When you hear Canadian music, it is probably this band that you may come across.

Canada is quite literally built into the name, with Dear Rouge being a play on Red Deer, Alberta, where one half of the band, front-woman Danielle McTaggert was born. The other member in the band is Drew McTaggert, the two came together in 2012 to release their debut EP, Heads Up! Watch Out! Independently on Bandcamp.

On streaming services as of today, that EP is nowhere to be found. It exists on other platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube; however, they came back 6 months later to drop Kids Wanna Know, which still exists on all streaming platforms. This EP would mark the point where their brand was set; Kids Wanna Know was eventually moved to their first album release – Black to Gold.

Mick Haupt / Pexels

I want you to take a listen to the corresponding single, Black to Gold. What do you hear, and what do you feel? When I listen Dear Rouge’s first alternative rock album release, I hear a sound definitive of the 2010’s. You know exactly what I mean! Dear Rouge did something incredible where they were able to capture an entire decade in their music, when you listen to Black to Gold, you become immersed into the 2010’s completely.

Their sound is well-produced and polished, but still with enough of a rough edge that tells you they are native to British Columbia’s north. With over 83,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Dear Rouge are all but underground. Are you one of those listeners?

Dear Rouge has won a Juno award for breakthrough group of the year in 2016, toured with acts such as the Arkells, Bush, Our Lady of Peace, and Vance Joy. Their music evokes a feeling of optimism lost in a lot of new releases today, it is visceral and cathartic in each layer of their production.

Why wouldn’t you want to hear that for yourself?