Blending contemporary and traditional R&B sounds, breakout Canadian artist Justine Tyrell has just released her debut EP, “While You Were Sleeping”, on Friday, April 23rd. A well-known vocalist within Calgary’s local music scene, Tyrell serves as the official anthem singer of the Calgary Stampeders, and was deemed a “game changer in her city of Calgary, Alberta” by Branded Magazine. Her recently released music has landed her coveted spots across all formats of Canadian music media, including appearances across the country on CTV Morning and Noon-hour shows, a feature in CBC’s weekly “Songs You Need to Hear” series as well as airplay across CBC channels, features on Virgin Radio, The Strombo Show, multiple editorial playlists and many more.
Please take a moment and give us some background info about becoming an artist?
I started writing music and singing when I was 7 years old and I kind of always knew it was what I wanted to do. When I started, I didn’t have a band or much insight on where to start – but I went from venue to venue, literally knocking on doors to get the chance to sing for people. Eventually, I started getting on more stages, writing for myself, other artists, campaigns, and film – until it became what I would wake up and go to sleep to.
Tell us a bit about your musical direction.
I like to create moody music that reinforces a notion of being self-reliant and unapologetic. When it comes to my sound, I feel inspired by a lot of 90s and early 2000s R&B that I grew up listening to and loving, yet I draw lots of inspiration from contemporary, edgier R&B sounds. When we get in the studio the goal is always to just create something that we love first, and not worry too much about trying to fit our sound into a particular box – which makes the creative process extremely freeing.
Tell us about the recording process behind of your debut EP “While You Were Sleeping”
A lot of these songs were written and recorded at night which suits my very nocturnal personality. We started some of these ideas remotely, during lockdown – via voice notes on our phones and sending texts, and emails back and forth – which forced us to become more dynamic with our process. The rest was really organic in the room with myself and my producers – where we would write, produce, and capture ideas live off the floor.
Are any Shows/Streams upcoming to showcase your talent?
Yes! We are working on an Instagram Live performance, for the end of the month! The date will be announced in the coming weeks.
What is the biggest struggle for you as a musician at the moment?
I would say being a perfectionist and struggling to not obsess over everything I work on. That’s definitely challenging when it’s time to part with something and put it into the world. Secondly, not having the live, in-room connection of live performances. It’s something that I definitely miss.
How have you been keeping creative during the pandemic?
Definitely through writing, recording, and creating visuals for this EP project, I’ve been able to stay very creatively busy and keep the juices flowing. There are days where I’ve hit a rut or felt uninspired, but for the most part – I’ve been pretty immersed in bringing this project to life.
What’s in store for the rest of 2021?
We plan to release another visual for this project in the summer, a curated online EP performance, and back in the studio for more writing and creating. In short – more music!
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with in particular?
Drake would be a dream. ToBi is another amazing artist that I’d love to collaborate with.
When you kick back, who are some of the artists you listen to?
Definitely ToBi, Drake, Masego, Snoh Alegra, and Aaliyah are some of my go-to’s.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Most of the music I create is moody and unapologetic and combines throwback elements with a contemporary R&B edge. It’s very much for the listener who’s been through hard emotions in love, learning how to lean on yourself and define your own self-worth – while also providing a bit of an escape.
Who helped out making this album?
This album was a collaboration between myself and my amazing producers Matthew Zoeteman and Timothonius, as well as the amazing artist, writer, and vocal producer, Jocelyn Alice. These three brought this project to new heights and are like members of my family.
What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?
So many things. It’s the way I feel when I’m singing – as if there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be in that moment. It’s the way you can bring any story to life, and let your imagination dream up anything you want to express. For me, it’s always been such a great outlet emotionally and creatively. It also the fact that it’s universal. It has the potential to reach anyone in the world and can represent something different and special to each person.
Describe your favourite and least favourite part about being a musician.
My favorite part is just waking up every day, knowing that I get to do what I love, and shape what that looks like. Being able to bring music to people, and hearing what the songs mean to them is a special feeling that I can’t capture elsewhere. Least favorite part, is probably that things can feel inconsistent and non-linear. So, you have to be prepared for really high highs, and really low lows. I struggled with that for a while – especially when I felt like it was only me going through that. I find when artists talk about the hard parts of the journey, it humanizes it all – and reminds us that it’s totally normal to feel a bit lost some days. We all do.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
I love drawing and sketching. When I was younger, I used to sketch clothing lines that I’d dream up in my mind. I’d love to eventually merge that into the world of music. I know movies aren’t really a hobby, but a good drama or superhero movie is my favorite way to unwind. I’m also wildly interested in paleontology and ancient Egyptian culture. (Strange combo, I know)
