I’m pleased to share the new single, “Meet Me in Montreal,” which is among the most personal songs I’ve ever written. I wrote it in memory of close friend lost twenty years ago—a tragedy that happened far too young, and one that, sadly, many families know all too well. This song is a way to honour his memory.

The lyric grew out of a real trip we took together in our early twenties. He was driving across the country at the time, and we arranged to meet in Montreal. From there, we travelled to Quebec City and, thanks to a bit of luck, got our hands on tickets to see a Nordiques–Canadiens rivalry hockey game.

Later on, we boarded the Amtrak to New York City, wandered Manhattan aimlessly, eventually making our way to the top of the World Trade Center. I still have a photo of the two of us from that day—a picture of two young adults on top of the world.

In some ways, this song is about a destination, a journey, and how certain places carry the emotional weight of the people we shared them with. The imagery moves through a Canadian landscape: Sault Ste. Marie, Georgian Bay, ending at Île Ste-Hélène. The refrain “Je me souviens” serves as a nod to the Quebec license plate motto we see on the highway, but also quietly reinforces the act of remembering that motivates the song.

There’s a even reference to Expo 67. I’ve always been drawn to that moment in Montreal’s history—the optimism, the architecture, the cultural energy—even though the fair took place the year both of us were born. Île Ste-Hélène was the location of the Expo, and it serves as the setting for a poignant moment in the song, where pent up anticipation confronts pending disappointment.

The original version was a finalist in the 2015 Untapped Newcomer category of the Ship & Anchor Songwriting Contest in Calgary. I can still remember driving down from Edmonton to perform it in a packed pub. My friend’s parents were in the audience. They know who the song is about, and I’m eternally grateful we were able to share that moment together.

This Sunophonic Sessions version takes the song in a different direction from the early demo. There’s a fragility to it that didn’t come through in the earlier recording. Suno picked up on the “Je me souviens” refrain that was tucked into the original lyric and foregrounded it. That change seems to unlock something. It gives the song more urgency and a clearer sense of purpose.

I’m excited to finally release “Meet Me in Montreal” more than ten years after it was written. I’m grateful it’s finally ready to make its way into the wider world.