the flows of Atlanta trap and ambient, lived-in soundscapes. More Than Man follows two previous singles, A24 and Limbo, all leading up to the release of his fourth album later this year. — Kelsey Adams
Want For Nothing, Cameron Whitcomb
“I ain’t ever really want for nothing but you,” sings breakout artist Cameron Whitcomb on his new single, his gravelly, emotionally charged vocals soaring over the stripped-back melody. Serving as the poignant opening track to the complete edition of his debut full-length album, The Hard Way, Want for Nothing swerves past glossy country tropes to deliver a deeply vulnerable slice of real-life storytelling. Built on warm, unvarnished acoustic guitar foundations, the song feels intimately raw and vulnerable as Whitcomb unpacks his journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and the quiet beauty of finding peace. Turning away from the chasing of superficial desires, the track anchors its central theme in the grounding power of meaningful connection. The result is a poignant heart-on-sleeve anthem, delivering the exact kind of soul-baring and quiet strength you want soundtracking a late night drive. — Stevie Carter
Devoted, Ardn
Concocted over a simple beat filled with crisp hi hats, rapper Ardn namedrops the Pope, Steven Spielberg, Kehlani and more on his latest single, Devoted. Looping together sweet words about wanting a “girl who bites back,” he admires a love interest who is going through a quarter life crisis. “Won’t you tell me you’re devoted to me baby, ain’t no other way around it, I don’t sugarcoat it baby,” he raps, his cadence winding around each verse painting a glorious picture of yearning mixed with a splash of disarray. Without taking himself too seriously, Ardn details his view of the reciprocal nature of commitment, hinting that he’s open to being the one his potential partner builds a life with. Flexing his clever wordplay over the infectious melody, he shows that love is about much more than faithfulness and passion — but those two ingredients are a good place to start. — Natalie Harmsen
Kissing Underwater, Benita
Benita’s new single Kissing Underwater is her first release since her 2025 album Sapphire, which included the Juno-nominated track The Worst. The Toronto singer is back with more serene melodies and transcendent vocal runs on this song about diving head first into love. On Kissing Underwater, Benita is adamant that the risk of letting go and giving in fully to the rush of romance will pay off: “Sink all your fears and just dive in/ You can leave all your gear at the shore,” she sings in the second verse. Kissing Underwater is a daydream come to life, and the more you listen, the more willing you are to get swept away by its spell. — KA