Meet the 15 artists who were selected to participate in this year’s professional creative journey.
Starting out as a stupid pun on the name of a flower, Tiger Really has since transformed from a bedroom project to one of the most exciting and unique bands the Vancouver scene has to offer. Fronted by songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Lian Shao, the band has carved out a niche for themselves by mixing emo with elements of jazz, folk, and indie rock, creating a sound that is both distinct and deeply resonant.
Since signing with legendary emo label Counter Intuitive Records in 2023, Tiger Really has built a global cult audience through social media and word of mouth. The band has shared stages with some of the genre’s most influential touring acts including ‘Michael Cera Palin’, ‘Chinese Football’, ‘Weatherday’ and ‘Your Arms Are My Cocoon’. Their consistently electrifying performances coupled with Lian’s intensely personal songwriting has garnered them a deeply connected fan base and community, cementing themselves as a staple of the Vancouver underground.
After nearly a decade of chasing sounds that didn’t quite fit, Vancouver-based Tess Anderson found clarity in the chaos of alt-rock. Channeling both defiance and vulnerability, she fronts a powerhouse six-piece band known for high-octane, emotionally charged performances. Inspired by acts like Paramore and Nothing But Thieves, her music strikes a collision between gritty distortion and glossy pop hooks.
Her 2024 debut album Before I Come Unhinged is a visceral dive into self-reclamation and breaking toxic cycles. With over 180,000 streams to date, it’s earned features in Billboard Music Canada and Exclaim!, along with national airplay on CBC. A relentless live performer, Tess recently wrapped up her first Western Canada headline tour, opened for Canadian heavy-hitters Mother Mother, and secured slots at major festivals across British Columbia.
SNOWCHILD EDGE is a Nigerian-Canadian Afro-Fusion artist blending the infectious rhythms of Afro-Fusion with alt-rap and experimental sonic elements. Known for his genre-defying sound and high-energy live performances, Edge has cultivated a loyal following across Canada and abroad. His music is deeply rooted in his Abuja upbringing while embracing modern, boundary-pushing influences that shape a sound both culturally grounded and globally relevant.
A storyteller with a vibe, Edge is the heart of the EnergyGang-a vibrant, cross-continental community energized by his futuristic flair and magnetic stage presence. Which has led him to sell out headlining shows and share stages with prominent international and Canadian acts like Nonso Amadi, Mick Jenkins, Aminé, Petit Biscuit, 88Glam & BBNO$. Snowchild Edge’s captivating stage presence has left long-lasting impressions on his fans.
Vancouver-based singer/songwriter Rebecca Sichon (SEA – Shon) delivers a rich blend of R&B, Soul, and Jazz. Inspired by the vocal acrobatics of Yebba and the raw grit of Amy Winehouse, her voice captivates with both emotion and range.
She has played over 250 shows across Canada and the U.S., including major festivals like Winnipeg Folk Festival, Salmon Arm Roots & Blues, and Nest Fest, where she opened for Ruby Waters. Rebecca has also performed at 32 Sofar Sounds shows, NXNE in Toronto, and will perform at Massey Hall for Honey Jam’s 30th anniversary (July 2025).
With over 175,000 streams and a feature in EARMILK, Rebecca continues to build momentum. Known for her honest songwriting, magnetic presence, and stunning live vocals, she’s steadily carving out her place in the Canadian music scene.
Posh Coat is a wardrobe full of florals, denim and velvet, paired with your favourite flared jeans, Chuck Taylor’s, and a shaggy haircut. A tireless blend of glamorous indie and soul pleasing rock & roll, live on stage, their sound is both raw and refined. With their unique voice and flair, and a seamless blend of gritty guitar riffs and silky modern melodies, Posh Coat is chaos and control, intimacy and intensity.
Put on your most posh coat, take it off, throw it on the ground and stomp on it. Let’s rock and roll!
Kaya Ko is a queer Filipinx vocalist & multi-media artist born on Turtle Island. Their musical style blends between alt-folk, neo-RnB/Soul to HipHop with elements of West-coast Bass and EDM. A mix of classical training, 12 years of street performance, 20+ years of stage performances and self-teaching gives Kaya’s music an undeniable sense of fluency and experience.
A gifted songwriter since age 10, violinist since age 5, Kaya graduated at SAE Institute, completing their studies as an Electronic Music Producer and Audio Engineer. Bringing soulful vocals and a rap style that is reminiscent of influences such as Lauryn Hill, Kaya shows versatility and style in all of their skills. Born to entertain with an introspective side, this artist is deeply rooted and offers a wide spectrum of moods, frequencies and flavours to the audience. From stripped down acoustic and live looping to classic hiphop & rnb performances, Kaya has a set for anything
Jody Glenham writes songs for night owls, daydreamers, and anyone who’s ever cried in the backseat of a cab. A longtime fixture in Vancouver’s music scene, Jody has carved out a place for herself in the indie landscape, earning praise from NME, Refinery29, and CBC, with her 2020 album Mood Rock charting on Canadian college radio and catching the attention of KEXP and the Polaris Prize jury. Her songs have been featured in Snowpiercer, Tiny Pretty Things, and My Life with The Walter Boys, drifting from dive bars to Netflix queues—and maybe even your crush’s playlist.
