That Eric Alper

It’s a witchy world of rumours, stories, gossip, and telephone games. And for Toronto-based indie sensation Astrid Tanton, it’s about clearing everything at once on this, her new single and video, “Jury” — available now.

Fresh from her breakthrough debut EP, From My Eyes, “Jury” comes from a place of learning and hurt, the Toronto-based artist explains. Her message is ageless — there is their version, your version, and… Somewhere in the middle is the truth.

And Tanton isn’t afraid to expose it.

“There’s a reason people always say there’s two sides to a story,” she says. “People will twist and tell a story to benefit themselves.

“‘Jury’ explores that relationship of being placed as the ‘villain’ or the ‘bad guy’ in a story.

“The concept behind the ‘Jury’ video follows myself and ‘the jury,’” Tanton continues, offering a behind-the-scenes take of her visual counterpart of the track. “The jury represents not only people who are being told a one-sided story, but the intrusive thoughts that can follow you when you are constantly being painted as the bad guy.

“We all have a story to tell, and have been in the situation of being painted as something we are not — especially when we know the truth.

“That is the story ‘Jury’ is telling.”

Indeed, Tanton’s exploration into self-worth and reclaiming her agency has become the yarn she’s spun on From My Eyes; her authentic storytelling and dynamic vox seamlessly weaves together the tracks of the five-song-strong album.

A pop anthem complete with rushing percussion, chasing handclaps, and low-fi vox, Tanton isn’t afraid to take chances on “Jury” — interchanging pace, vox enhancers, near-spoken languid, beautiful crescendos and pleading. Tanton goes full throttle on the track, refusing to take prisoners. She incorporates electric horns, resonating bass; coming up for air, and descending into haunting melancholic tones.

Going ‘full throttle’ could be seen as an overarching theme; the teenager is as fearless as they come, having moved out of the village of Verona (South Frontenac) for a venture in the big city at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts in Toronto, and eventually, Ryerson University. Her tenacity to see through difficulties, and put a spin of optimism in a world of chaos, concretes Tanton’s contribution to the music community around her; she’s not afraid to be honest.

As was the case for musicians around the globe, the 2020 pandemic caused a standstill to live gigging, concerts and shows. And caught in the mix of the mayhem was Tanton, who’d planned to drop From My Eyes in the fall of last year — complete with a touring schedule to promote the release.

Now forced to move into an all-virtual world of virtual meetings and encounters, Tanton utilized the newfound space in her time to work mercilessly on songwriting. She’s catching her niche and going for it, no holds barred.

Allowing herself to escape into her rawest emotions and bleeding out the truth through the melodies, Tanton has found her voice on each cut; exposing herself as someone with something to say, to relate to, to understand.

“The more than 18 months during the COVID pandemic made life so difficult for so many, and now it’s time for us all to get back on track, roll up our sleeves and share what we love,” Tanton says. “The coming months are a time for us all to come together again, one step at a time.”

And she’s seeing the mantra through. Over the course of the summer 2021, Tanton will release the final three songs off her debut album, and move towards touring Canada in 2022.

With From My Eyes set to deliver on its promise to provide listeners a collection of tracks that would turn them into fans, Astrid Tanton is now focusing her attention to taking life on the road now that life has been capable of resuming.

From My Eyes, to the open road — Astrid Tanton is just getting started. And we’re all here to take oath and witness her foray into greatness.

From My Eyes and “Jury” are available now.