Award-winning Canadian musician, Alicia Toner, nationally recognized as a top Canadian songwriter, has just released her sophomore album, "Joan". Led by single "Jokes On Me", the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (2017) collaborated with well known Canadian producers Stuart Cameron (Crash Test Dummies, Matthew Good, Amanda Marshall) and Peter Fusco on the project. Sharing Toner’s deeply personal journey of love, loss, change, and growth, “Joan” is the beautiful result of an incredibly difficult period for the artist.The album was written and partially recorded in Toronto, and has received widespread attention across the country including numerous features across radio, digital, and print formats. Alicia's single, "Joke's On Me" entered into the CIOE Top 30 Countdown at #15 and the album received a two page feature in PEI Living Magazine.
The video for "Joke's On Me" was filmed this past May at a farmhouse in Rustico, PEI that didn't have heat, yet gracefully follows two characters in the midst of a deeply internal struggle. Both played by Toner herself, one of the characters is clearly trapped, while the other is in denial. The former theatre performer was responsible for the concept, choreography, and chaired the one person art department for the shoot. "Our DP also did lights, our production manager also did hair."
"I imagined what that internal struggle would look like if one side was trapped and the other in denial."With beautiful visuals and a clear, understandable storyline, Alicia Toner's "Joke's On Me" video is a brilliantly performed piece that compliments the song perfectly.
Toner’s sophomore album was written and recorded from her apartment in Toronto – at the time her home base, where started writing her brand-new album as a form of catharsis as she moved on from a challenging relationship. The deeply personal project shows a sign of Toner that most people rarely get to see, which is why she named the project “Joan”, a name she is only called by close family. “It was kind of a way of self-titling without using my name. People who are really close to me call me that, and these songs are really close to me and allow people to see a side of me that most people don’t get to see.”
“Joan” was produced by well-known Canadian producers Stuart Cameron (Crash Test Dummies, Matthew Good, Amanda Marshall) and Peter Fusco (Madison Violet, Matthew Good, and Kim Stockwood), who helped Toner craft the album’s sound and overall direction. The project was recorded at Toronto’s Dreamhouse Studios and also at Peter Fusco’s home studio.
The album features recently released lead track, “Joke’s On Me”, a song about realizing the need to exit a difficult situation that also touches on the inner conflict one has before committing to taking action. Inspired by one of Toner’s favourite artists, Brandi Carlile, the tune aims to remind listeners that they need to do what is best for them, seeking help if needed.
“This whole project was about a specific moment in time. It feels far in the past. The person that exists today is really strong and happy and confident and has a wonderful life and family and I feel very lucky to be in the place I’m in now. The songs have taken place over many years. It’s kind of heartening to see where I am now.”
Website: aliciatoner.ca
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