We are so stoked to share our first bank vault live session of 2026 today!

Toronto quartet ANIMATIST have been releasing their unique blend of instrumental rock for a decade, and they've got a brand new album coming, entitled 'SHAPESHIFTER'.

We held a small gathering at the vault in April where ANIMATIST recorded three exquisite tracks for your listening pleasure. And today we're letting you have it all, all at once, because why the hell not... WHY THE BEELZEBUB NOT?!

Watch the full session on the Safe Sounds YouTube Channel now.

Speaking of SHAPESHIFTER, the group told us –

"This is the record we’ve put the most amount of work into, and it demands some context...

The official birth date of ANIMATIST is January 13th 2015, which marks the first performance under this name. The four of us pour ourselves into this project in a way that maintains a consistent devoted practice, and across that 10 years we have become a family.

The material started forming in 2020 and recording began in 2023. The finalizing process took another two arduous years.

We could have finished it sooner, but to do so would have failed to reflect the journey the four of us have shared... throughout those 6 years we've fundamentally changed, individually and collectively. It is a labour of love in every sense of the phrase.

I’d like to think that this feeling is present somewhere within this album’s material. I do not expect all listeners to hear what I’m attempting to describe hidden throughout our compositions. But I’d like to express that only through this process does it feel unavoidable that it has taken this long.

We know what we have created has cemented the personal history of our band as a history of a chosen family. It is this feeling that has validated the title SHAPESHIFTER.

The session here in the Safe Sounds bank vault features only one song from the album, alongside two songs that will likely find a home on our next album.

In conclusion, we would like to acknowledge that this album was made entirely possible by our shared loving memory of Colin Alexander Hinds."

SHAPESHIFTER arrives digitally on May 16th, and is also available on limited edition vinyl via the ANIMATIST bandcamp.

Or you can pick up a copy in person at their album release show this Saturday at The Baby G, with support from Miserable Weekend, Paper Hats and DJ Rata. Grab an advance ticket via Dice?

Hell yeah!

Please continue to support your local artists in all disciplines. These are the people making art the way they want, without the burden or constrictions of commercial interests.

Thank you for supporting local – the best way to help ensure your community continues to flourish in Canada.

Toronto electronic hardware duo, World News 808909, have just released a brand new music video for the single MOVE ON ME... and it might just leave you with a sense of déjà vu!

That's right, the boys are back, this time shadowed by dance duo Diaz Das Gupta and Desiree Das Gupta, who appear in the music video fully suited and booted.

Have you ever... ever felt like this?

MOVE ON ME is a concept by World News, explained here by lead singer, Bill Cutbill –

"In a parallel universe where chimneys bellow and suits are mandatory, we trudge the earth in search of an ounce of hope."

"We would like to thank Jacob and Emily at Playhouse Cinema, Hamilton, for their generosity, not only in maintaining and running a historic entertainment space, but for allowing us to share it with them and encapsulate it in time within this video."

"Remember to support local, because culture is only forever if we fight for it, and it takes work from the people across the community to make it happen. That is the ounce of hope that we found and will continue to carry with us."

MOVE ON ME represents the first collaboration with videographer Colin Harrington since his memorable video for the 2020 single, Black Cat. This time he's assisted by Valentina Morelli – you may know the duo better as the music project MOONBEAN.

World News are hitting the long Ontario road with upcoming shows, and MOONBEAN will be joining them in Owen Sound.

Here's the lowdown –

APRIL 15 – TORONTO – MONARCH TAVERN
with DOOM GONG + JOSH PRYCE // TICKETS

APRIL 25 – OWEN SOUND – THE RUMPUS ROOM
with MOONBEAN // HELL YEAH

MAY 6 – OTTAWA – HOUSE OF TARG
with PUGGY BEALES // INFO

MAY 8 – MONTREAL – BRASSERIE BEAUBIEN
with CREATIVE SWEETS + PUGGY BEALES // NO WAY

MOVE ON ME is taken from World News' debut LP, ON STEROIDS, which marked the 30th release from independent collective Safe Sounds, which continues to operate with zero funding. This is what community is.

This is the third and final single to be released from the album, after HYPE and JELLYFISH.

