Our annual list of things that inspired us over the past 12 months, given you to after the year is actually over.
Michael Feuerstack
Music I enjoyed
Skeeter Davis and NRBQ – She Sings, They Play
Not sure how I went so long without knowing about this. It was like finding out there’s another room in my home. A total classic.
Sienna Thornton – Birding Out
Soft and heavy kind of like the moon.
Mac Demarco – Guitar
Soft sass.
Lisa O’Neill – The Wind Doesn’t Blow This Far Right
Walking music.
Jesca Hoop – Selective Memory
Alternate homey versions of some of her material, that totally shed new light on the songs – trading in some sonic layering for a new directness.
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Kaleidoscope
For some reason, I never really gave this band my proper attention. I inadvertently saved a treat for later.
Remi Wolf – Big Ideas
Extremely fun and deep pop music. For some reason that’s a rare combination.
Films I enjoyed
Sentimental Value
Full of subtle twists and amazing acting.
Alberta Number One
If you can find it, you won’t regret checking it out.
Moonstruck
Timeless as all get out
Nick Schofield
Proud to have released two albums in 2025!
Orchidae – True Beginning … I co-produced the album with my wife and Pascal Huot, also performed synths all over it. Love the opening tracks ‘Conception’ into ‘Birth Day I’.
Saxsyndrum – Room of Endless Days … Made this album with my best friends AP Bergeron and Dave Swithcenko. All improvised in the winter forest at Domaines des Lignes.
Favourite Albums
Sega Bodega – I Created The Universe So That Life Could Create a Language So Complex, Just To Say How Much I Love YouJakoJako – Tết 41
Barker – Stochastic Drift
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – Thoughts on the Future
Kara-Lis Coverdale – From Where You Came
Oklou – choke enough
DjRUM – Under Tangled Silence
Liam Cole – Warm Soup at the Big Rain
Youngbloods – The Lot Radio
Moon-Hee Kim
Movies
Lurker
I’m Not A Robot (short German film from 2023)
Kpop Demon Hunters
Tricky Woo I’m Not a Man I’m a Coastline documentary
Music
Chicano Mosh’s single ‘A WITCH, A SURF PUNK’
Flea’s single ‘A Plea’
Eyedress’ new singles
The only book this year is Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Gabrielle Archer
2025 is the year things came full circle. I started my music career with FMG in 2014 and now FMG is a client of mine. As a self-employed person I always appreciate when my clients include me in their list of team members, but this one feels extra special.
Favourite Books
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
Cracked Pots – Heather Tucker
This book is pure unrealistic chaos about a teenage girl’s life but it takes place between Toronto and Cape Breton and for that I loved it. It is the sequel to The Clay Girl. Might want to start there.
Favourite TV/Film
Second season of the French series Bref. The moment I finished it I wanted to start it again and tell everyone to watch it. You don’t need to watch the 1st season to enjoy the 2nd.
Favourite Podcasts
The Handsome podcast feels like I’m sitting in the living room with friends. 3 queer comedians shooting the shit and answering ridiculous questions. I love it.
Favourite Concerts
I had an incredible week of music in Nov that will stick with me for a long time. This included Silvana Estrada @ Corona Theatre, Dijon @ l’Olympia, and Nick Mulvey at L’Astral. All so different and all really impressed me.
Honorable mention to:
–Mustafa @ Le National
–Ben Harper @ Place des Arts
If you’re still reading, my most listened to artists/albums were Angie McMahon (Light, Dark, Light Again), Patrick Watson (Uh Oh), Hansom Eli (Sip), and the album I most listened to while working was Playing Piano for Dad – h hunt.
Joshua Van Tassel
MUSIC
Hand Habits – Blue Reminder
Flock Of Dimes – The Life You Save
ROSALIA – LUX
Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranqulizer
Ibex Band – Stereo Instrumental Music
BOOKS
On The Calculation of Volume – 1,2,3 – Solvej Balle
Exit Zero – Marie Helena Bertino
Sky Daddy – Kate Folk
Michelle Yorke
These are all of the things that moved me this year.
Music
Lux – Rosalía
Honestly, nothing moved me as much this year as this record. I find myself being unable to listen to one or two tracks; I have to devour the whole thing, top to bottom, over and over (sorry, Kyle). It deserves to be listened to without distraction.
With Lux, Rosalía proves again that she is a singular artist making pop music that sounds like no one else. As I felt with Motomami, time is now measured in “Before Lux” and “After Lux“.
Vendrán Suaves Lluvias – Silvana Estrada
I discovered Silvana by accident during the summer, and I am so grateful.
Movies
One Battle After Another dir Paul Thomas Anderson
The fact that I saw this 3x in the theatre should have tipped me off that it would be at the top of the heap for me. Incredible performances from the entire cast. It’s so funny, thrilling and surprisingly tender. I could watch a whole movie just about The Sisters of the Brave Beaver. Or watch the scene with the skateboarders leaping effortlessly from roof to roof on repeat.
My Father’s Shadow dir Akinola Davies Jr.
This was my favourite film I saw during the Atlantic International Film Fest. Taking place over the span of one day, it follows two young brothers as they travel to Lagos with their father in the midst of the 1993 Nigerian presidential election. It’s quiet and subtle yet powerful and brimming with life. *Beautifully* shot too. This one will stay with me for a long while.
