Ottawa music lovers, your weekend listening queue just got a serious upgrade — Ottawa Life Magazine has dropped its latest batch of album reviews, spotlighting three artists worth your time and your headphones.
Tomora – Come Closer
Perhaps the most intriguing record of the trio comes from Tomora, a collaborative project rooted in Stavanger, Norway and Manchester, England. The project sees Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers stretch far beyond the dancefloor constraints of his main gig — his acclaimed work with Norwegian singer Aurora clearly sparked something too good to leave on the shelf.
Come Closer is reportedly a more varied, exploratory listen than a typical Chemical Brothers record permits, trading the duo's trademark big-room energy for something more atmospheric and personal. Rowlands reportedly delivers both certified bangers and sonically mesmerizing slower moments — a balance that suggests a genuinely different creative headspace. For Ottawa fans of electronica and ambient pop, this one sounds like essential headphone listening.
Metric
Canadian indie rock veterans Metric continue to be one of the country's most reliably compelling acts, and their latest work earns a place in Ottawa Life's roundup. The Toronto-born band has long held a devoted fanbase across Canada, and Ottawa audiences have never been strangers to their sharp, synth-edged sound. Metric have always written for arenas but with an intimacy that makes them feel personal — wherever they land with this new material, it's worth a listen for anyone who has followed their decade-plus journey.
Julia Cumming
Rounding out the trio is Julia Cumming, the Brooklyn-based artist perhaps best known as the frontwoman of Sunflower Bean. Her solo work pushes into art-pop and experimental territory, giving her a distinctive voice in a crowded field. For Ottawa listeners who gravitate toward independent, left-of-centre pop, Cumming's solo trajectory is one to watch.
Why Ottawa Ears Should Care
Ottawa has always punched above its weight as a music city — from Bluesfest drawing massive international acts each summer to a grassroots local scene that keeps venues like The Bronson Centre and Pressed buzzing year-round. Ottawa Life's album review column is a consistent reminder that engaging with music critically — not just as background noise — is part of what makes the city's arts community tick.
Whether you catch these artists on streaming or hope to see them pass through Ottawa on a future tour date, these three records offer a solid cross-section of what's moving in independent and electronic music right now.
Source: Ottawa Life Magazine