You can support World News by purchasing a phsyical copy on limited edition Vinyl or CD, via their bandcamp... or even better, come to the show where not only will you avoid the extortionate shipping costs of the global mail service, but you'll also be able to barter World News down who are so desperate for your support and money that almost any offer will be accepted.

Peace, Love and Outer Space. ✌️🌎

Today we've got some brand new music from CITIZENRY, the percussive electronic solo project of Mike Wallace that combines late 80s minimal synths and cyberpunk with 90s electro.

This track represents the final of four live songs that we filmed and recorded at Safe Sounds HQ inside our real, disused bank vault in downtown Toronto.

Watch all the videos on the official Safe Sounds YouTube channel today!

If you want to listen to CITIZENRY's debut self-titled album, head over to their bandcamp. The album was also released on strictly limited edition cassette, but you'll be lucky because they're all sold out now online.

It features Idious Carrie on backing vocals too. 👀

What else can we say about it? Well firstly we should introduce the interstellar lineups of creative people who made this possible – 

CITIZENRY is Mike Wallace 
Filmed by Bill Cutbill and Desiree Das Gupta 
Audio Recorded and Mixed by Bill Cutbill 
Additional Mixing by Mike Wallace 
Mastered by Dean Tzenos

CITIZENRY is the solo project of Mike Wallace, the enigmatic drummer for the likes of Preoccupations, Odonis Odonis, Women, Bloodslide and more.

We've got a ton of stuff lined up for 2026, so watch this space and we hope you're having a fantastic start to the year!

Wow, 2025 has flown by and what a year it's been. 

We've had epic releases from World News, CITIZENRY, Your Grandad and now Bill Cutbill has completed THE NEW RESOLUTION with the bizarre Christmas track – Santa's got scruff (and might be an antichrist).

For those of you who didn't know, Bill set himself the challenge to record and release one track a month in 2025. From what we gather, it wasn't easy, but he did it.

This Christmas track was co-written, performed and recorded by Kaleb Shelton. It also features William O'Neill, guitarist of Your Grandad.

Speaking of the track, Bill tells us –

"It's a song from the perspective of jolly St. Nick as he struggles to deliver presents and maintain the Christmas spirit in a world where global warming is melting the ice caps."

"He seems kind of pissed that people would rather focus on characters surrounding the birth of one specific baby boy, rather than supporting him on his present giving escapades... and I get it."

Co-writer Kaleb Shelton, aka Santa from the video, told us –

"I’ve never worn a Santa suit in my life, but Bill’s complete love of Christmas compelled me to put one on, and make a bizarre laidback Christmas song together."

"What we were trying to say here I’ll leave to you. At the very least we’re big fans of cheese wrapped in crackers, wine on occasion, the odd joke at Jesus’ expense and togetherness."

"Throughout this at times I felt the Christmas spirit maybe that they talk about in a hallmark card, touched a lot of tinsel and synthetic scruff rubbed against my face."

"The ineffable feeling of spending time with a friend who, by the way made a song for every month of the year (check em out!), was of course the real gift here."

"As an aside, having children actually ask for things while wandering dufferin grove in the suit was an experience I don’t think I’d want to have again, but I’m glad they had that Yuletide cheer I’ve heard so much about."

How touching to have musicians come together in the name of festiveness!

If you want to enjoy THE NEW RESOLUTION musically in full, the best place to do so is on Bill's bandcamp! If you want to see the often ridiculous, sometimes serious accompaniment videos, then YouTube is the way to go.

We wish everyone a very happy holidays and a Happy New Year!!

In the dead of winter, World News 808909 are pleased to share a lush, summery music video for their electronic ballad, JELLYFISH.

Taken from the debut album, ON STEROIDS, the music video was filmed at a waterpark in industrial mecca Hamilton, Ontario.

You can read what EARMILK had to say here. Bill of World News talks through some of the lyrics and the thoughts they originate from.

The music video, which builds into the epic universe of World News, is the latest creative vision of Liam Magahay. 

Speaking of the process, Liam mused -

“For me, the Jellyfish video was an exercise in improvisation and play; shooting solely on Go Pros was a deliberate choice to enhance these liberating conditions.”

“Basically, I wanted to hang out at the waterpark with my friends and let the video create itself in the process.”

The result is a whirlwind experience of turbulent and lush textures, underpinned by flailing limbs and joyous faces. 

Flashback via YouTube to be taken down the rabbit hole