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Vancouver artist Ché Aimee Dorval returns with her evocative new single, “Carnal Needs,” available now on all digital streaming platforms via Fools Game Records. Blurring the lines between late-night electronica, dream pop, and alt-rock, Dorval continues to carve out a cinematic and transportive sound world where synth pulses and airy melodies meet contemplative, old-soul lyricism.
Following the release of 2025’s “Joyride,” “Carnal Needs” dives deeper into the tension between living in your head and listening to your body, and ultimately choosing instinct and desire over restraint. Drawing from the moody vulnerability of BANKS, the expansive emotional weight of London Grammar, and the subtle rhythmic pulse of Maribou State, Dorval’s sound favours atmosphere and emotional depth over spectacle.
“‘Carnal Needs’ comes from the moments when I feel awake and present in my body instead of stuck in my head,” says Dorval. “It’s about letting yourself want what you want, and trusting what feels right in the moment. I’ve never been someone who lets other people’s expectations shape how I live. For me, following instinct, intuition, and desire is a big part of experiencing life in all its chaos, mess, and beauty. I don’t feel that kind of freedom all the time. I spend a lot of time in my own head, but when I do feel that spark and that pull, I try to honour it because I know how fleeting it can be.”
The track marks the second release, alongside “Joyride,” where Dorval wrote, produced, and performed every element herself. The song was mixed by Japanese producer, mixer, and engineer Shuta Shinoda (Daughter, Hot Chip), adding a subtle, immersive polish to its textured, emotionally charged core.
To celebrate the release, Dorval will premiere an intimate live performance video for “Carnal Needs” on YouTube on February 20 at 2:00pm PST. Directed by Laura Harvey and shot by Lindsay Blane at Big Baby Studios in Vancouver, the performance captures the song’s raw vulnerability and embodied energy in a stripped-back studio setting.
Ché Aimee Dorval has built a career defined by evolution and fearless exploration. From Toronto and Vancouver’s indie scenes to international touring as both a solo artist and as half of Casualties of Cool, she has cultivated a voice that is entirely her own. She has performed at festivals including NXNE, BreakOut West, and Rifflandia, shared bills with Run The Jewels, Bif Naked, and Anneke van Giersbergen, and collaborated with artists ranging from Canadian icon Gord Downie to EDM duo Young Bombs.
Her 2023 album, The Crowned, co-produced with Bob Rock, earned praise from Clash Magazine for its genre-blending sound, while Knotfest called standout track “Falling Under” a “timeless earworm.” With “Carnal Needs,” Dorval continues to develop a body of work rooted in mood, texture, and embodied emotion, with additional music scheduled to arrive later this year.
“Carnal Needs” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit cheaimeedorval.com.
CHÈ AIMEE DORVAL | UPCOMING TOUR DATES
March 14 - Vancouver, BC - Wise Hall (The Breakfast Club Charity Show)
May 30 - Kelowna, BC - Rotary Centre for the Arts