9Teen

Toronto's VAL, despite keeping a relatively low profile, has earned a large following on SoundCloud. His last 3 releases have all eclipsed 100,000 plays on the platform, and his newest record may be his strongest yet. "9teen" is an understated R&B jam. It uses the sounds of live instrumentation to create a constantly shifting sonic template that lends to the spontaneous, conversational quality of VAL's songwriting.

Listen to more of Val on his official SoundCloud page. Toronto has become a hotspot for emerging talent over the last few years. Check out 5 up-and-coming artists from the city here.

Quotable Lyrics:
I miss the days when things
Were way, way, much easier
When I had the swing of things
And I didn't have to rely on expectations
Or devotions, just went through the motions