Rest easy in the dark light of November - New Release!

The days are shorter with each passing. This is the time when we slog through, when hard things pile up, and the sun has gone away. At least in Vancouver, we've only had a mildly rainy fall. I write to you all from the warmth of my newly painted yellow kitchen, hoping to bring the sunshine inside. My latest obsession (Tumeric latte) in my hand while listening to a playlist of "oldies playing in another room and it's snowing (vintage radio)". This time of year feels like it deserves such a long intro because this time of year feels so long and sloww, but!

Let's get to the point...
 

My newest single and next instalment of my EP comes out tomorrow (Nov 26th). "If it Comes or it Goes" is a really special song to me, and I love that it's also become special to many who've heard it. I read somewhere that forgiveness is the scent flowers make when they are squished. I hope this song smells like lilacs and roses. I hope you find a space to listen where it's quiet and you have some tea, or where you can walk out in the snow or rain with your headphones on and look at Christmas lights. I hope you smell flowers and wonder how the heck they could be blooming in November. I hope you find forgiveness for yourself and others. I hope you find love in the darkness.

It's been a tender, long few weeks, so I don't have much to say, but I would like to thank all those who have been supporting me and continually pushing me forward. Thanks to Andre Antonio for giving so much of himself in producing, mixing, and mastering this song. And thanks, Ellie Hall, for taking these amazing Film photos! We need community. We need each other. 

Love, 

Robyn Froese xoxo

Art Is Resistance

TLDR: Virgin Mary is out. Love letter home. World is falling apart. Art. Mess. Please listen and share it with friends. Shows and news and book me for a Christmas Party! Amen.

Hey friends,

As you’ve probably noticed, my newsletter skills are drastically improving! If you’re new here, welcome! And if you’ve been around for a while, I apologize for that one time I accidentally shared everyone’s emails with everyone else… thankfully, I trust this little community of ours.

The next song from my EP is out now! I’m so excited about how it turned out. I was telling my friend Megan (who co-wrote this one and is an amazing musician herself) that by the time most songs are ready to release, I’m usually sick of them, but not this one. I still love it. It feels honest and full of nostalgia. The chorus is humorously vague compared to the verses.. that was intentional. So it could feel like a letter to anyone. I wrote it with the people of Saskatchewan (my homeland) in mind. I hope it brings a bit of warmth and love to your heart in these uneasy times.

After releasing Echo, I spiraled a bit. If you know me, this won’t surprise you. I’ve been wrestling with the question: what’s the point of “pointless” art in a world that’s burning around us? We see genocide, ICE raids, distrust, hate, and so much more. The revolutionary in me, the angry social justice warrior, the wanna-be-prophet wants to make art that speaks directly to the political and social climate. And yet, lately, all I’ve been able to write are love songs.

Last week, I reached out on Instagram asking for encouragement, and you all showed up. I’m still angry, still unsure how to move forward, but I’m holding onto a few nuggets you reminded me of:

Art is resistance.
Joy fuels revolution.
We need beauty to hold onto in the midst of tragedy.

I’ll leave you with the lyrics of a classic:

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”
– Hal David & Burt Bacharach

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. And congrats! Your brain’s grey matter still works!

Music is best when shared, so if this song resonates with you, think of someone you could send it to. Tell them they’re on your mind. Write them a note. Bake them cookies. Small acts of love might just be the most powerful resistance we have.

Exciting News & Upcoming Shows

October and November are quieter for shows while I focus on writing, releasing, and a mentorship, but here are a few coming up:

• Oct 29: Live Music & Yoga @ MODO Olympic Village (Vancouver) – 8:30 PM

• Nov 6: Shades of YVR Showcase @ Please Tasting House (Vancouver) – 6–8 PM

• Nov 7: City of Surrey Showcase – 7 PM

• Nov 13: Bez Open Mic “Star on the Rise” Showcase (Langley City) – 7 PM

And yes! I’m open for Christmas party bookings. Whether you want jazzy background vibes or lively singalong-style tunes, send me a note and let’s chat.

cool newssssss

• Out of 200 applicants, I was selected to be part of a small cohort of four Women in Music Canada entrepreneurs! Starting this week, I’ll be doing 2–3 sessions a week with mentors and leading women musicians, producers, and record execs from across the country. I’m so honoured and excited to grow, learn, and share what comes from it.

• As I mentioned before, my sister Katrina and I received a grant from Menno-Creative to write a two-woman musical about our grandmother, called The Well-Behaved Woman. We’ll be researching and writing over the next eight months, beginning in November. It’s a huge and humbling project. Both nerve-wracking and exciting!

 Gratitude

Before I go, I need to shout out some amazing humans who helped bring this track to life:

• Caitlin Glasgow, singer-songwriter and dear friend, for the gorgeous harmonies

• Katrina Froese, my sister and partner-in-art (you’ll hear her harmonies too!)

• Andre Antonio, for reimagining the tune, playing multiple instruments, and mixing/mastering

• Cole Friesen, for helping lift the song out of its simple acoustic beginnings and giving it life

• Megan Gadd and Ellie Hall, my co-writers and sounding boards

• Ellie also took the photos, and Rachel Castelino captured the video!

Thank you all for being part of this journey with me.

With love,
Robyn <3