Breakout Canadian Contemporary R&B Artist, Justine Tyrell, Tackles Loneliness and Isolation in Collaboration with Toronto Sensation K. Forest on “Ghost Town”
Rising Canadian R&B artist, Justine Tyrell, is widely recognized as one of Canada’s artists to watch. Her debut EP released in 2021, “While You Were Sleeping”, took the Canadian R&B scene by storm, landing features in Exclaim!, on Strombo, CBC Music and Radio, Virgin Radio, and SiriusXM, propelling the project to reach half a million streams across platforms. Tyrell’s sultry vocals and classic R&B melodies are sonically reminiscent of 2000’s era icons Aaliyah and Mya, infused with a contemporary twist inspired by artists like Summer Walker. The in-demand, Calgary based performer opened for Grammy Award winning artist, Ashanti, just last year, and is the Canadian Football League’s Official Canadian National Anthem Singer for the Calgary Stampeders. She has also performed during the National Hockey League’s “Hockey Night In Canada” broadcast – the longest running show in the country, and at JUNOFest.
Honouring her Jamaican-Blackfoot roots, Tyrell performed at the National Music Centre’s Black Music Showcase and later participated in the SOCAN Foundation and Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Indigenous Song Camp, presented by Amazon Music. As she gears up to release her sophomore EP this Fall, Tyrell unveils “Ghost Town”, a collaboration with Canadian R&B sensation K. Forest and a return to her sonic and lyrical roots. A song about the instinct to turn inward during tough times rather than expressing true feelings to family and friends, Tyrell and K. Forest unite to pull back the veil on the universality of loneliness from multiple perspectives. “Ghost Town” is set for release on Friday, July 19 2024.
Produced by Tyler Che, Nate Annor, Lloyd Boateng, and Yakir, “Ghost Town” was mixed, mastered, and vocally co-produced by Tyrell’s longtime collaborator, Matthew Zoeteman. “Ghost Town” was written by Justine Tyrell, K. Forest, LTN, SBWHy, and Majo, whose vocals are featured on the outro of the song.
About “Ghost Town”:
An emotional journey through feelings of isolation from self-imposed solitude, “Ghost Town” expresses Tyrell’s natural instinct to disconnect with her social circle in difficult times. On a haunting sonic tapestry the artist conveys the juxtaposed feelings of disdain for pulling away and longing for support, while finding solace in the repetitive, familiar feelings of her detachment. Adding an additional dimension to the track, Canadian R&B artist K. Forest delivers a verse about the feelings of isolation within a relationship, seamlessly intertwining the concept that loneliness can also exist when not alone. The first notes of “Ghost Town” evoke the solitary imagery of a deserted town, introduced by the creatively moody, soulful twang of the guitar and Tyrell’s skillfully delivered vocal tone.
The contemporary R&B song marks the first time the artist experimented with her vocals, slowing down and shifting the pitch of Tyrell’s voice at different points of the song to create male-sounding vocal stacks and ad-libs. A musical diary entry, “Ghost Town” envelops listeners with the soothing, velvet texture of Tyrell’s vocals and the relatable and synergetic messaging from the artist and featured collaborator, as it encourages listeners to embrace their shadow self and find solace in the shared experience of feeling alone.
Quote: “When we’re alone, we talk ourselves into thinking we’re the only ones who feel that way. ‘Ghost Town’ is about realizing that we’re all alone together.” – Justine Tyrell
Shows:
July 10 – July 14: Calgary Stampede – 6:30pm – Big Four Roadhouse, Pop-up Venue ‘Bar Nineteen Twelve’
Connect with Justine Tyrell:
Website / Instagram / Facebook / X / TikTok / YouTube/Spotify
