Canadian alt-rock artist Nix Ironstone is back with a vengeance, channeling raw emotional grit and unyielding energy into his fierce new single, “Sincerely, Me.” Blending heavy guitar riffs with deeply personal lyricism, the track marks an audacious new chapter for the musician as he confronts vulnerability head-on. In this interview, Ironstone breaks down the creative catharsis behind the song, the evolving landscape of Canadian rock, and what it took to forge his most uncompromising sound yet.
“Sincerely, Me” marks a bold shift in your sound toward a rawer, cinematic alt-rock space. What catalyzed this step into your most authentic artistic identity?
I think the biggest catalyst was finally giving myself permission to stop thinking about where I was supposed to fit. I spent over a decade making country music, and I’m incredibly grateful for that chapter because it shaped me as an artist and a songwriter, but there was always this darker, heavier side of me that kept finding its way into the music. Eventually, I realized I didn’t want to keep pulling it back.
Becoming Nix Ironstone gave me the freedom to really follow those instincts. I’ve always loved darker production, cinematic moments and songs that let you be a little messy emotionally. “Sincerely, Me” feels like a really clear representation of where I’m headed because it has the storytelling I’ve always loved, but there’s more bite, attitude and freedom in the way I’m delivering it. It feels less like stepping into a new identity and more like finally turning the volume up on a part of myself that was already there.
You teamed up with Chris Dimas and Taylor Perkins from Bleeker for production and co-writing. How did their influence help shape the explosive, guitar-driven energy of the track?
Working with Chris and Taylor is always so much fun, and they’ve been such a great fit for where I’m growing musically. They really understand the darker, heavier alternative sound I’m leaning into, and working with them has helped bring out that side of me even more. I feel like I can walk into a session with an idea and they immediately understand the world I want the song to live in, while still bringing their own ideas and perspectives to it.
With “Sincerely, Me,” I came in with the concept and the story I wanted to tell, and together we were able to turn that into something that really feels like me. We found this great balance between the sarcasm and humour in the lyrics and the heavier, punchier energy of the production. The guitars give the song teeth, and we really leaned into the dynamics so that when the chorus hits, it feels like all of that frustration finally gets to explode. I think that contrast is a huge part of what makes the song work. It’s fun and a little tongue-in-cheek, but it still hits hard.
The concept of a “sarcastic sympathy card” is such a brilliant, cutting angle. Can you walk us through the initial conversation that sparked this specific lyrical direction?
This was actually a concept I walked into the writing session with. A few days before we got together, Taylor texted me asking if I had any song ideas I was working on. I had started jotting down some thoughts, so I texted him back, “No melody for this yet, but I started a doc the other day for a song idea. The concept is basically a sarcastic sympathy card to a friend who cut you out because they think you’re the bad guy.”
It came from a very real friendship breakup, and when I brought it into the room, we started playing with phrases you might actually find in a sympathy card and figuring out how we could twist them to tell this story. Chris and Taylor came up with such a strong melody that immediately gave the song this punchy, anthemic energy. I love that we were able to take something that genuinely hurt and turn it into something sarcastic, fun and empowering.
You pointed out that friendship breakups can often hurt more than romantic ones. Why do you think this kind of heartbreak is so rarely explored with this level of unapologetic rock energy?
I think we’ve been conditioned to treat romantic heartbreak as this monumental life event, while friendship breakups are almost expected to happen quietly. There are endless songs about exes, but losing a friend can be every bit as devastating and sometimes even more confusing because there isn’t really a roadmap for grieving it.
Friendships can hold years of memories, trust, secrets and versions of yourself that only that person knew. When that relationship becomes toxic or falls apart, it can shake you in a really profound way. I wanted to give that experience the same dramatic, loud, unapologetic treatment we give romantic heartbreak.
The song balances genuine frustration with a fun, empowering vibe. How did you navigate the line between pure catharsis and that perfect hint of pettiness in the studio?
I think the pettiness is what keeps the song fun! There’s real hurt underneath “Sincerely, Me,” but I never wanted the song to feel like I was still trapped in that hurt. I wanted it to feel like the moment after you’ve processed enough of it that you can finally laugh, roll your eyes and say, “Actually, losing me was your loss.”
That became a good compass for us in the studio. Whenever something felt too angry or heavy, we could bring some sarcasm back into it, and whenever it started feeling too playful, the guitars and vocal delivery could remind you that there was something real underneath it. Sometimes healing is being mature and reflective…and sometimes it’s writing a sarcastic sympathy card in song form. It’s catharsis with a smirk.
A major theme of the single is the realization that setting boundaries isn’t cruel, but necessary. What was the turning point that allowed you to choose yourself over the need for closure?
I think the turning point was realizing that closure doesn’t always come from the other person. You can spend so much time hoping someone will finally understand your perspective, acknowledge what happened or give you the apology you think will make everything make sense. At some point, I realized I didn’t need that in order to move forward.
There’s a lyric in the song, “May your tomorrows be without me,” that really captures that feeling for me. It isn’t about revenge. It’s accepting that someone can have their version of the story and you can still choose to remove yourself from it. Sometimes the healthiest boundary is simply deciding that you don’t need to keep explaining why you deserve to be treated better.
This chorus is explicitly built to be shouted back from the stage. How has the crowd energy been feeding back into the song during your summer live shows?
That has honestly been one of my favourite parts of introducing this song. There’s something really satisfying about singing a song this personal and then watching other people immediately connect their own experiences to it. The chorus was intentionally built to feel big and communal, so hearing that energy coming back from a crowd makes the song feel bigger than the experience that originally inspired it. That’s one of the things I love most about music in general. You can take something painful and turn it into this huge shared release.
You’re bringing this track to Active Rock radio in early September. As an artist stepping fully into her rock era, what does it mean to you to take up space in that specific format?
It means a lot because this era is about trusting myself enough to go all-in. There’s always vulnerability in reinventing yourself, especially after spending so many years building a career in another genre. For the first time, I’m not trying to figure out where my music fits. I know who I am as an artist, and this feels like exactly where I’m supposed to be.
I’m also very aware of what it means to be a woman entering a format where women are still underrepresented. I’ve spent a huge part of my career advocating for women in music, so I want to take up that space confidently, not just for myself, but as another voice showing just how much room there is for women to be loud and unapologetic in rock.
Through initiatives like HarmoniaFest and the Harmonia Songwriter Series, you are a passionate advocate for women in music. How does championing other artists impact your own creative process?
It reminds me constantly that there isn’t only one way to be an artist. Being surrounded by so many talented artists, all with completely different sounds, stories and approaches to their careers, is incredibly inspiring. It makes you want to be braver in your own work.
Creating HarmoniaFest and the Harmonia Songwriter Series has also taught me how important community is in an industry that can sometimes make women feel like they’re constantly competing with one another. I’d much rather build a bigger table. Seeing another artist take a risk, try something different or completely own who they are makes me want to do the same. I think championing other artists and becoming more fearless in my own artistry have actually grown alongside each other.
With “Sincerely, Me” dropping on August 21 via Patriam Records, what can fans expect next as you continue to build on this unapologetically powerful new era?
“Sincerely, Me” feels like another piece of the world I’m building as Nix, and I’m really excited to keep revealing more of it. I’m currently back in the studio with Chris and Taylor working on new music, with everything building toward my first album as Nix Ironstone, coming in 2027.
More than anything, I’m having fun making music without putting walls around what I’m allowed to do. I want this era to feel bold, cinematic, feminine, vulnerable and a little dangerous when it needs to be. I can’t wait to share more of it with all of you!
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