Quebec’s Hey Major unveils new album, Down The Ride via Indica Records
Hey Major—multi-instrumentalist brothers Mickaël Fortin and Raphaël Fortin—released their sophomore album, Down The Ride, on Indica Records. Guided by the bright side of life and the beauty that comes from pain, the ethos for Down The Ride was about discovering their true selves and accepting that it might change and evolve many times. It reveals the stories of two young artists: the discouragement, the highs, and the lows too. Love as a muse of its own.
Recorded by their friend and producer Jace Lasek (The Besnard Lakes) along with writing partner Franz Schuller (Indica Records), the 10-track offering is carried by the percussive rhythms of Raphaël, the saturated keyboards of Mickaël, and invigorated by the guitars and arrangements of Jace. Built on strong British rock influences, their unique sound is created by the explosive chemistry of the duo.
“M.I.A (Missing In Action)” leads the album, speaking on the challenges of unrequited love. It’s followed by the new and highlighted track “Frees My Soul” which was written during the peak of the pandemic. Mickaël reflects that he felt “low and hopeless as [he] was looking out at a sorrowful rainy day through [his] window. [He] took a guitar and let it all out as the piano riff came across [his] mind. [He] needed to free [his] soul and this song lit [him] up.” “You’re So Cold (I’m on fire)” is up next, mirroring a controlling and heartbreaking relationship. “Our World” is dedicated to future generations, denouncing society’s mistakes in a request for forgiveness. “Sun and the Moon” is inspired by a fleeting love and its impending heartbreak.