King Avriel still only has a few tracks to her name, but each one is better than the last. Her latest offering, “Caricatures,” is our first glimpse at her upcoming and still-untitled full-length release, and it builds on the eclectic style and rich thematic material of her previous singles. The single art for the track provides a definition of “Caricature,” just to make sure we’re all on the same page: “A representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject’s distinctive features or peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect.” Avriel describes on her tumblr that the song is about realizing when you’re objectifying someone in a relationship, seeing him as an idea instead of a complex human being. It’s a nuanced exploration of privilege and interpersonal relationships, all brought together in a melodic neo-soul song. Avriel’s voice shines over messy guitars and layers of percussion and celesta.

If this is anything like what the rest of the album is going to sound like, I think we’re in for a big treat.

After giving up music, taking a 9-5 job, and starting a family, songwriter Andre Nault found himself watching TV one night and asking himself, “Is this how you want to spend the rest of your life? Is this how you want the kids to remember you?” The answer, he says, was a resounding “No.” That’s how Ottawa’s Stand Up and Say No was born. The lead single from their forthcoming Assuming Loyal EP deals with similar themes. Mixing catchy pop synth lines with jangly guitar chords and a haunting rock baritone vocal style, “Can You Feel” is an interesting and catchy track. Nault sings about “a guy who’s tired of climbing the greasy pole, whose success came at great expense.” The video, directed by Nault himself and featuring members of his family, shows a group of scientists studying a man getting ready for a big date. It’s silly and plays into the fun nature of the song.

Assuming Loyal will be released on May 6th, but you can buy “Can You Feel” now on iTunes.