Photo Credit : Maritza Campos // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Today, River Tiber (Tommy Paxton-Beesley) and Justin Nozuka have partnered together to share two new tracks, “Tell Her” and “Stranger”, however the duo’s partnership is nothing new. “I’ve known Tommy since I was a teenager, I remember the first time we hung out we spent hours geeking over Jeff Buckley,” says Nozuka. “He taught me how to use Logic and was my main support when I was learning how to produce. I've always admired his artistry and sensibility, it's way past due for us to have music out together and just beyond proud of these songs.”
“Justin is one of my biggest influences vocally,” adds River Tiber. “One of my first experiences in music was playing guitar in his live band. Touring together and hearing him sing every night made a deep impression on me. In the years since, I think we have developed an unspoken understanding that makes creating and collaborating feel light.”
The new single, “Tell Her”, was actually produced “years ago” according to River Tiber. “I recorded the sounds of late summer in Toronto and incorporated them into the production; cicadas singing, a rainstorm, jets overhead from the air show. It reminds me of a simpler time in the city. It was a difficult record to finish and it sat in the vault for a while, but we decided we wanted to finally share it with the world.”
WATCH / SHARE “TELL HER” VISUALIZER HERE
BUY / STREAM “TELL HER” HERE
The single’s B-Side, “Stranger” is a new track that “felt pretty effortless to create,” says River Tiber. “To me, it’s about how people disperse and can drift away as time goes on. Being together gets more complicated.”
BUY / STREAM “STRANGER” HERE
“Tell Her” Single Art // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
MORE ABOUT JUSTIN NOZUKA
Born in NYC and raised in Toronto amongst a family of artists, Justin Nozuka is carving out his own path in alternative music.
His journey towards global recognition began with the release of acclaimed albums like the gold-certified "Holly" and "You I Wind Land and Sea," which soared to the #1 spot on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart. Garnering JUNO Award nominations for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Best Alternative Album, his ascent was swift, marked by extensive world tours, prestigious festival appearances, and performances on iconic TV shows such as The Late Show with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
After taking a moment to recalibrate, Justin ultimately adopted a more organic approach to his craft, allowing his songwriting, sensitivity, and emotional depth to transcend conventional genres. This evolution sparked collaborations with artists like Mahalia, River Tiber, Zacari, and Russ, adding layers of R&B influence to his distinct acoustic sound.
With his sixth studio album on the horizon, Justin stands confidently at the helm of his creative process, embracing his independence and diverse, alternative sound. With a clear vision and clarity of purpose, he continues to craft soul-stirring melodies that resonate deeply with audiences around the globe.
MORE ABOUT RIVER TIBER
River Tiber is a Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who was born and grew up in downtown Toronto. He emerged from the city’s music scene with 2016’s Indigo, an imaginatively experimental alternative R&B album. That debut was highly influential and heavily sampled, with River’s textured atmospherics and singular vocal layers being flipped into songs by artists such as Drake (‘No Tellin’), SZA (‘Broken Clocks’), Mac Miller (‘ROS’), and many more. His latest album Dreaming Eyes has already proved to be no different, with Kendrick Lamar sampling lead single ‘Hypnotized’ on his Grammy-winning opus Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (‘Savior’).
Dreaming Eyes marks River’s first album in 6 years. He has been a prolific producer and collaborator, embedded in a circle of Canadian musicians including Daniel Caesar, Kaytranada, BADBADNOTGOOD, Charlotte Day Wilson, Frank Dukes, Jazz Cartier, Justin Nozuka, and Sean Leon. His unique voice and instrumentation have been tapped in productions for a spectrum of artists including Travis Scott, James Blake, Giveon, Post Malone, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Freddie Gibbs, Camila Cabello, Kodak Black, Jhene Aiko, Ty Dolla $ign, Usher, and more. But this collection of songs was the result of the solitude and isolation of the pandemic. The album was written and produced almost entirely solo. Every instrument was recorded by River himself (except for a couple of searing guitar parts from long-time collaborator John Mavro). The lyrics are prismatic and timeless, examining and shedding light on contemporary life from many angles. Psychedelic rock, cosmic jazz orchestration, and bittersweet soul weave a journey that bends and constantly surprises.