Now self-producing her newest EP Still Here, Jody Glenham offers a poignant collection of songs shaped by persistence, vulnerability, and emotional clarity. Whether she’s playing solo or backed by her band, Jody sets the perfect tone for last calls and long walks home. Her music offers quiet companionship for those learning to sit with uncertainty, weathering life’s storms with tenderness and grit.
Still Here is more than a title—it’s a promise. Jody Glenham remains: present, grounded, and unwavering.
Haleluya Hailu is reclaiming the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Raised in Vancouver, British Colombia Canada, Hailu is a multi-instrumentalist, poet, and activist. Eclectic, energetic and constantly moving, Hailu manages to turn the awkward transition to adulthood into songs that anyone could lose themselves in. Her debut release ‘eternally, yours’ with Canadian music powerhouse 604 Records, features a vibrant and sparkling collection of alternative-minded tracks that effortlessly straddle emo, punk, and pop.
Hailing from Surrey, BC, Fleetwood Huey is an alternative hip-hop artist fueled by self-reflection and a healthy dose of wishful thinking. Immersed in a childhood soundtrack of Ethiopian jazz and his brother’s hip-hop production, Fleetwood developed an early passion for music and writing, nurtured by countless hours lost in library books and comics.
His unique sound blends alternative rock melodies with nostalgic hip-hop influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Cage the Elephant, Joey Badass, and Isaiah Rashad. More than just music, Fleetwood’s songs act as a cathartic outlet, giving voice to feelings he once struggled to articulate. With every track, Fleetwood Huey delivers a message of hope and perseverance, reminding listeners that anything is possible with dedication and belief.
Emma Alves is an unearthly songstress whose work ebbs and flows like the silk of a spider’s web. Inspired by artists like Willow, Lana Del Rey, and Halsey, Emma introduces an alluring genre by pairing styles like Rock and R&B.
As a songwriter, Emma began writing about fairies. Her debut album and leading single gained traction on Canadian radio stations in 2014. Despite the drastic change of genre in recent years, she finds modern surrealism by experimenting with unique instrumentation, production, and collaboration.
Emma infuses soul into all aspects of the creative process, both in and out of the studio. Her all-consuming melodies and enthralling lyricism create a mesmerizing experience that immerses listeners into a fantasy world.
Don’t get lost.
After years of obsessing over his aunt’s bootleg filled iTunes library, Dawson moved to Boston to give Berklee College of music a try—only to drop out. In his new home of Vancouver, he has flourished, combining his appreciation for Canadian stars, like Shania Twain and Neil Young, with his love of experimental artists like Arthur Russel and Grouper.
On Dawson’s second EP, Bark Mulch, he combines traditional sonic elements like pedal steel and banjo with modern storytelling and production. The result is a textured but driven indie-folk blanket that is sure to warm any fan of Adrianne Lenker or Hovvdy. Mostly recorded in collaborator Mark Falks bedroom, the songs emit a glow that is sure to put the listener in a nostalgic haze.
Connor Nelson blends R&B melodies with cutting-edge pop production to create Midnight Pop, his signature sound. An award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer, Connor has earned praise from stars like Tate McRae and Conan Gray. His music was recently featured in Netflix’s #1 original series Ginny & Georgia, reaching a global audience and earning Shazam chart placements in six countries, including the Top 200 on Shazam Australia. With editorial support from TIDAL and Exclaim!, and multiple #1s on the New Queer Canada Charts, Connor recently released his self-written debut EP Red Mountain Light on June 17, 2025, co-produced with Juno-nominated producer Nathan Chiu.
Computer is a 6 piece alternative music project band from “vancouver”
Cassidy Waring is a queer Vancouver-based alt-folk artist whose songs resonate with uncompromising honesty, sharp wit, and raw narrative style. As a dedicated mental health advocate and an artist living with Complex PTSD, her vulnerability on stage is a cornerstone of her performances. Through candid reflections on trauma, grief, relationships, and therapy, she invites audiences into an honest space, reminding us we’re not alone in our darkest moments. Her debut album, Lonesome Reunion (2021), produced by Jonathan Anderson, introduced her blend of poignant lyricism and intimate storytelling. Her recently released sophomore album, If I Had Only Been Better, co-produced by Sam Lynch, dives deeper into her experience with complex trauma and continues her legacy of raw emotional exploration. Cassidy is also the subject of a 45-minute Telus Originals documentary, set to premiere in Fall 2025, which follows her journey of healing through music, therapy, and honest conversations.
Adewolf is a Nigerian‑Canadian musician based in Vancouver whose genre‑bending sound—Afrohop—fuses Afrobeats, hip‑hop, R&B, and reggae. Over the past four years, he has opened for stars including Burna Boy, K NAAN, Arkells, Shawnee Kish, and Haviah Mighty, and has performed at major summer events like Khatsahlano, Surrey Canada Day, and the Vancouver Mural Festival. In 2022, he released the dual single 2SME via 604 Records. His 2024 EP Lostalgia reflects on his childhood in Lagos, Nigeria, blending storytelling and sonic collage through the lens of a child narrator. Emerging from the Lostalgia project, Losty takes shape as a masquerade in fuchsia regalia—a vivid reflection of Adewolf’s childhood memories of masquerades dancing through the streets of Lagos. He closed out 2025 as the winner of the prestigious Nativeland × Hennessy Rap Competition in Lagos, cementing his place as a rising voice in the global Afro-fusion scene.