Erupting onto the scene in emphatic fashion, Canadian Singer Songwriter Strange Fellow finally announces the highly anticipated ‘Reaper‘ – a lockdown born track written in 2020 and exploring the anxiety of self-direction and trying to discover that reassurance in future pathways. Wrote ‘quickly’ in a writing process which span the length of an entire night of singing and playing guitar by himself, ‘Reaper,’ provides us with a direct scope into Strange Fellow’s mind, who was just 19 at the time. The song boasts a rich soundscape reminiscent of US heartland rock with modern alternative indie elements underpinned throughout. ‘Reaper,’ boasts a remarkable recording process with Strange Fellow and his good friend Marcus, attaining a musical grant which allowed the pair to record the track at the prestigious Subsocials Studios. “My friend Zakk Davis helped with the electric guitar parts, and Wesley Anderson did the drums. Paul Dumas was on the bass, while I sang and played the acoustic guitar.” The accompanying music video for the track, which you can see here, is ‘up for interpretation’ as Strange Fellow describes it as very subjective; to him, ‘it shows someone wading through hardships that are thrown at them, while a vacant “good” feeling is being chased.’ With Strange Fellow’s velvet smooth voice backed by a sonically pleasing instrumental, ‘Reaper,’ gives us the ideal soundtrack to see out the year.
Strange Fellow is a musical project hailing from a Canadian small town and, behind the enigmatic name is a young artist whose journey into music began with guitar lessons in his early years. At the age of 15, Justin Smith pursued a fascination with creating unconventional, psychedelic guitar parts on Garageband, early material that would end up on platforms like SoundCloud, initially just for the joy of it. An exploration of songwriting followed, and in 2020, a crucial connection with fellow songwriter Paul Dumas marked a turning point. The collaboration with Paul caught the attention of Marcus James, a rising producer from Vancouver. Their meeting resulted in a remarkable studio experience, with Marcus guiding them to Subsocial Studios. There, the duo, now known as Strange Fellow, meticulously crafted a collection of songs, including their debut album “Reaper,” finalized in 2023. The title “Strange Fellow”, originating from the term “Strange Fellows”, was coined during the early days of collaboration with Paul. While Paul pursued his own musical path, the name stuck with the artist, evolving into Strange Fellow, encapsulating a sense of ‘divergence from the norm’— a theme reflected in much of the music. Drawing inspiration from folk, psychedelia, rock, and poetry, Strange Fellow’s compositions explore a broad spectrum of emotions, often characterized by disorienting lyrics that reflect the confusion interwoven in life’s journey. Despite having no official releases thus far, the recording of “Reaper”, made possible through the support of Marcus James and a grant, marks the debut release for this creative force. Live performances have been part of the journey, with a desire to expand this aspect of the artistic endeavor in the near future. As Strange Fellow steps into the spotlight with “Reaper,” the debut single promises to be an enticing exploration of the human experience through a unique musical lens – keep up to date with all of his releases below.
Influences
Neil Young, Tom Petty, King Krule, Whiskeytown, Dave Matthews
Socials
Instagram
