LISTEN: Hockitay’s “buttons” Is Slow-Burning Indie Rock Tackling Complex Emotions

Guatemalan-born, Montreal-based artist Hockitay returns today with his most conceptually ambitious work to date: “buttons.” Following the breakout success of his single “over/over”—which earned critical acclaim from Stereogum and The Line of Best Fit alongside 11 Spotify editorial placements—this new release marks a significant evolution in his “unsettled” pop sound. 

Classically trained at Concordia University, Hockitay uses his signature hazy production to create a soundscape that feels both futuristic and deeply anxious. He continues to bridge the gap between the organic and the synthetic, cementing his status as a vital voice for the current cultural moment. “buttons” is the second glimpse into his upcoming 2026 EP. 

Hockitay is quickly becoming a name one can’t ignore, bursting onto the indie scene with an individuality that seemed to exist before the artist began recording. “buttons,” the latest single from the young, exciting voice, plays like the end of a long day. Exhausted, emotional vocals carry the weight of the ever-shifting human experience, expertly navigating the juxtaposition of a blissful arrangement. Hockitay’s voice steals the show here, even when it slides into the same atmospheric space as the instrumentation, resulting in a cacophony akin to the rushing thoughts of an over-thinker. “buttons,” though, is the antidote to those cascading worries, a kindred spirit also burdened by the heaviness of the day-to-day. Hockitay’s latest single is a companion meant to be taken with you, a waving flag indicating that you’ve had enough, while doubling as yet another enthralling release for an artist who seems to be on the brink of a breakthrough year.