Montreal, QC-based artist Reno McCarthy is about to release his debut album, Counterglow on May 10, 2019. He recently released his second single, “Still” which you can check out below, and find out more about Reno via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Reno McCarthy, I live in Montreal, I make music.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.
Sometimes I’m lying in bed trying to fall asleep and I pick up a guitar and see what happens, other times I sit down really intent on expressing something, other times my mind just wanders and I come up with an idea while washing dishes. It’s really just about keeping your eyes and ears open. Lyrically, I write from my own life mostly. My dreams, random thoughts and attempts to distill my emotions.
Do you have any upcoming shows? For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance?
Yep! We’re launching my debut LP Counterglow at Casa Del Popolo in Montreal on May 15th and then at Avant-Garde in Ottawa on the 30th and Maelstrøm in Quebec city on June 1st. I should be playing in Montreal a bit this summer and hopefully by the fall, we can get something together that’s a little more tangible. The show itself is funky, true to the songs and very groove-oriented. Lots of layers, rich, varied. It’s just good fun!
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
I think it would be Deep Dive. I feel like it offers a very complete listening experience: The chorus is strong and catchy, the outro is intense, the verses are really really groovy. I think it has a lot of emotional variety. Another one is Growing Up because it’s just four minutes of pure fun. It’s kind of self-indulgent and self-aware in its summer pool party vibe and lyrics.
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?
Men I Trust, MorMor, Daniel Caesar and dozens I’m forgetting.