As pop-punk storms back into the forefront of culture, nobody did it better this year than this 20-year-old Torontonian. Though modern-day figurehead Travis Barker does appear on one track, the combination of renforshort’s blunt songwriting and bouncier Strokes-esque pop-rock sound makes her work stand out from the pack of seemingly increasingly samey tunes in the mainstream.
With an overarching concept of a self-help column and lyrics examining struggling to stay true to herself amid various social pressures, her idolization of the genre contributes to some truly anthemic choruses and heart wrenching imagery delivered by a strikingly emotive voice.
By Khagan Aslanov
The Aussie art punks proceed to debone the corpse of modern living.
By Ben Boddez
The Toronto-based pop artist pens an ode to defeating online jealousy that sounds fresh out of the early 2000s.
By Cam Delisle
Just in time for her L.A. Pride debut, the alt-popstar drops the visual for “Versed”—a sweaty anthem that pulses with desire.