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Grizzly Coast – Five Questions With

Jenna Melanson·May 8, 2024

Indie Rock Group Grizzly Coast Releases Sentimental Song “Sweet”

From the imaginative, yet highly-analytical mind of Alannah Kavanagh comes Grizzly Coast, the Toronto-based musical project blending dreamy indie rock instrumentation with introspective pop lyricism. Grizzly Coast’s songwriting successfully blends dreamy guitar rock sensibilities with their trademark thoughtful lyricism.

“Sweet” is a song for the sentimental. Born from a dream out of the blue about someone Alannah knew as a teenager, it got her thinking about how you don’t have to be in touch with someone to remember them fondly. Sonically, “Sweet” is filled with ambient and shimmering textures that mirror the dreamlike state that inspired the song.

First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?

Hey! I’m Alannah Kavanagh and my music project is Grizzly Coast. I’m based in Toronto and I try to bring a singer-songwriter spirit to indie rock music.

Tell us a bit about your most recent release.

Sweet is the first song I’ve released in 4 years. It’s a sentimental shoegaze track filled with ambient textures — like swirling synths and reverby guitars. I wrote it after having a dream about someone I knew in high school who I’m not in touch with anymore but always remembered fondly. Lyrically, it’s a letter into the ether that commemorates a blink in time that’s been left to rest in the rearview.

How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?

My process varies depending on the song. So I’ll answer for Sweet. This song was written in a typical singer-songwriter style where I sat down with the intention to write a song, any song. Nothing was coming to me until I remembered a dream I’d had the night before. I thought the idea of commemorating a lost relationship from another lifetime was a nice premise. From there, the lyrics just poured out. In fact, I only remember editing the bridge of the song later on. I then took it to my collaborator Pavel Soltys who helped finalize some chord arrangements and Sweet, as you know it, was written!

Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?

I released a motion graphics visualizer for the track that I designed myself. Tour announcement will be coming in a few months so hold out for that! I’ve also begrudgingly started a TikTok where I’m planning to share a lot more of my personality than I have on other platforms. I’ve resisted downloading the app in the past because I value privacy, but as an emerging artist, you really have to try to engage with your fans at any chance you get. I’m learning to embrace the openness that comes along with that. So we will see how that goes!

Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?

I think the best is yet to come. I have a lot in the pipeline this year and I’m really proud of all of it. So for now, I’ll leave you with that tease!