Prepare to be captivated by the infectious sounds of “Liar,” the latest electro-pop hit from NEON NORTH, featuring the exceptionally gifted Cate Clynch. This electrifying song is not only a mesmerizing auditory experience but also a powerful anthem for those who’ve had enough of deceit and are ready to embrace their inner strength.
Drawing inspiration from renowned artists like Lorde, Billie Eilish, Salem Ilese, and Tessa Violet, “Liar” combines these influences into a harmonious Canadian music project that is sure to leave listeners hooked from the first note.
World-Class Collaboration: NEON NORTH‘s production expertise and Cate‘s extraordinary vocal prowess blend seamlessly, resulting in a song that’s nothing short of exceptional.
Mesmerizing Electro-pop: “Liar” combines elements of electropop with a dash of indie flair, creating a sound that’s simultaneously innovative and timeless.
Canadian Music Innovation: This Canadian collaboration showcases the remarkable talent that continues to emerge from the Great White North’s music scene.
Empowering Lyrics: This anthem for authenticity and self-discovery serves as a rallying cry for anyone who has ever faced deception. Cate‘s emotive delivery will resonate deeply with listeners.
Check out the release interview here:
Tell me about your first show.
Have you ever wanted the earth to swallow you whole? My first live show was as the lead singer of a band called SQUID1. We were playing at a wakeboarding tournament, so to start things off, the crowd wasn’t really there for music but nonetheless a small crowd had gathered. We thought it would be funny to start off the show by shouting, “who likes oompah music?” and we played mother effn’ oompah music for a full minute. The entire crowd left. It was awful. By the third song we got a sizable crowd back but man, just start off the set with your best song. Full stop.
How did you meet Cate?
I met Cate through my former college choir teacher. She is just fantastic. She’s so positive and talented, which is a rare combo. Cate also doesn’t need autotune, which seems to be rare these days when the industry demands perfected recordings. We were able to get a bit creative in the studio instead of using up our time re-recording in order to fix errors. It still took 3 vocal sessions because the song kept evolving but I think it paid off.
What is the song Liar about?
A liar, duh, haha. It isn’t about any person specifically but is an amalgamation of predatory and toxic people I’ve known or my friends have dealt with. I used to work with a guy like that. He was slimy, a bit pathological, and just made you feel a little bit worse every time you dealt with him.
What’s your approach to songwriting?
Almost all my songs start off on an acoustic guitar I’ve had since I was 13 and I start mumbling out a melody with nonsensical words. I can write a melody in minutes but then I’ll labor over lyrics for ages. Lyrics are the bane of my songwriting, but they’re so important. I don’t really listen to words when I’m listening to music. I have to concentrate really hard or else I just tune them out and default to the melody. It’s a blessing and a curse. I can listen to music in other languages and if it’s catchy I love it. The curse is I miss out on the poetry of music and only really hear it in fragmented bits.
Who do you aspire to be like?
You know, maybe my Grandma, or Baba, as I call her. She always loved my brother and I unconditionally. She’s also the toughest, most stoic person I know. One day I was speaking to her on the phone and asked how she was. She said she was OK but her friend, I can’t remember her name now, died yesterday. That was her best friend on earth and they spoke every day, and I mean every day. Some people can’t get out of bed for 2 weeks after their cat dies and she just keeps going.
What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you?
One time I was in the lobby of the Stay on Main Hotel in Los Angeles and an older man came up to me and asked where I was from. I told him I was from Canada and he said with a slight smile “Hmm, Canada, you need to be careful of the Russians.” Then he gently squeezed my elbow and said with utter sincerity “You’ll die in a Siberian salt mine.” Then he walked away. It was like something out
of a movie.
How would you like to be introduced, meaning what would you call yourself?
One time my wife’s boss introduced me as a bronze medal Olympic gymnastic rings champion and a good friend of then Vancouver Centre MP, Hedy Fry. All of that is complete BS but I loved it and would love to be introduced as such until the day I die.
What got you producing music?
Literally no one else was going to do it for me haha. I always loved layering instruments together and I started recording with the most primitive equipment. Ages ago, I recorded what I considered to be my best song and I showed it to a recording engineer and he laughed, like belly laughed, through the whole song. It took me down a couple of pegs but I realised I had a lot more work to do. I kept at it for years, I’ve watched a ridiculous number of tutorials and just kept writing and mixing. Music production is a lifelong learning curve but I love it. I still like that song, by the way. Plus I recorded it in a bedroom with a 30 dollar mic and a 4 track tape machine. Did the guy expect Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band?
Tell me about your passion for music.
Music has, strangely enough, been a solitary thing for me. Sometimes it’s social, like going to a festival with friends or listening to a playlist on a road trip, but I have a hunger for listening to it. I have songs that I love that no one I‘ve met appreciates and I’ve written songs I like that no one really cares for but I still love them. I think my 4-year-old daughter is the same way. If she hears a song she likes she’ll ask me to add it to her playlist and will listen to the same song 10 times in a row. Family curse I guess.
What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
BUCKSHOT, age 5. BUCKSHOT had a children’s show on a local Calgary TV station. He played a corporate Christmas party when my Dad worked for the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board. Not only did I get to see him perform live, he also walked by me pushing his PA equipment with a hand truck and without stopping said, “Hi.” He might as well have been Elvis Presley.
