Opinion: 5 x Artists To Watch 2023 (Toronto)

Forget the winners of this year’s GRAMMYs, AMAs or Country Music Awards. Our ongoing series takes it back to grassroots as we discover 5 artists from Toronto to be on the lookout for in 2023.

When he’s not being a Major Label Account Manager at Precision Record Pressing by day… come nighttime, our man Curtis can be found playing drums in Toronto band The Lonely Hearts. So we thought it fitting to tap into his knowledge of the local scene, to find out which artists we should all be on the lookout for in 2023. Picking just five emerging acts to highlight from a music powerhouse like Toronto is an unenviable task, but Curtis assured us that he was up for the challenge and here’s who he whittled it down to.

Mattie Leon

No matter how many musical trends overtake the various mediums we discover our music on, the Singer-Songwriter remains a constant. Mattie Leon confirms that this is for good reason. Hailing from Hamilton, Mattie’s bright but thoughtful songs can take you to a place you’ve never been, and make you feel like you’re the main character of his stories. His latest release, Marigold helps us come to terms with grief and loss by looking at it from the perspective of the one that’s leaving. Mattie has already seen some success over the past few years with songs charting on the CBC. Keep an ear out for him in 2023!

Mountain Head

The Hannah brothers want you to believe they’re from another dimension… and they just may be. Their foundation of Rock n’ Roll is apparent, but there is more to the story. Their cover of Shimmy Ya by ODB caught the attention of the Wu-Tang Clan and was shared widely on their socials. Mountain Head also opened up for Nickelback at their Toronto album release party in late 2022. The music industry is taking notice – with their latest single Automatic, I think it’s a safe bet that 2023 will be a big year for Mountain Head.

Cindë

Aspiring artists need to consider and develop both the quality of their music as well as their persona and ability to engage in the social media landscape – Cindë has successfully nurtured both. A righteous guitar player in her own right, Cindë crafts dirty-pop hooks to accompany her Neo-90’s aesthetic. Cindë has been honing her craft for a few years no – 2023 is here for it.

High Flyer

This band may still be a few years away from being a household name in Canada, but I think they’ve got all the markings of a band to seriously watch. High Flyer show flashes of superb musicianship and showmanship, piquing the interest of many at the annual Andy Kim Christmas show at Massey Hall in December. They’re slated to open for Barenaked Ladies on a run of shows this year, and I think we can likely expect another EP or (fingers crossed) a full length in 2023.

Savannah Ré

Savannah Ré is likely my safest pick on this list; She’s a two-time JUNO Award winner in Traditional R&B Recording of the Year, and has written alongside most of Toronto’s R&B scene. I’d say she’s due for another larger release this year, having achieved most of her industry accolades after the release of 2020’s Opia. Her rich vocals deliver double entendre and storytelling in a way that captures the listener in seconds. It’s Savanna Ré’s year!

*Honorable Mention

It goes without saying that Toronto is full of incredibly talented artists in all stages of their careers. It’s incredibly important to have a strong and vibrant arts scene, and Toronto artists need to continue to support each other in the face of rising costs pushing creators out of the city. This section is dedicated to everyone making art and performing live. We see you.