Hi, fellow music fans,

This week, we said an unexpected goodbye to Grammy-winning R&B artist D’Angelo, after what his family described as a prolonged battle with cancer. 

The 51-year-old had just recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut studio album, Brown Sugar, which earned D’Angelo his first Grammy nods. His seminal album Voodoo, which celebrates 25 years this year, won the singer his first Grammy, and cemented him as a singular R&B voice.

Artists and friends shared tributes and memories this week. “Heartbroken. Impossible for me to articulate the impact he had on me but if u know me u know,” wrote Toronto’s Charlotte Day Wilson on Instagram. “Rest in peace, surrounded by the greats who sang through you, as you’ll continue to sing through us for generations to come.”

Over on Commotion, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud was joined by music critics Jay Smooth and David Dennis Jr. to look back on D’Angelo’s legacy.

How Anika Nilles went from teaching preschoolers to touring with Rush

The German drummer will hit the road with Rush’s Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee in 2026.

How to watch the young Canadian in the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition final

A Canadian has reached the final of the 2025 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, widely regarded as the most prestigious piano competition in the world.

Calgary’s Kevin Chen, 20, is one of 11 finalists announced on Oct. 16 who’ll each play a piano concerto by Chopin with the Warsaw Philharmonic to vie for the coveted gold medal and a cash prize of $97,537. The competition’s final stage will take place over three evenings — Oct. 18, 19 and 20 — concluding with the announcement of the prize winners.

Reverie 2025: Watch Jessa Sky, Big Tones, Sara Kae and Raymond Sewell perform live

This past summer, CBC Music and SOCAN launched the second edition of Reverie, a music residency created to foster the talents of Indigenous musicians. The 2025 program brought together four artists, including Métis Cree singer-songwriter ‪Jessa Sky‬, L'nu poet and songwriter Raymond Sewell, hip-hop artist Anthony Pasqua from Pasqua First Nation #79 in Treaty 4 territory and Ojibwe and Cree singer-songwriter ‪Sara Kae‬.

The four-week residency culminated in an evening of performances on July 30, and now you can watch them all.

'She's 100 per cent an artist': k.d. lang to induct Jane Siberry into Hall of Fame

When organizers at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame asked k.d. lang if she would induct Jane Siberry in recognition of her career penning lyrical gems, her response was a quick yes.

"There was no question, because Jane's songwriting has meant so much to me," lang explained in a recent interview.

What’s Justin Bieber’s best song?

We asked the people, and they have spoken.

Shawn Mendes was ‘honoured’ to perform with emerging Cree singer Tia Wood at his Vancouver show

Shawn Mendes brought out emerging Cree and Salish singer Tia Wood to perform during his Vancouver tour stop last weekend. In an ode to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, Wood added her own moving verse to Mendes’ 2018 song Youth. 

“That was for my rez babies everywhere,” Wood later posted on Facebook. “I spoke my truth and tried to represent the best way I could.”

Remembering the phenomenon that was Jagged Little Pill

Thirty years ago this month, Jagged Little Pill hit No. 1 on the charts. 

Sandra Oh makes her Metropolitan Opera debut

The Golden Globe winner made her Metropolitan Opera debut on Oct. 17, playing the Duchess of Krakenthorp in La fille du régiment.

Listen to Jully Black’s night of Songs and Stories, Part 2

In September, we shared Part 1 of Canadian music legend Jully Black’s Songs and Stories tour, and now you can settle into the magic in the second instalment of this special two-part edition of CBC Music Live.

The Beaches surf the No. 1 spot for a 2nd week, holding off Daniel Caesar and Haviah Mighty

Fresh off their performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the Beaches maintain their historic hold at the No. 1 spot on the Top 20 with their latest hit, Can I Call You in the Morning?. (As of last week, the Beaches have had more songs hit No. 1 on the chart than any other artist in the past five years.)

The Beaches rule over a hotly contested top five that includes Jane Handcock (No. 2), Daniel Caesar (No. 3), Haviah Mighty (No. 4) and Jade LeMac (No. 5). Entering the chart this week are new songs by former Searchlight winner Maggie Andrew, Toronto indie band Jane's Party, and a scorching song by U.K. soul sensation Raye.

Thanks so much for joining us for this issue of Listen Up! If you loved it, feel free to let us know at listenup@cbc.ca — and use the same email if you have questions or suggestions. Please share it with your friends, family and even enemies via cbc.ca/listenup.