At 19-years-old, Sydney Delong is like many people her age. She’s tired of school after her freshman year studying psychology at Ryerson University, she works part time at The Body Shop, and she is trying to find individuality on her own path. What sets her apart is her voice, which allowed her to preform in internationally recognized music festivals Canadian Music Week and NXNE.

“Ooh the world is crowded”. Ruban Nielson makes this seemingly-obvious statement in the centrefolds of Multi-Love, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s third album. While the world may seem busy and full of different people with different personalities, getting along with others isn’t always a pretty affair. While UMO’s sophomore album II focused on solitary disillusion, such as suicidal thoughts while eating popcorn, Multi-Love turns the tables on the problems with others.

The Postal Service
Give Up The collaborative genius of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) and Jimmy Tamborello (Dntel) was unleashed in 2003 with this game-changing minimalist indie pop record. The subtle hints of string instruments shaped the album’s solemn theme along with the soaring vocal melodies Gibbard provided alongside backing vocalist Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley.

Machine Girl, the Brooklyn-based producer, has reached deep within herself to extract defused musical formations. Her brooding style of darkstep drum and bass proves noisily to be a concoction of the inner circles of hell. The music is the fuel of nightmarish images that you never want to wake up from.

CMW has brought some amazing international talent to Toronto, but I still feel the festival’s main strength is its support of local, unsigned, and underground talent. Day three for Antidote Magazine was all about exploration. I went to every show knowing nothing about the artists playing and I’m happy to say I was blown away by all the talent.

Hannah Cohen has emerged into the pop stream with a sense of truth and vulnerability. Her genre of sad tunes glued together with sweetly-strung jazz bits mould her music’s sound. With her debut hit Child Bride, Cohen configured a statement through anthems of despair. On her new album, Pleasure Boy, Cohen walks with a similar stride as she improves her dynamicity.