As mentioned in my review earlier this week of “Mistakes,” the latest single from Titus Calderbank, I had recently discovered a pair of great new singles in my inbox (for those of you that sought to message me about the second one, thank you for being so attentive). As alluded to in the previous article, it is not difficult to earn my attention with some great piano-based balladry. This worked well for Titus Calderbank, and naturally, the same rule applies here with “hopeless,” the brand new release from Opeongo.
Written and recorded under the moniker Opeongo, Midland, ON, native Keegan John Trumpour offers a very impressive first single from his upcoming debut album, “Miasma.” Opening with some very deliberate, almost heart-wrenching, piano strokes, Trumpour’s highly-charged and emotional vocals will stop everybody dead in their tracks. “My lips are sealed, but I’m screaming loud / I need some whisky to make me proud / By any means, it seems I’m hopeless / Hopeless, maybe it seems I’m hopeless,” he shares during the second verse, before a pitch-perfect guitar duels with backing harmonies to further intensify the sentiments. Be prepared for the horns that follow; powerful, goose-bump inducing cries that will make you go weak at the knees. “’Hopeless’ is more a documentation of a feeling than it is a reflection of my true state of being,” Trumpour offers. “It’s a reminder to acknowledge that no matter what you have to work through in your life, you’re still here to sing about it.”
Recorded with acclaimed musician/producer Aaron Goldstein at Baldwin Street Sound studios, “hopeless” is one of many new songs written during a period of immense change, which saw Trumpour move from his small home town to the lure of The Big Smoke; change signified by heartache, and change signified in the recognition of the times before us. Mixed by Chris Stringer and mastered by Grammy-nominee Philip Shaw Bava, Trumpour is in good company here, with an upcoming album that shall feature appearances from Goldstein, Daniel Romano, Aaron Comeau, Carleigh Aikins, and Arif Mirabdolbaghi. If “hopeless” is any indication of what to expect when the full album is launched, this could well be one of the most anticipated albums of the year to date; making Trumpour’s pain our own future listening pleasure. “No matter how painful things might feel, there is always a way to work through it,” Keegan shares. “You are never alone in your human experience. Everyone is fighting the good fight.” Rest assured that Team GDW will be ready for much more from Opeongo later this year.
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.