Listers dir Owen & Quentin Reiser
I will lead with the fact that this documentary is available on YouTube for free! The co-creator brothers chose to release their movie straight to YouTube, turning down offers from HBO and Netflix to distribute the film.
It follows the two brothers on their attempt at a “Big Year,” which is bird watching speak for observing as many bird species as possible in a year. They do this all while living and travelling throughout the US in a Kia Sedona. It oscillates between scrappy handheld camera footage and beautiful shots from Owen, who is a professional wildlife photographer.
It’s equal parts funny and fascinating. It oozes with creativity, showing how much you can do with very little.
Weapons dir Zach Cregger
Maybe the most fun I had at the theatre this year.
Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning dir Christopher MacQuarrie
I would be a big, huge liar if I didn’t include this one. Those who know me well know I am a huge fan of the MI series and this one did not let me down. Several action sequences are seared into my memory, and the message that has been a through-line for the whole series, that no matter how dark things get, the world is worth saving for humanity/those you love, gets me every time. Also, Katy O’Brien has a small but memorable role. Please cast her in everything, Hollywood!
Marty Supreme dir Josh Safdie
This snuck onto my list at the last moment as it was the last thing I saw in 2025 (on NYE)! What a firecracker of a film. I can’t stop thinking about it, especially the incredible casting.
Books
City Mouse – Eleanor Hannon
This short graphic-novel is essential reading for anyone living in Halifax or in any city that is changing so much that it becomes unrecognizable. It’s tender, clever, and will leave you filled with hope. So excited to see what Elly does next.
Shows
The Rehearsal – Season 2
I don’t think anything made me laugh as hard all year, especially episode three, “Pilot’s Code”. Also, after listening to season two of The New York Times podcast, The Retrievals, I realized that Nathan Fielder, whether insincere or not, brings up really important points around communication within high-stress jobs with power-dynamics at play.
Adolescence
I’ve added this for episode 3 alone. Performance of the year for me from Owen Cooper, who was ~12 at the time the series was shot. Warning: if you haven’t seen it, it’s a harrowing watch that I can only imagine is more so if you have young children.
Concerts
Land of Talk at The Seahorse
I’d like to relive this show again, please!
Silvana Estrada & Bedouine at Théâtre Beanfield in MTL
This show was so special. I had many there’s nowhere else I’d rather be moments throughout. I’m grateful to have witnessed it.
CUERPOS & Cadence Weapon at The Seahorse
Oh, Halifax, where were you?? You missed out on an incredible show.
Jennah Barry, Penny & the Pits, Nada El Shazly feat Sarah Page at Nowadays Festival
Some will say this is biased, but I say nay.
Kendrick Lamar & SZA in Toronto
Getting to experience this show with my nieces was so special.
Video
Needed You – Rose Cousins
The video for Needed You is directed by Rose and features the incredible dancing and choreography of Kate Holden. Kate’s performance manages to make Rose’s stunning song even more poignant. Oh, and as if I needed to say more, it’s one continuous shot with the Lunenburg harbour as the backdrop.
Other highlights of 2025: listening to audiobooks before bed with Kyle, movies with friends, anytime I got to sit by a roaring fire, beach time with pals, Freehouse trivia nights, time in PEI with family/Matt & Nat, finding a gym where I feel comfortable & safe and baking.
Wishing for everyone’s 2026 to be filled with good health, good art and so much love.
And, fuck AI.
Gianna Lauren
Films I enjoyed
Janet Planet (2024)
Weapons (2025)
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery (2025)
Most Listened to Albums
Maria Somerville Luster
Emily A. Sprague Cloud Time
Saya Gray SAYA
Memorable Books
Hobtown Mystery Stories by Kris Bertin & Alexander Forbes
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Parallel Lines by Edward St. Aubyn
Live Shows I Loved
Moin at Rewire Festival in The Hague
Nala Sinephro at Rewire Festival
Moodymann at Making Time in Philadelphia
Jeff Parker at Nowadays Fest in Dartmouth
Kyle Cunjak
SML – How You Been
Tripped out (totally sober) in the office listening to the Bandcamp premiere of this and have been enthralled ever since.
Pino Palladino + Blake Mills ft. Chris Dave – ‘Taka’
Is there anything else this groovy?
How many key changes is too many?
Sloan – ‘Live Forever’
Not sure I ever saw myself living a nostalgia cliché but that’s exactly what happened after I Shazaam’d a song from the radio and obsessively listened to it over the next few months. This song about rich idiots chasing everlasting life harkens back to the band’s early 90’s glory days, has an excellent key change into the chorus, and a classic ending.
The Chair Company
Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin create something that’s equally hilarious and horrifying, continuing to push the boundaries of comedy. So glad this was on a major network and can’t wait to see what happens in Season 2.
Pluribus ep.7 ‘The Gap’
The travel sequence of Manousos’ journey from Paraguay toward Central America through the Darién Gap was captivating and moving. Although it was shot in Northern Spain and on the Canary Islands, not actually in South America, it remains a beautiful sequence that I’ve been thinking about weeks after.
Underrated Maritime releases:
PO+iON – What We Are Made Of
Keith Hallett – MEZMERIZE ME