Elisapie's stunning Inuktitut cover of the Rolling Stones, and 4 more songs you need to hear

Here at CBC Music, we're always on high alert for new songs by Canadian artists.

This week, we're listening to new tracks from:

• Jugger.
• Shawn Desman.
• Elisapie.
• DijahSB.
• Turnstile, BadBadNotGood, Blood Orange.

Scroll down to find out why you need to listen, too.

What new Canadian tunes are you currently obsessed with? Share them with us on Instagram @cbc_music.

To hear more about these standout songs, tune in to CBC Music's Mornings every Thursday (Canada-wide) with producer Ryan Chung and host Saroja Coelho, and Here and Now with Gill Deacon every Wednesday afternoon (in Toronto). Both are available via CBC Listen.

'CMFTZN,' Jugger

If you claim the combination of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's fast-ripping lyrics, blues artist Robert Johnson's mastery and the creative world of Michael Jackson as your musical inspirations, then one would think you're on the right track to becoming great in your own right. That's what Toronto-based rapper Jugger offers, with a co-sign from super producer Wondagurl after she brought him over to her Wonderchild label. Jugger takes you through a gothic, yet melodic fun house in his new single, "CMFTZN" (pronounced "comfort zone"). Reminiscent of Travis Scott, Gunna or Young Thug, Jugger glides through the 808-heavy song while listeners float through his lyrical maze. As much as "CMFTZN" can be eerie at times, it's the keys and windfall of synths that really add energy to Jugger's rage-filled raps. — Ryan Chung

'Love Me With the Lights On,' Shawn Desman

Here's a radiant new pop banger from Shawn Desman, who continues his remarkable comeback by shining a light (literally!) on his wife, who battled serious illness and struggled with the physical changes it brought about. "This person who I love so much, who's been through so much, was worried about how I'd feel about her," Desman said. He responded with this uplifting bop intended to "[remind] people that they're perfect as they are — no matter what you look like."

Based on a classic verse/pre-chorus/chorus structure, the song is not only a perfect vehicle for Desman's burnished vocals, but also an urgent summons to the dance floor — and the boudoir: "Love me with the lights on, so I can see you with your clothes off," goes the refrain. "Put on a show, I'm watching all night long." An official video is expected on Aug. 18. — Robert Rowat

'Wild Horses,' Elisapie

The magic of Elisapie's upcoming covers album, Inuktitut, is that in translating these classic, formative songs from artists including Cyndi Lauper and Fleetwood Mac, the singer breathes unanticipated life into them, directly connecting listeners to Elisapie's childhood. And on "Qimmijuat (Wild Horses)," her Inuktitut translation of the Rolling Stones classic, Elisapie offers us a stunning album closer. "Wild horses nuuttisingilat/ wild wild horses nuuttisingilat," she sings with such tenderness on the chorus, the only place you'll find English words on the 10-track album. Elisapie carefully coaxes the song along, working with producer and arranger Joe Grass to create the layers of emotion in Robbie Kuster's gentle drums and Leif Vollebekk's affecting piano work. Each song on Inuktitut is tied closely to a family member or friend from Elisapie's early life, and "Qimmijuat (Wild Horses)" is connected to a childhood friend and his complex relationship with his father. "'Wild Horses' reminds me of the complicated love many of us were raised on, with parents trying their best to cope and survive amidst difficult circumstances," Elisapie explained in the liner notes. — Holly Gordon

'Too Much to Do,' DijahSB

Toronto rapper DijahSB has never been afraid to be honest with their journey, whether they're opening up about their career, their mental health or just life in general. Other MCs may want to sell listeners on their braggadocious bars, but DijahSB isn't here to sell you a fantasy. They put in the work, and that's reflected in their earnest songwriting, admitting on their latest track, "I have a soft bed/ I have a lot of money/ I have a lot of love/ And I worked hard for it." "Too Much to Do" reiterates Dijah's goals and motivations while celebrating the wins they've already achieved, all effortlessly executed over a cool beat produced by fellow Toronto rapper Clairmont the Second. Dijah isn't immune to setbacks — "One bad text from somebody feels like a relapse," they reveal — but a continued reminder to set your sights forward instead of dwelling on the past is sure to set DijahSB on the right track to success. Their upcoming EP, Tasty Raps Vol. 2, drops Aug. 23. — Melody Lau 

'Alien Love Call,' Turnstile, BadBadNotGood, Blood Orange

In what might be one of the most unexpected collaborations of the summer, punk band Turnstile teamed up with alt-jazz musicians BadBadNotGood for a surprise EP, New Heart Designs. Three tracks from Turnstile's 2021 album, Glow On, were reimagined, including "Alien Love Call." There's a musical push and pull as Brendan Yates's vocals explode over the song's dreamy instrumental, resulting in a dizzying, psychedelic new version. BadBadNotGood's sound adds some richness and oomph, and the group's signature jazzy percussion and freewheeling saxophone solos build and build, culminating in a stunning collision around the 3:05 mark. Together, Turnstile and BadBadNotGood have thrown caution to the wind with an expansive reinterpretation of the song, halting any doubts of hardcore punk not mixing well with jazz. — Natalie Harmsen