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

Holy moly, it's been a little while since our last bank vault session when Not A Band paid us a visit.

We're so, soooo pleased to put that right with the release of our first track from the CITIZENRY sessions! These were filmed in our disused bank vault way back in March, supporting CITIZENRY's debut self-titled album which arrived earlier this year digitally and via limited edition cassette that have all but since sold out.

The solo project of Mike Wallace, the enigmatic drummer for the likes of Preoccupations, Odonis Odonis, Women, Bloodslide and more, we start by sharing 'Instrumental' where Wallace uses sensory percussion via drum triggers to perform an improvised solo. 

This music has never been heard before... we're privileged to bring it to you! Watch in full now via our YouTube channel.

As a small team working on Safe Sounds in our spare time, we're so hyped by Mike and the quality of this music. Filming with a full drum kit in the bank vault is always awesome; the concrete walls bounce that sound around so hard, ear protection is a must when you're inside there filming.

Have you listened to CITIZENRY's debut album yet? Well you won't find the whole thing on Spotify or streaming because, as we're all finding out more and more, those evil war mongering twerps don't deserve your money. The good news is, the album is available to listen (and buy if you want to show your gratitude directly to Wallace) via the CITIZENRY bandcamp.

Watch this space because we've got new CITIZENRY live bangers coming once a week now for the month!! We warned ya.

Thanks again for your never ending support.

World News (AKA World News 808909) are holding a premiere party today, Tues 12th August, at Houndstooth in Toronto for the new single – HYPE!

The music video was filmed on the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa at tempratures lower than -30° and stars professional figure skater Ava Smale.

It's a vision from award-winning writer and director Brennan Martin who worked closely with World News to bring the video to life. Brennan has worked with the group previously, including the incredible Descenending music video.

Toronto electronic music duo World News (AKA World News 808909) combine influences of house, techno, ambient and alternative music. HYPE is the first music released from their upcoming debut album – ON STEROIDS.

ON STEROIDS [SS130] marks the 30th release from Safe Sounds and we're delighted to inform you that this will be a multi-format release including a limited edition run of Pink Lichen coloured vinyl, which are now available for preorder. The record will be released digitally September 25th 2025... but the records will ship sooner.

World News 808909 are back with an electrifying new single, Lot Lizard. It’ll make the hairs stand up vibrant purple on the back of your neck.

Let's get straight to it because this music video has to be one of the most insane, mesmerising and nauseating that we’ve ever seen!

Lot Lizard is a concept by World News and Shawn Chiki, the video for which was created in Virtual Reality (VR). Shawn Chiki, a pioneer in his craft, is a technology wizard who has made beautiful music videos in the past for the likes of Zoon and Michael Peter Olsen.

In the video, World News travel to Lacey Lucy’s – the last stop in town, which is a truck stop, motel and bar. It’s in the middle of nowhere, and at a crossroads to everywhere. It’s a great place to rest, fill up the tank and smash a beer or two.

If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll see a bunch of easter eggs… anyone for a game of darts? What’s going on with the number 7? Do we drive on the left or the right?

Speaking of the release, Bill of World News said –

“I met Shawn Chiki when I was looking for a ride home from Electric Eclectics, a great little music festival in Ontario. After that I started following Shawn on Instagram, and he was always creating these fantastical models and flying around the environments; it was all just so fluid and beautiful, and I just really felt a pull to his art.”

“The plan early was to fly to Arizona, rent a high-end vehicle (maybe a sports car) and go all out and film it in the desert… but we realised pretty quick that was going to be tricky, and also, how on earth would we film the hot tub scenes?!”

“So yeah, when I shared the song with Shawn, told him the concept and he didn’t flee immediately, I knew we were onto something! Sometimes things just fall into place – the CGI and VR experience is perfect, and Shawn doubled down on our initial concept to make it epic.”

Qu of World News interjects –

“This is the most intense music video we’ve made, both in terms of the time it took to create the worlds, and then again to film using the storyboard as a guide.”

“We ended up with hours and hours of screen recorded footage, which Bill had to painstakingly review and organise, and the video edit alone ended up being like 40 hours.”

“We had so many eyeballs on this thing that we had to grow new ones just to keep it together. I’m not sure what I’m even seeing anymore.”

A special thank you to Ryan Bembridge for his VR support world building.

Catch World News 808909 playing tonight for the mighty, Sled Island Festival opening bonanza. It’s being held at Commonwealth, downstairs in the Underground. Other bands performing include CHXMERAS, Daniel Son + Tea Fannie & The Collective.

Then, they’ll be heading to Edmonton in similar fashion to the music video, because they’re playing The Aviary on Wednesday for a show with the mighty Doom Gong, in what is a sort of Purple City Fest pre-party.

That’s right, the boys are in the air as we type, flying to the West Coast, but don’t get too upset because they’ll be back in Toronto at The Baby G on June 29th to support experimental music underground group, Wolf Eyes.

Don’t worry, World News 808909 is just getting started. ✌️🌎🗞️