A euphoric Pride synth-pop anthem about queer joy, chance encounters, and living in the moment.
Vancouver-based indie pop artist Julian Hunt returns with his fourth single, “Our Plans Can Wait,” released June 12, 2026, in celebration of Pride. Following the momentum of earlier releases “Marine Drive,” “Dance Into The Dark,” and “Sharks in the Pool,” the new track continues to build on his growing reputation for emotionally charged, synth-driven pop music that has earned radio play, blog coverage, and playlist support.
“Our Plans Can Wait” opens with the playful, inviting lyric: “I don’t want to rule the world, I just want you to dance with me,” setting the tone for a song rooted in spontaneity, connection, and possibility. The track explores moments of chance—new crushes, late-night city energy, unexpected decisions, and the freedom of living authentically.
Written during a year of personal change, Hunt describes the single as a celebration of queer joy and self-expression. He emphasizes a conversational delivery style that shifts between intimate confession and chant-like hooks, creating a track designed to feel both personal and anthemic. The song carries a tongue-in-cheek optimism, reflecting what he calls one of the most joyful periods of his creative life.
Recorded at Boutique Empire Studios in East Vancouver with producer/engineer Mark Henning, the track highlights Hunt’s growing role in shaping his sound. Blending 80s-inspired synthpop textures with modern, slightly alien sonic elements, the production layers synth pads, piano, and stacked vocals to create a theatrical, emotionally expansive soundscape.
Hunt also uses this release to announce his upcoming EP 23, with two additional singles scheduled for release over the summer, continuing his creative momentum and evolution as a producer and songwriter.
His musical background spans theatre training at the Etobicoke School of the Arts, vocal coaching at Big Voice Studios, and creative writing studies at Concordia University. Since relocating to Vancouver, he has developed his production skills while collaborating with Mark Henning, further refining his distinct blend of indie pop and synth-driven storytelling.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name’s Julian Hunt, I’m twenty-four years old and have lived in Vancouver for almost two years. I’ve always loved pop music and am especially inspired by pop from the 2000s and 2010s. I write and compose all my songs and started writing and teaching myself piano in 2022. My work focuses on queer joy, being your authentic self, nostalgia and optimism.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
It’s my favourite song I’ve made. I wrote “Our Plans Can Wait” at the end of 2024, after a year that held a lot of change for me: I moved across the country and needed to leave the past behind me, and that’s where the idea of the title comes from.
This song is about the possibility of things and believing the best-case scenario can happen. It’s confident, a bit theatrical, and tongue-in-cheek. When producing it, I wanted to be my most exaggerated, unfiltered self.
The delivery is conversational in the verses and builds into a chorus that I wanted to feel like a chant you can’t keep inside. There’s a romantic element to it, but it’s more about feeling confident enough to embrace new experiences.
Producing it was cathartic for me and it helped shape my style going forward—vocal stacks, sound effects, and big synths. This song still carries the optimism I felt during that period of change, and I’m releasing it during Pride Month as a celebration of queer joy.
Walk us through your creative process when creating music.
I usually start by finding chords I like and building from there. Writing this song felt easy—the verses flowed out naturally.
The hook came later, and even though it’s simple (“Right now, I know what I wanna show you”), it felt like it captured everything the song was about.
This was the second song I started producing with Mark Henning for this project, and it was the most fun to experiment with. We recorded me playing piano and built everything around that, then added layers of instruments and vocal stacks.
We worked on it for months—listening, stepping away, making notes, and repeating the process until nothing more needed to be added.
When you’re critiquing your own work for that long, you almost separate from it emotionally. But after everything, I’m really proud of it. Pop didn’t come naturally to me—I was trained in musical theatre—but it’s the music I love.
If a song makes me excited to keep working on it, that’s when I know it’s worth finishing. This one still makes me smile.
Now that the music is out, what does the road ahead look like?
I’ve got two more singles coming this summer before my EP, so I’m focused on planning photoshoots, visuals, and videos.
“Our Plans Can Wait” is my favourite song, so I really wanted to put everything into its release. There’s also a music video coming this summer that I’m excited to share.
Right now, I’m still building my audience and finding the people who connect with my music. My main goal is to reach those listeners and enjoy sharing these songs with them.
Every artist has a “lightbulb moment.” What made you realize this is what you’re meant to do?
What makes me feel this is what I’m meant to do is that when a song doesn’t land the way I expected, it pushes me to get better. I never see it as a reason to stop—only a chance to learn.
When I was producing my last single, “Marine Drive,” I brought it back into the studio after initial feedback with the goal of stripping away anything unnecessary or overcomplicated.
Seeing that song get supported and appreciated was really encouraging. I tend to be a maximalist, but I’ve learned to be more intentional and selective with production choices since then.
We love championing Canadian talent. If you were to curate a “Must-Listen” playlist of emerging artists right now, who would you add?
Maybe not the expected answer, but I would add myself.
There’s still a lack of queer artists being represented, and I think I bring something different to what’s mainstream. I know my limits, but I’ve learned to fully believe in my voice.
What makes my work stand out isn’t necessarily technical perfection—it’s storytelling and style. I’m still early in my journey, but I believe the music I’m making is special and honest.
There’s nothing like the energy of a live room. Where can fans catch you on stage next?
There aren’t any live performances planned right now. I’m focused on building my audience and rolling out my EP this summer.
Instead, I’m working on music videos, photoshoots, and video diaries.
For future performances or open mic nights, people can expect something stripped down. My songs are big in production, but they all started with just me and a piano.