Canadian hip-hop veteran, Shad, returns with a bold new double-single: “K.I.S.S.” and “Islands.” These tracks offer a glimpse into his upcoming seventh studio album, Start Anew, to be released October 31, 2025 via Secret City Records.
Reflecting on this milestone, Shad says: “With these songs and the new album, I wanted to embrace simplicity and also community — things that feel more important to me than ever after twenty years in this game. ‘K.I.S.S.’ is about having fun and moving forward, while ‘Islands’ is inspired by a concept/book a friend told me about called ‘Islands Of Sanity,’ basically about building hopeful futures in times of upheaval and disintegration.”
“K.I.S.S.” delivers a playful, upbeat vibe with the mantra “Keep it simple stupid / This is music / Give your two cents / Then keep it moving.” The track was produced by Dom Dias, who has crafted beats for Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Cartel Madras, and Just John, as well as “Body (No Reason)” on Shad’s previous album TAO.
On the introspective “Islands,” Shad explores the concept of “Islands of Sanity,” describing communities that model alternative ways of living through crisis. The production is handled by Windsor’s Datsunn, a multi-talented producer, drummer, and singer with strong ties to the jazz scene and recent tours with CARRTOONS and Keifer, and Dotan Bergman, (known by his producer name Tane), a music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and sound designer based in Brooklyn, NY.
Both songs highlight the balance of optimism and social consciousness that defines Start Anew. The album features collaborations with Toronto’s Jon Kabongo, Raz Fresco, pHoenix Pagliacci, Queens, NY underground stalwart Homeboy Sandman, Atlanta’s Chantae Cann, and more.
Pre-save Start Anew and pre-order the vinyl, here.
The album’s first single, “Bars and BBQs,” was featured on Okayplayer’s “The Listening” and VIBE’s “New Music Friday,” added to the CABBAGES Official Playlist, and spins on stations like KXRY, KEXP, WBTV, WERU, WPRK, CBC Afterdark, CBC Music’s The Block, CJLO, and CJSW. Other outlets that celebrated the song include CBC News, CBC Music’s “Songs You Need To Hear,” Exclaim!, HipHopCanada, Live In Limbo, 3am Revelations, and V13.
Musically, Shad took a more straightforward approach on this album, drawing on playful soulfulness reminiscent of his early work, while incorporating experimental sounds sampled from his own unreleased archives ranging from house to psychedelic pop. This melding of vintage vibes and studio experimentation creates a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly accessible. As Shad puts it, “I wanted to make something kind of simple and easy on the ears and very listenable.”
This year marks 20 years of Shad in music, a milestone celebrating two decades of artistic growth, impact, and innovation. Known for his sharp wit, socially conscious lyricism, and versatile sound, Shad (Shadrach Kabango) continues to share an inspired message with Start Anew – a project about embracing change, facing loss, and moving into uncertainty with hope. Shad sees this album as the conclusion of a trilogy of socially conscious works including 2018’s A Short Story About a War and 2021’s TAO, his final comment in a years-long exploration of what underlies the tensions of our current age.
Fans can catch Shad one night before the Polaris Music Prize Gala & Award Ceremony on September 15, where the 5x Short-Lister will play and unpack a set of easy listening gems he loves, live at Loveless Cafe in Toronto – tickets are free with RSVP here.
The Canadian rapper will also hit the road early next year for his first run of Canadian dates in 2026, kicking off January 17 at Vancouver’s Hollywood Theatre before making stops at Blizzard Festival in Rossland on January 22, Calgary’s Commonwealth Bar & Stage on January 23, and Winterruption Festival in Edmonton on January 24. The tour continues into February with shows at Guelph’s Sonic Hall on February 6 and wraps in Hamilton on February 7 at Bridgeworks.
Pre-sales begin Wednesday September 10 through Thursday September 11 @ 10 a.m. EST, with all tickets on sale Friday, September 12 at 10 a.m. EST.
Start Anew Tracklist
01. Intro
02. Slanted
03. Happiness feat. Chantae Cann
04. Rain
05. K.I.S.S. feat. Jon Kabongo
06. Islands feat. TLO
07. Bars and BBQs
08. Discem
09. Look Pt 1 feat. Raz Fresco
10. Look Pt 2 feat. pHoenix Pagliacci
11. Don’t
12. Sacrifice
13. Fear of Death
Shad – 2026 Start Anew Tour
January 17 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre
January 22 – Rossland, BC – Rossland Miners’ Hall (Blizzard Festival)
January 23 – Calgary, AB – Commonwealth Bar & Stage
January 24 – Edmonton, AB – Rocky Mountain Icehouse (Winterruption Festival)
February 6 – Guelph, ON – Sonic Hall
February 7 – Hamilton, ON – Bridgeworks
