Fresh Five | June 2025

In the third edition of our locally-focused Fresh Songs segment, we begin by leaning into hip-hop and R&B, head back to jazz, and take it out with a vulnerable acoustic performance. And they're all songs indeed, no instrumentals!

Kimmortal: "I Just Wanna Know"

Kimmortal insists on giving yourself due credit with the centrepiece track on their latest EP, "I Just Wanna Know". They rap and sing with a bunch of CapU jazz folks: Feven Kidane on both bass and trumpet, Miles Wong on the beat with the producer's credit, and Matt Yang on expressive keys. "One day I'll miss this boredom, the smell of this apartment," Kimmortal says before the surprise interjection of a nursery rhyme. Kidane's trumpet parts are prominent hooks but also backgrounds, both open and Harmon-muted. There's a sort of bridge before the end where the vocalist and trumpeter have a direct conversation, sharing the single pitch of their perseverance, trusting their gut takes. (sunniest of days, Buy | Music video | Available on streaming)

Emily Steinwall & Gabriel Pick: "Programs (ft. Forest Hope)"

Toronto composer, guitarist, and saxophonist Emily Steinwall delighted the scene when she arrived in May for about a dozen BC tour dates. In Vancouver, she played Tyrant, Green Auto, and the Heatley; her bandmates included bassist Matt Sagar, the aforementioned drummer Miles Wong, trombonist Nebyu Yohannes, and an existing friend of hers in trumpeter Ben Frost. "Programs" finds her with producer-beatmaker Gabriel Pick, Jeremiah Pick on guitar licks that trail the chorus, Casey Pick on way-back R&B groove bass, and Forest Hope on additional vocals. The track leans psychedelic and is chill without ever getting dull, 'lo-fi' but an intimate performance that still kills in a room. Well, it's lo-fi until Steinwall saves the shredding, amped-up sax solo and its accompanying wub-wubs for last. (The Portal, Buy | Available on streaming)

Solo Picnic: "Syllables"

Improvising drummer Jesus Caballero's open-spirited dedication to the craft has kept him in great company for over a decade. His project called Solo Picnic began at least that long ago, and to prove the point, I can recall a Granville Island Market Stage jazzfest show where his fellow picnickers were Bill Clark, Jared Burrows, Clyde Reed, and Em Postl. On "Syllables", Saba Amrei is the vocalist, multitracked while singing and talking about the challenges of speech disorders. Brian Horswill's piano appears instead of a horn, dancing through the space in a way that hones Ron Samworth's comping. Samworth sort of has a solo feature, but it lingers behind Amrei's spoken-word section and only bursts out for a few bars. James Meger rounds out the ensemble with his bass parts recorded remotely into Caballero's mix. (Buy | Available on streaming)

Clara Lin: "You and I (ft. Marion Powers)"

Chinese-born pianist Clara Lin was a jazz student at both Berklee and the University of Northern Colorado before landing in Vancouver two years ago. Her first show here was a trio with Dan Howard and Todd Stewart at Frankie's After Dark last summer. This recording is from her Colorado era, featuring vocalist and UNC voice instructor Marion Powers. Lin's piano is recorded closely and sensitively to match the almost-bossa lovesong arrangement, which lands in a familiar spot along the path of early Laila Biali or Emilie-Claire Barlow. Bassist Alex Annan takes a solo then hands it off to Lin while drummer Gwen Nagel stays right there with them. I couldn't have predicted that last chord. (Streaming)

Isobel: "adjusting"

Isobel Ralph began her mononymous artist journey after fronting a young band called The Escapes. Her 2023 album Good Guy was a pop production, but her single "The Well", recorded live for The Project Vancity the year prior, showed a Christian faith that is now the bedrock of her artistry. Like that single, "adjusting" is an unaccompanied vocal-and-guitar performance. It's also one of the most remarkably direct breakup songs I've ever heard. As I place myself behind the cover photo's lens – a view from my hometown, looking down the quay in New West over to Queensborough's Port Royal – I can't help but ask myself repeatedly: what do I have to do with my thirties to make sure someone never sings this song to me? Whatever that entails, I have to believe I'll do it all. (before // after, Streaming)