“They’re crawling, creeping, weaving, getting bold / They’re crawling, creeping, eating, getting bold.”
When Halloween officially lands on one of our regular GDW posting days (Tuesday and Friday), the challenge to tie this theme to a new music release becomes so dang hard to resist. Dropping on a Thursday just last year, we had a swing and a miss. And in 2023, a Tuesday was guaranteed, but nothing of a ghoulish nature landed in our laps to share – meaning our last Trick or Treat feature dates to 2022 – on a Monday, no less (surf rock from The Currie Brothers, you may recall) – meaning we are long overdue to find something that potentially goes bump in the night…
With the release of her debut single, “Spider Veins,” today, it appears that Toronto-based singer-songwriter First Robin (Alexandra Sullivan) was also hopping a ride on this Halloween themed astral plane – navigating across this shared wavelength and making our acquaintance along the way. Checking all the boxes to satisfy the theme’s specific requirements, I am left wondering if somebody tipped off First Robin about my well-documented weakness for cinematic, piano-driven ballads – because many more of those boxes have bold x’s in them right now thanks to this outstanding new tune.
Written by First Robin and produced by Joel Schwartz (Desiree Dorion / Shawna Caspi) – with mastering courtesy of Justin Gray – today may be Halloween, but “Spider Veins” is not intended to tingle the spines of those with any degree of arachnophobia out there. “While these spider veins / Keep crawling up my legs / And I don’t know if I feel safe here anymore / Is it liminal space? / A luteal phase? / Oh I feel crazed.” This tune is instead one that ‘examines existential themes of identity and aging’ …and… ‘weaves a modern indie-folk sound with distinct, raw vocals reminiscent of early 2000s female-driven anthems’ (Artist Bio). “My song … is thematically appropriate for this Halloween season,” First Robin offers in jest. “Besides, what’s spookier than a woman getting older?”
Think 2000s era female piano-pop pioneers and names such as Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson shall undoubtedly spring to mind for many – but given our predilection for Canadian singer-songwriters, I’m drawing immediate similarities to three GDW faves in particular: GDW 2019 Album of the Year winner Leanne Hoffman (“Emily” is a killer piano ballad), GDW 2024 Top Album Finalist Sadie Campbell (“Anxiety Gets Me” is a gem), and most notably, multiple GDW Album of the Year finalist Terra Spencer (any version of “Brick and Mortar” is essential listening). No apologies for luring you in with our sneaky Halloween hook, but with “Spider Veins,” First Robin leaves a lasting first impression. We are incredibly eager to discover much more from this talented Torontonian; one who deserves to be discussed with the same reverence as those peers named here.
“They’re crawling, creeping, weaving, getting bold / They’re crawling, creeping, eating, getting bold / I guess that even breathing’s pretty bold / This wasted youth is really getting old.”
Photo Credit: Jen Squires / Artist EPK
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
