Hamilton, ON-based alt-country singer-songwriter Gillian Nicola is gearing up to release her sophomore EP No Place to Call, but before the entire thing arrives, Exclaim! is giving you the exclusive first listen to a brand new single called "Oh Marie."
The album was recorded with producer Dan Hosh at Hamilton's Catherine North Studios, then mastered by Elliott Brood's Stephen Pitkin. Across the five new offerings, Nicola delivers warm, familiar, folksy Canadiana — but her powerhouse vocals make for a listening experience that's entirely refreshing.
Her surprising twist on classic roots songwriting can be heard right now on "Oh Marie." Twangy, melodic guitars back the singer's voice, delivering an expertly balanced combination of emotionally-charged musical components that convey both grit and vulnerability. The song tells the story of a female character who seems on the surface to "have it all," but still feels an overwhelming emptiness. Marie breaks with the life she knows, starting over entirely, and as Nicola tells Exclaim!, the song "is just as much about questioning how she could go through with her actions as it is about envying them."
No Place to Call arrives in full on April 15, but you can listen to the premiere of "Oh Marie" right now in the player below.
The album was recorded with producer Dan Hosh at Hamilton's Catherine North Studios, then mastered by Elliott Brood's Stephen Pitkin. Across the five new offerings, Nicola delivers warm, familiar, folksy Canadiana — but her powerhouse vocals make for a listening experience that's entirely refreshing.
Her surprising twist on classic roots songwriting can be heard right now on "Oh Marie." Twangy, melodic guitars back the singer's voice, delivering an expertly balanced combination of emotionally-charged musical components that convey both grit and vulnerability. The song tells the story of a female character who seems on the surface to "have it all," but still feels an overwhelming emptiness. Marie breaks with the life she knows, starting over entirely, and as Nicola tells Exclaim!, the song "is just as much about questioning how she could go through with her actions as it is about envying them."
No Place to Call arrives in full on April 15, but you can listen to the premiere of "Oh Marie" right now in the player below.
