With a new record hidden in their pocket for the past year, Toronto-based Fast Romantics have been waiting patiently for 2023. Since 2017 they’d been traveling as a six-piece band around North America as unrelenting road-warriors, ever since NPR had declared their hit Julia “triumphant” and finding themselves unexpectedly on Apple’s top ten. In those three years of touring, they perfected a larger-than-life live show, endearing fans to their unique brand of irresistible pop hooks and frontman Matthew Angus’ personal and emotive approach to lyricism.
Once the pandemic hit, the band – led by singers and partners Matthew Angus and Kirty – had written a treasure trove of new material, but they knew they couldn’t fully wait the weird times out. And so, a reflective album of pandemic songs called Pick It Up was released. Dropped without a tour or promotion, the songs were chosen only for their ability to mark the moment.
But still unfinished was a collection of songs that would form what Angus now refers to as “the record I’ve been trying to make for a decade.” Over the course of 2021, Angus and Kirty reconnected with members of their band, and began collaborating with previous producers Marcus Paquin (The National, Arcade Fire) and Gus Van Go (The Stills, Arkells, Metric). A third collaborator would join soon after in Murray Lightburn, the frontman and producer of celebrated band The Dears.
Listen to Euphoria here: