SOCAN Song of the Week

Written by Shad, Phil Beaudreau
Published by Secret City Publishing
Photo by Justin Broadbent
On Oct. 31, 2025,Shad released Start Anew, his seventh studio album, and the conclusion in a trilogy of socially conscious works, including 2018’s A Short Story About a War and 2021’s TAO. The same day, he shared the fourth and final single from the album, “Slanted,” a song about the proverbial slippery slope, as it plays it out specifically in terms of economic and political power. On Start Anew, Shad -- armed with his trademark wit and thought-provoking bars -- tackles our collective reluctance to break out of our comfort zones. Embracing the playful soulfulness of his early releases, Start Anew is refreshingly and unapologetically direct, aligning with the rapper's ongoing mission to spread love, wisdom, and hope, in an effort to inspire personal and societal change. His next run of Canadian live dates starts in early 2026.