Ottawa music fans looking for their next great listen have plenty to dig into this week, with Ottawa Life Magazine rounding up new releases from three artists worth your time: Swedish pop artist Lykke Li, rising star Genesis Owusu, and MOR.
Lykke Li – The Afterparty
After years of building a sound that balanced pop instincts with quirky, quiet ambition, Lykke Li's latest record The Afterparty leans fully into accessibility — and it pays off. Ottawa Life describes it as her most catchy work yet, one that trades experimentation for polish without losing the depth that's made her a cult favourite.
The result is a record that feels earned. There are so many years of sonic development behind her music that even when she plays it straighter, the richness is still there. Think of it as a deep discography distilled into something you can actually blast on a Sunday morning in Hintonburg.
Genesis Owusu and MOR
Ottawa Life's roundup also spotlights Genesis Owusu and MOR, rounding out a batch of new music worth exploring this season. The full reviews are available over at ottawalife.com for a deeper breakdown of each release.
Why Local Music Coverage Matters
Ottawa Life has long been one of the city's go-to voices for arts and culture, and its music coverage is a reminder that you don't need to be in Toronto or Montreal to stay plugged into what's worth listening to. For Ottawa music lovers — whether you're discovering new artists at House of PainT, streaming on the bus through the Glebe, or hunting vinyl at Compact Music on Bank Street — this kind of curation is genuinely useful.
The city has a quietly vibrant music scene of its own, with local venues like Neat and Irene's Pub regularly hosting emerging artists. But keeping up with what's happening globally, filtered through a local lens, is exactly what guides like Ottawa Life do well.
Weekend Listen?
If you're looking for something new to throw on this weekend, Lykke Li's The Afterparty sounds like a strong starting point — familiar enough to go down easy, layered enough to reward repeat listens. Pair it with a Saturday morning coffee run on Wellington West and you're set.
Head over to Ottawa Life Magazine for the full reviews of all three albums.
Source: Ottawa Life Magazine — ottawalife.com
