CREDIT: TORONTOIST.COM
Toronto band Wildlife recently released a new album, On The Heart.

I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. Last week saw two important milestones that indicate the changing of the season: the first day of spring, and, with the long-awaited release of Justin Timberlake's new album The 20/20 Experience, the summer's first smash album.

Timberlake's new record is less than a week old but has made a big impact — people all around the world are falling in love with his smooth R&B sound again, referring to the near seven-year wait as being worth the time spent. At its core, The 20/20 Experience is a jewel of modern soul that proves that when music is lovingly made it can be appreciated by audiences all over.

And if you're someone who appreciates music that is lovingly made, this season has a lot to offer you; earlier this month also saw the long-awaited release of Toronto band Wildlife's sophomore full-length album On The Heart on Wax Records.

A powerful essay on human emotion, On The Heart examines love and trust that well embodies the conflict and contrast of emotion — daring to be hopeful despite aching lows, fearful amidst exuberant highs, and driven by a narrative that is as cautionary as reassuring. Though many of the concepts on the album began as personal observations, they will surely ring familiar in listeners everywhere.

“That's exactly what we tried to do: tackle a generalized subject but make sure we look at it from all angles and not have it just be this sad album about heartbreak,” explained frontman Dean Povinsky, speaking with Interrobang recently as the band drove south toward the border on their way to SXSW. “It's supposed to be inclusive to talking about more uplifting things, to finding something really positive inside a difficult situation and even become a better version of yourself.”

On The Heart has a lot to offer to listeners. The band — rounded out by Derek Bosomworth on bass, Dwayne Christie on drums, and Graham Plant, who shares guitar duties with Povinsky — doesn't think it weird at all to be so simultaneously vulnerable and yet be so giving of oneself musically. According to Povinsky, the band has been exploring contrasts in their sonic and lyrical dynamics from the start.

“On the lyrical side, I think the contrast is inherent,” he began, describing that he discovered his approach to songwriting years ago when he learned that he had to be patient and form his music naturally. “I found that the only way I could do that effectively was if the music was believable; in terms of delivery on stage, I found that if I didn't believe in the lyrics, it made the performance worse. So I feel like this record was especially dedicated to that idea, that if the songs are believable to me, I can make them believable to everybody else.”

“Artists and people in bands often put on some character in order to better express themselves, but I think in this band we express ourselves very honestly, and that's what benefits us,” Povinsky offered. “The more honest that we are with each other as a band, the better we'll be. Granted, one day we'll probably run out of interesting, honest experiences and then have to start making shit up,” he laughed.

Plans moving forward for the band include experimenting with their live show as they incorporate music from On The Heart into their set — stay tuned in the weeks to come as Wildlife announces shows for the beginning of the summer, beginning roughly around the same time that exams finish. Although the band has played some noteworthy gigs of late — like SXSW and their showcase spot at CMW in Toronto last week — they haven't announced a trip back to London just yet.

For more on Wildlife, their new album On The Heart or their coming tour dates, visit them online at wildlifemusic.ca or follow along on Twitter @wildlifeband. For some standout tracks on the album, check out “Born To Ruin,” “Bad Dream,” “Dangerous Times” or “Lightning Tent”... the list goes on.

And for the latest in music news, views and new releases, consider following this column on Twitter @fsu_bobbyisms. Have you started picking out your summer listening yet? I'm out of words.