New Music Friday: October 23, 2026
Personal reinvention, alternative country and imaginative pop lead this week’s Canadian discoveries.
October’s Canadian releases offer plenty of reasons to refresh the playlist. Lennon Stella returns with her second album, while Art d’Ecco follows a different creative path on his fifth. Kyle McKearney adds a new single to his growing roots catalogue, and Wallgrin opens the door to an imaginative musical world.
This edition of Maple Music Lounge’s New Music Friday brings together four releases from October 23, spanning intimate songwriting, indie rock and experimental pop.
Quiet Reflections and Bold New Directions
Lennon Stella — Sleeping Lion
Indie Folk / Alternative Pop | Album
Lennon Stella returns six years after her debut album with Sleeping Lion, released through RECORDS. Produced by fellow Canadian Andy Shauf, the collection explores relationships, vulnerability and the process of trusting her own creative instincts.
Songs including “Beginner’s Mind,” “Unforgivable Things” and “Smartest Person in the Room” approach those subjects from different angles. The latter brings a playful edge to a record shaped by personal reflection. For listeners who know Stella through her earlier pop releases, this album introduces a more intimate, folk-inspired chapter.
Maple Music Lounge Take: A timely opportunity to reconnect with Stella as she explores a different side of her songwriting.
Art d’Ecco — Scheele’s Green
Indie / Alternative Rock | Album
Art d’Ecco releases his fifth album, Scheele’s Green, through Paper Bag Records. Following 2025’s Serene Demon, the project adds another full-length chapter to the Canadian artist’s catalogue.
Advance singles “The Death of Indie,” “Disappear Here” and “How Real Is Real?” provide three starting points for exploring the release. Together, they offer an introduction before listeners settle into the complete album. With two albums arriving in successive years, there is also plenty for newer fans to discover beyond this week’s selection.
Maple Music Lounge Take: The indie-rock selection for listeners ready to spend time with an artist’s evolving catalogue.
Kyle McKearney — “Outcast”
Americana / Alternative Country | Single
Métis Canadian singer-songwriter Kyle McKearney releases “Outcast,” a new single arriving ahead of his forthcoming album, Wildflower. Based in Airdrie, Alberta, McKearney brings together Americana, alternative country and roots songwriting.
The release follows “Rearview” and continues a career that includes a Canadian Country Music Award for Alternative Country Album of the Year. For readers discovering him through this roundup, “Outcast” offers a current entry point, with his earlier recordings providing further listening while the next album takes shape.
Maple Music Lounge Take: A Canadian roots artist to keep on the radar as his next album approaches.
🎧 Explore Kyle McKearney’s music
Wallgrin — Underworld Songbook
Art Pop / Experimental Pop | Album
Wallgrin, the project of songwriter and musician Tegan Wahlgren, releases the nine-track Underworld Songbook. Written and produced by Wahlgren, the album features vocals and violin alongside contributions on harp, bass, drums and other instruments.
“Hound of Hades,” “Dovetail” and “I.D.K.” are among its tracks. The accompanying album notes frame the collection through an imagined lost civilisation, giving the release a storytelling dimension beyond the songs themselves. For listeners interested in pop that draws on unusual concepts and varied instrumentation, this is the week’s discovery to investigate.
Maple Music Lounge Take: An intriguing choice for anyone who enjoys imaginative world-building alongside their music.
Editor’s Pick
Lennon Stella — Sleeping Lion
Sleeping Lion is this week’s Editor’s Pick for the creative shift it represents. Stella’s collaboration with Andy Shauf and renewed focus on personal songwriting make this a compelling moment to revisit her work. It also brings two distinct Canadian talents together on a record centred on relationships and self-discovery.
Start with “Smartest Person in the Room,” then explore the full collection.
Keep Discovering Canadian Music
A familiar artist taking a different direction can be just as rewarding to explore as a name encountered for the first time. This week’s selections leave room for both. Follow the listening links, find a favourite and return to Maple Music Lounge for more Canadian releases.