The Neighbourhood Mixtape is a collection of newly-released songs by Toronto musicians. The mixtape is meant to celebrate Toronto's music culture and provide a forum to listen to and discover new local music.

Every Sunday, I post a five-track mixtape (along with my own mini-reflections for each track) that you can download or stream as a soundtrack for the week.

Track #1: Austra, "Alone Together"

Last week's mixtape featured Owen Pallett's cover of The Strokes' "Hard To Explain". This week, Austra gives us her rendition of the NYC band's track "Alone Together", twisting it with sombre drones and a shroud of bright synth glitter.

Track #2: Shad, "Flawless"

Local hip-hop radio show The Real Frequency released a compilation album last week called The New North. The record features Juno Award-winner Shad, swaggering and manoeuvring rhymes through turbulent beats.

Track #3: The Weather Station, "Everything I Saw"

Bruce Peninsula member Tamara Lindeman returns with a second LP under the moniker The Weather Station. "Everything I Saw" marries together Lindeman's effortless and softening vocals with mild precipitous acoustics.

Track #4: Joshua Van Tassel, "Already Gone"

Joshua Van Tassel's "Already Gone" swims in faint and muted detail, pursued by an airy ambience and steady beat. And just as she sings, Kate Rogers leaves her "imprints wherever she goes" as graceful as Jaron Fox's violin.

Track #5: Parks & Rec, "All These Lives Collide"

Parks & Rec have a new EP Seeds Grown Here due out in September, and we're lucky to be able to give you a preview of the first single, "All These Lives Collide". The track takes flight and hits the mark - an impressionistic and energetic track that mirrors the undercurrents of the dog days of summer.

If you wish to be a part of The Neighbourhood Mixtape, you can contact Aldrin at aldrin [at] blogto [dotcom]