Canadian RnB Artist Justine Tyrell Releases Her Debut EP "While You Were Sleeping"
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Award winning Canadian singer-songwriter, Justine Tyrell, has released her brand-new EP, “While You Were Sleeping”, which seamlessly blends contemporary and traditional R&B sounds.
A well-known vocalist within Calgary’s local music scene, Tyrell serves as the official anthem singer of the Calgary Stampeders, and was deemed a “game changer in her city of Calgary, Alberta” by Branded Magazine. Her recently released music has landed her coveted spots across all formats of Canadian music media, including appearances across the country on CTV Morning and Noon-hour shows, a feature in CBC’s weekly “Songs You Need to Hear” series as well as airplay across CBC channels, features on Virgin Radio, The Strombo Show, and many more.
Written and recorded in Calgary, Alberta, Tyrell used the time during lockdown to transition from being known for her voice to using it artistically. Heavily inspired by artists like Aaliyah and Amy Winehouse, the R&B singer-songwriter found her signature sound included both traditional and contemporary R&B stylings through the process of creating her music.
With hundreds of songs written and hundreds more ideas of melodies, music styles, and thoughts on what she wanted to say, Tyrell realized it was “time to part with the art”, and share her creations and artistic intention with the world. Inspired by “the bitter and sweet tastes of love and intimacy”, the self-described melancholic storyteller set out to create a project that captures feelings everyone has felt before, where listeners hear their own experiences or those of someone they know. Interwoven in the deeply personal themes of love and intimacy is Tyrell’s sharp focus on female empowerment. With storylines ranging from heartbreak to love and loss, Justine Tyrell adds messages of female strength and power in each song, and across the entire project.
The first single off of the project, “Worthy”, is an ode to honouring self-worth. “I was inspired to create something that can empower the listener to know that it is better to let go of someone, than to lose yourself, and most importantly – that it's critical to determine your worth, rather than let someone else decide for you.” With a music video that tells a story of a woman re-discovering her self-worth, Tyrell also intentionally uses women of colour in the video to honour their importance and worthiness following the Black Lives Matter protests which took place earlier in the year.
Recorded live off the floor in just one take, “Radar” tells the story of a past lover who keeps an eye on their ex, keeping them on their radar. The ballad showcases Tyrell’s outstanding vocal talent and production abilities, serving as a co-vocal producer on the stunning harmonies scattered throughout the song. “You’ll Miss Me” includes background vocals from platinum selling Canadian artist and fellow Calgarian, Jocelyn Alice. From the intimacy of “My Name” to the red flags written all over “Warning Signs”, Justine Tyrell creates a highly relatable body of work while discovering her voice, her message, and her sound.
Aptly titled, “While You Were Sleeping” was created in the early morning hours, while most of the world slept. The title has a double meaning, as it is additionally targeted at those in Tyrell’s life who may not have believed in her, and let her go either romantically or professionally. The EP highlights Justine Tyrell’s brilliant creative talent, vocal abilities, and lyrical artistry.
