NEW LP, RELEASE, DUE OUT MAY 17 VIA HAVEN SOUNDS
WATCH AND SHARE “THE OTHER” HERE
PRE-ORDER RELEASE HERE
PERFORMANCES IN TORONTO, THE GREAT ESCAPE & FOCUS WALES
“A bold talent, his grasp of sonics is interlinked with a desire to express something, to challenge both himself and those around him.” - Clash Magazine
"’The Middle’ is an extremely earnest, charming-as-hell reflection on the self at the midpoint of life and death." - Noisey
"This is an anthemic collection of head nodding and foot tapping electro-pop" - PopMatters
"Easily one of the most mesmerizing tracks we've heard so far this year." - CBC Music (2018)
“Aucoin, a characteristically ambitious artist” - Paste Mag
Photo Credit : Scott Munn // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Today, Rich Aucoin is sharing “The Other”, the second single lifted from his anticipated third full-length album Release, slated to drop on May 17 via Haven Sounds.
“The Other” music video isn’t just a presentation of stunning imagery but so very strong with a message. While the artist himself explains the concept below, from an outsider's perspective the music video is a call to unity for mankind because even though we are no longer segregated in the terms most would understand, we are still very much so in our minds and by class. The artist has chosen to make a statement that will resonate with anyone who has ever looked at the world, the way we treat each other, the way we draw lines between ourselves and others and wondered why it is like this and what do we need to do to change it?
When explaining the video, Aucoin said, “‘The Other’ video takes place on an alien planet where a tyrant rules a dystopian society divided into quadrants based on the various colours of the aliens' masks. There is a strict no physical inter-coloured contact rule on this planet such that even the soldiers on this planet only touch others with long metal sticks. The Blue and Red heroes / heroines of the story live in their segregation watching their own versions of the news until they join forces in a rainbow revolution against the tyrant and the ruling class. Inspired by George Lucas' THX, Ridley Scott / Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner, and Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, the video reveals the album cover image of the upcoming release with my printed skull.”
WATCH AND SHARE “THE OTHER” HERE
Produced by Aucoin and drummer Joel Waddell, his music has seen acclaim across the board with previous releases (We’re All Dying To Live and Ephemeral) long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize (2012/2015). “The Other” really showcases Aucoin’s undeniable talent for producing a layered track, rich with warm piano keys, punchy live drums, running hi-hats, cheeky guitar riffs and he even snuck in some brass and strings. All these organic instrumentals brought together by a blanket of electronica that sounds so natural you almost forget you're not dancing to a full live band. Aucoin’s voice acts as your partner on the floor, spinning, twirling and dipping you underneath the nightclub lights and takes the song to a level that will definitely gain its spot on your 2019 playlist.
As part of a list of Rich Aucoin’s accomplishments, the music video for “Brian Wilson is A.L.I.V.E.” won the Prism Prize (2013), which he’s also been shortlisted for this year. Nominated for ten East Coast Music Awards including Album, Song, and Fan Choice Entertainer of the Year, with more than 2 million streams, Aucoin has built a reputation for his energetic live shows performing his music written in sync to old movies in the same manner as Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon with The Wizard of Oz. Using projections to these films, he has brought his interactive performance to stages at Osheaga, The Great Escape, Les Eurockéennes, Les Vielles Charrues, Berlin Music Festival, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Hangout Music Festival, Art Basel Miami, Luminato Art Festival, Iceland Airwaves, SXSW, Pop Montreal and more.
Release sees Aucoin grapple with the concept of mortality by using Alice in Wonderland (1951) as a metaphor for the journey. Again, the album can be played as alternate soundtrack along to the film.
Born, raised and currently based in Halifax, Canada, Rich Aucoin has been fully immersed in music ever since he can remember, learning how to play almost any instrument he could get his hands on while also teaching himself production and home-recording. A philanthropist at heart, Aucoin has raised money for several charities with his music. He has cycled coast to coast twice for both Childhood Cancer Canada and The Canadian Mental Health Association/Mental Health America; cycling to each show. He has also crossed Canada for the Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation running a series of half-marathons.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
May 9-11 - Brighton, UK - The Great Escape
May 17-19 - Wales, UK - Focus Festival
May 22 - Toronto, ON - The Drake (TICKETS)
RELEASE TRACKLIST
1. The Base
2. The Dream
3. The Middle
4. The Other
5. The Change
6. The Self
7. The Past
8. The Fear
9. The Mind
10. The Time
11. Release
RICH AUCOIN ONLINE
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