Award-winning Canadian alt-pop artist NYRE returns to our pages with her debut EP, Avoidant
By Graeme Smith
NYRE has been gracing these pages for awhile now. We discovered her in the summer of 2023 through her sparkling and edgy track, Glitter With A Vengeance and proceeded to follow that up with shares of her singles You Didn’t Mean It and It Should Be You. The latter was a hit, gaining NYRE the title of Single of the Year from Toronto Honours ’24 and landing on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Canada playlist.
The single releases have culminated in her debut EP release, Avoidant, which sees the two tracks sit along side two others. Together the four tracks tell a story of disillusionment and lost love.
It’s the aforementioned It Should Be You that gets things going, and we are immediately immersed into NYRE’s world of heartbreak. With lyrics chock full of modern pop culture references, it’s easy to see why the track has been picked up so widely. A catchy melody, particularly in the chorus, seals the deal.
The EP’s stand out moment is Joke’s On Me. Opening delicately with piano, NYRE ruminates on how love can go from trust to devastation. With a cinematic feel, it tugs on your heartstrings as the track’s story gradually unfolds, culminating in ghostly and powerful crescendo.
The dark and sultry You Didn’t Mean It and Main Character round off the EP. The latter gives us perhaps the EP’s darkest moment. Brooding electronica provides the atmosphere while the lyrics show defiance.
As a pop artist, NYRE is second to none. With astute lyricism, catchy tunes and a finger on the pulse, I think she’s set to take the world by storm. This debut EP is just the start of things for her.
If you happen to be in Toronto on 23 January, you can catch NYRE perform live at Rivoli.
Avoidant is out now and you can give it a listen below.