Justin Bieber's unexpected new sound, and 4 more songs you need to hear this week

Songs you need to hear is CBC Music's weekly list of hot new Canadian tracks. 

Scroll down to discover the songs our producers are loving right now.

Devotion, Justin Bieber and Dijon

Who thought we'd ever hear harmonica on a Justin Bieber song? On the Canadian pop star's new album, Swag, the glossy pop production is long gone, in favour of a more lo-fi sound leaning into folk and indie rock, while maintaining his penchant for R&B vocal riffs. The whole album is a bit more laid-back than we've come to expect from the Peaches singer, and Devotion featuring Dijon is especially subdued. It's a sweet and languid number about the beauty in the private moments of a relationship: sharing long and scenic drives, never-ending conversations on a patio, cuddling and watching a favourite show. "When your lips and fingernails are all mine/ I promise to take my time givin' you dеvotion," Bieber sings effusively on the chorus before Dijon chimes in on the third verse. The Baltimore artist has his stamp all over Swag, with four writing and production credits including this featured track (Daisies, Yukon, Things You Do). The fuzzy pedal steel and whispers of percussion give the song a warm, lived-in quality that is a staple in Dijon's own solo music. — Kelsey Adams

Bars and BBQs, Shad

Shad is back with the announcement of a followup album to 2021's Polaris shortlisted TAO, and with it comes laidback lead single Bars and BBQs. "I wanted to make something kind of simple and easy on the ears and very listenable," he said in the press release for the single and album, and while Bars and BBQs is definitely both of those things, it's also a reminder of Shad's ability to turn something inward and sharpen its edge. "Hold every title and no entitlement/ just see the younger guys/ and try to guide them/ into wiser men/ 'cuz bars and BBQs/ also form descriptions/ of our core conditions/ from where's sittin'/ needing more nutrition/ sickness in every cell," he delivers on the second verse over a slinky beat that has just the right amount of summer sizzle. You'll find a new phrase to dig into with every listen of Bars and BBQs, though you'll have to wait until Oct. 31 for his seventh album, Start Anew. — Holly Gordon

The Mood, Kaytranada and Flo

It's been almost an entire year since British girl group Flo first teased a collaboration with Canadian DJ/producer Kaytranada. Thankfully, The Mood has finally arrived just in the thick of summer, to soundtrack your sweaty late-night dance parties. While that bass-bumpin' groove might put you in a "freaky mood," this track is actually about the opposite: "It's just that I ain't in the mood tonight," asserts member Stella Quaresma. In a statement, Flo said the song is "a fun and fresh take on sex. Sometimes you're not in the mood!" They also emphasize, if that mood were to change, that "permission is sexy, you gotta ask before you undress me." Heated, passionate anthems are the norm for this time of the year, but on The Mood, Kaytranada and Flo offer up something more chill and consensual, which is just as alluring. — Melody Lau

TTW, Rochelle Jordan

Rochelle Jordan's silky vocals levitate over a thumping dance beat on TTW (which stands for "through the wall"), the latest single from her upcoming September album. The beat picks up with the sound of 808 claps sprinkled in around the one-minute mark, giving an added kick that revs up the rhythm. "Something special in the air, I can feel it everywhere/ Please, don't turn me up," she sings on the chorus, sounding hopeful. Jordan's delivery is languid and chilled, making it seem like she isn't stressed about not knowing what lies ahead — she'll be spinning around the dance floor regardless. 

On the surface, the song could be taken simply as a fun bop about a night on the town, but Jordan shared its deeper meaning in a press release: "These lyrics are my self-talk when I'm affirming all the reasons why I stay so resilient," she said. "This song is a mantra for busting through the dark walls of your own mind. Getting to the other side of all of what could be holding you back." On the outro, she invites listeners to join her in letting their guards down: "Let them say what they want to/ Busting through the wall," she murmurs, while the music gently fades out. — Natalie Harmsen

Homerun 2021, Jonah Yano

New Jersey musician Mk.gee has quickly grown into one of music's most sought after collaborators, having worked with Omar Apollo, Bon Iver and most recently, on Justin Bieber's new album Swag. But another Canadian team-up worth checking out is Homerun 2021, a long-gestating piece of work between Mk.gee and Toronto artist Jonah Yano. As the title suggests, this track dates back to 2021 when Yano briefly stayed with Mk.gee in Los Angeles. Over a dreamy, slow-grooving guitar riff — a signature of Mk.gee — Yano repeats the refrain, "I'm homerunning, homerunning home," with a similar sense of reverie and longing. This track not only shows off the beautiful friendship between Yano and Mk.gee, but also the seamless synergy of two unique artists' sounds, coming together to create something that can feel equally at home on either of their own solo projects. — ML