Don Denaburg & Friends Share Moving New Single “Beyond Blue”: A Song About Finding Light in the Darkest Moments
Toronto singer-songwriter Don Denaburg and his celebrated collective of collaborators release “Beyond Blue”— out now—a quietly powerful new single that speaks directly to anyone who has ever felt alone in their struggle. Produced by Denaburg with legendary Canadian composer Jack Lenz as executive producer, the song arrives as one of the most emotionally essential recordings of Don’s career. It is carried by Sheila Carabine’s luminous vocal performance and a sparse, melancholic arrangement built around David Matheson’s piano and Amber Walton-Amar’s cello.
“Beyond Blue” was born from an unexpected moment of self-expression. After hearing Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter” in a film he was watching, Denaburg found himself overwhelmed by a flood of long-held emotions. He picked up his guitar and let one painful feeling after another come pouring out. Twelve verses arrived fully formed in a single sitting.
“‘Beyond Blue’ is the only song I’ve ever written whose lyrics didn’t require rewriting,” Denaburg reflects. “What you hear is exactly how the words came out—unfiltered and immediate.”
By morning, something had shifted. Feeling lighter, Don finished the song, adding a bridge and final verse that carry a sense of hope.
“Beyond Blue” speaks with uncommon directness to the experience of depression and the isolation that often accompanies it. Lines like “Maybe you’re all by yourself / Maybe you wonder how or why anyone else / Would want to be with you” are delivered as an act of recognition—an outstretched hand from someone who has been there. The bridge anchors the song in a more reassuring message: “Hold on, don’t go / This hell may be all you know now / But down there you’ll find this too / I love and believe in you.”
A Berklee College of Music award-winning songwriter, Denaburg brings decades of craft, collaborations and lived experience to his music. He has led cross-Canada tours as the frontman of The River Street Band. His writing draws on folk, pop, jazz, and Americana traditions to explore the fragile, deeply human moments when everything falls apart—and the uneven path that leads toward something better. “Beyond Blue” represents Denaburg’s most personal and direct statement to date.
The recording itself is a testament to what a close-knit collective of world-class musicians can achieve together. Carabine, known for her work with Dala, brings an extraordinary warmth and emotional precision to the lead vocal. Matheson, whose credits include Moxy Früvous and Ron Sexsmith, shapes the piano arrangement with restraint and sensitivity. Walton-Amar’s cello adds a resonant, aching depth that gives the track its distinctive emotional weight. The song was mixed and mastered by Ryan McNabb, who, along with Harrison Lenz, served as recording engineers on the project.
Just as a poignant song affected him deeply, Denaburg imagines that “Beyond Blue” could have a similar impact on listeners.
“I hope that, through the quiet power of music, ‘Beyond Blue’ reaches others who are struggling—reminding them that they are not alone, and that telling their story can begin to lift the weight they carry.”
That intention is woven into every note of the recording.
“Beyond Blue” stands as one of the most affecting and necessary songs to emerge from Toronto’s singer-songwriter community in recent memory—honest, intimate, and genuinely moving in the way that only music born from lived experience can be.
Hi, Don! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers for those not familiar with your music?
Hi Jenna and Canadian Beats readers. I’m Don Denaburg, the former frontman of The River Street Band, Donald’s Drum, and rock supergroup Corona. I studied songwriting and voice at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where I co-wrote a few songs with classmate Gillian Welch. More recently, I’ve been working with a collective of some of Toronto’s finest musicians to record and release my music.
This song came out in one sitting – what unlocked that level of honesty for you?
At the time I wrote “Beyond Blue,” I had been living with depression on and off for 17 years, so I was intimately familiar with the subject. Also, when you hit rock bottom, it strips away inhibitions and self-consciousness. I needed to release the pressure valve on my pent-up emotions, so I wrote down what I needed to get out of me for the sake of my own catharsis. At the time, I had no intention of sharing such personal feelings. The absence of a perceived audience allowed me to bypass the inner critic and express what I was feeling with raw honesty.
How did you decide that Sheila Carabine was the right voice to carry this story?
My first call for this recording was to David Matheson; I knew his tasteful piano playing and soulful feel would be perfect for the arrangement I envisioned. Dave and Executive Producer Jack Lenz both suggested Sheila—and they couldn’t have recommended anyone better for the job. On top of having a beautiful voice, Sheila’s delicate delivery conveys a vulnerability that can send shivers down your spine. So, between Dave, Sheila, and Amber Walton-Amar, who gifted us with a hauntingly beautiful cello part, I had the ideal artists to bring out the emotion and melancholy of “Beyond Blue.” I feel incredibly fortunate to have the three of them on this recording. I absolutely love how it turned out. I wouldn’t change a note.
How did working with Jack Lenz shape the emotional direction of the recording?
Aside from being a world-renowned composer, Jack Lenz may also be the kindest man in the world. He radiates kindness. I played Jack an earlier recording of “Beyond Blue” and, having experienced depression in is family, he offered his enthusiastic support. Not only did Jack supply us with his state-of-the-art recording studio, he also sat in on the sessions, providing guidance and his musical expertise—particularly on the cello arrangement. Jack also introduced me to engineer Ryan McNabb, who gave us a sublime mix. In addition to his world-class musicianship, Jack brought his beautiful spirit to the sessions. The only concern with having Jack around is that his positive energy lifted everyone’s spirits when I needed the musicians to find their melancholy. Luckily, having me around was enough of a downer to balance off Jack’s positivity. 
If someone hears “Beyond Blue” at their lowest point, what do you hope they feel in that first listen?
First and foremost, I hope they feel a sense of comfort and connection. They are not alone. Others have suffered with despair as they have and got through it. On second or third listen, perhaps they will find that the act of expressing one’s emotions provides much-needed relief. In the best-case scenario, I hope that “Beyond Blue” will inspire someone who is struggling to share their experience through a creative outlet. We are, by nature, creative beings who strive to express ourselves. So, whether by poem, painting, music, or planting a garden, any act of creating can lift one’s spirit and facilitate connection with others.