Artists are truly some of Earth’s most beautiful creatures. Visual and textile artists decorate space, musicians and singers decorate time, and some others, such as filmmakers and actors, can combine to decorate both at once.
It’s equally remarkable when an artist can so seamlessly move between mediums, and indie-pop newcomer Brandon Howard Roy, who boasts a background in drama, does just that in his debut album, Tough Stuff. Overloaded with personality and backed up by a dexterous ensemble of some of the East Coast’s finest musicians, the Charlottetown singer-songwriter has struck artistic gold.
Roy’s presence is positively boundless in his debut collection, as expected of someone so familiar with the theatre. Whether he’s taking confident control of one of the more upbeat tunes like “The Fear” or “Little Reasons,” churning up something a tad more heartfelt like “Before Today,” or somehow blending both styles into an emotionally-charged power-performance on tracks such as “Proud,” “Miracle” or “Here Now,” hardly a second goes by when Roy’s influence can’t be felt. The thought of seeing him perform live, observing his stage presence in the flesh, is a tantalizing one.
“I spent the early part of my career working in musical theatre where the story dictates the melody, so when I write a pop song I tend to work in reverse,” says Roy. “Start with the melody and then figure out what story it’s trying to tell.
“I want this record to be a complete introduction to me as an artist, and I’ve gone down many different paths as a performer to get to where I am today.”
A special nod must be given to his band as well, consisting of bassist Evan McCosham, guitarist Logan Richard, drummer Josh Langille, and keyboardist Ben Aitken. Together, the five of them feed off of each other to create a symbiotic soundscape of mammoth proportions. “The Fear,” “Little Reasons,” and “Miracle” are three tracks in particular whose instrumentals could tango with some of the heaviest hitters in the music scene as a whole; elevating the already-impactful Roy into an artist that truly sets himself apart from the rest.
“Getting to live and create as a part of the incredible music scene that exists in Charlottetown is truly one of the greatest honours I’ve ever had,” says Roy. “Releasing an album here is an absolute dream come true.”
“I’m so excited for what’s next!”
So are we, Brandon; so are we.