Montréal-based disco, funk and new wave purveyor, Kristian North (formerly of garage-punk group Babysitter), is a songwriter whose poetic wordplay and deep crooner voice lay the foundation for candid songs that have approached the hi-fi soft rock of Warren Zevon, the arty disco of Roxy Music, and the smart new wave of Sparks or Elvis Costello. As the music struts down analogue lane, quaint confessions, cloaked desires and mythical references, make up complex, yet heartfelt lyrics, just cryptic enough to engage insert and booklet enthusiasts.
After arduous years of touring as he fronted Babysitter, Kristian North entered a period of reinvention to perfect his craft. This resulted in The Last Rock N Roll Record, his debut album. Half compilation, half reboot, and drawing inspiration from 80’s excess, detective novels and Z.A.Z comedies, the album is a lyrical ode to the so-called death of rock n roll and was recorded by Renny Wilson of Faith Healer and Peter Woodford of Freelove Fenner.
Following up on The Last Rock N Roll Record, North is back with a sophomore full-length, Passion Play, to be released on April 30, 2021 via Mothland.
In tandem with the album announcement, North has shared its butter-smooth first single, “Fantasy”. With nods to George Michael who he listened to religiously for years, “Fantasy” positions North’s deep, lilting vocals alongside crystalline pop sensibilities and propulsive, disco-driven beats. Watch the video for “Fantasy” HERE and stream it HERE.
“Watching the film, Donkey Skin, while I hummed this song’s chorus was when it all clicked,” North explains. “There’s something to be said about reality there, but mostly it’s just candy, melodrama, and fairy tales. I consider “Fantasy” to be part of a trio of vaguely cynical love songs on this record. On this album, I wanted to write a short set of pop songs. I intended for the songs to stand alone, and put more effort into their unique complexity, lyrically and sonically. I think of Passion Play as a collection of short stories, as opposed to a novel. This is my most analogue record and was written mostly on piano as a way to challenge the patterns and habits I’ve developed with the guitar. I hope you enjoy the experimentation and subtlety of these tracks.”
About the video, director Phil Osbourne shared: “Kristian brought up the idea of capturing the times we are in. With the curfew in mind, we cooked up a little dystopian sci-fi style intro, a bit of dark humour which quickly transitions to a one man disco party.”
Following the release of The Last Rock N Roll Record, North toured the U.S., Canada and Europe, all the while sharing the stage with the likes of Wolf Parade, The Sadies and Daniel Romano, and taking part in festivals such as POP Montreal, NXNE and Sled Island.
