Carrie Matisse shares newest single, “The End of the World”
Carrie Matisse is the musical persona of singer-songwriter and poet Caroline Colantonio, created as a way to explore big themes like courage and resilience, inspired by painter Henri Matisse. Caroline has a strong background in opera, theatre (including Les Misérables in Toronto), and literature, which she now pours into her music. After success with her pop-opera album, she released the highly acclaimed singles “Baby Robotic” and “The End of the World” under the Carrie Matisse name, establishing her as an artist who brilliantly fuses her classical training and deep storytelling into compelling modern songs.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I’d love to! Carrie Matisse is the main character in a concept narrative I’ve written about the
end of the world and all the deep feelings that expression can stir in us. My background is in
opera and poetry, so this project feels like a fusion of those roots, but with a more
contemporary alt-pop sound. The songs draw inspiration from literature I love as well as the
bold, expressive artistry of the painter Henri Matisse. I’ve worked in music and the arts for
many years, but this project is still quite new. My first release, “Baby Robotic,” came out last
May, and “The End of the World” followed just a couple of weeks ago.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
“The End of the World” is probably the most honest and vulnerable song I’ve ever written. I
wrote the song the night I found out my mom was diagnosed with cancer. It’s about wondering how the world could go on without your best friend in it. And the hope I’ve always had that the people who define our lives will be waiting for us when it’s all over. The song was co-written with and produced by Benjamin Thomas, and it’s the second installment of a multi-track concept EP.
“The End of the World” is accompanied by a movie-style music video directed by Shayne
Gray, unfolding through a series of cinematic vignettes set against a dreamlike 1960s
backdrop. The video concept draws from William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and
Experience, and the three videos Shayne and I have created so far are meant to expand the
highly emotional world of the songs.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
When I was in grad school studying poetry at U of T, our professors used to say we should
pick a regular time of day to write and stick to it. I work 9–5 in corporate communications, and I’m decidedly not a morning person, so my creative hours usually land between 8–10 PM on weekdays, plus one longer session on the weekend. I typically sketch out pieces of songs at the piano and record them into my iPhone voice memos until I have a rough structure. I tinker a lot with the lyrics away from the piano in a notebook since I’m a lyrics person. I’m also really into suspension chords, so I get a bit into that musically when I write alone.
Once I have a workable demo, I bring it to Ben. He’s great at spotting subtle changes that
make a song more compelling. I’m always amazed by how his small edits—whether it’s a
phrasing tweak or a shift in lyric tone—can make things feel more conversational and less
capital-P Poetic. It’s usually just the two of us writing for this project, but I want to explore more co-writing in the future.
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?
For sure! As I mentioned, I released a new music video with director Shayne Gray last week
to accompany the song. We’ve also made two earlier videos together: one for my single
“Baby Robotic” and another poetry-reading version of that track. Next up, I’m releasing a
Poetry Version of “The End of the World” on streaming platforms on December 10.
I recently had surgery, so I couldn’t play a release show for this single, but in the new year I’m
planning to return to performing with my band to support the project, including the third single, which is expected in April 2026. I’ve been in touch with a few different venues, and I’m really interested in creating shows that feel more immersive and enjoyable for the friends and family who’ve supported my music for so long, and new fans.
Because Carrie Matisse is a persona character, I’ve been experimenting with more
atmospheric elements in my performances. At our last sold-out show at Burdock Music Hall,
we played one of my immersive poetry recordings to set the tone for the second half of the
set. It felt theatrical in a fun way, and I’d love to explore more of that. Once the full Carrie
Matisse story is out in the world, I’d love to do a small tour in 2027, ideally with some set
design elements that nod to my theatre background, if logistics and budget allow.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
A highlight of my career was being part of the cast of the Mirvish Production of Les
Misérables. As a member of the ensemble, I had thirteen costume changes and the chance to understudy Cosette. I’d auditioned as part of a Toronto-wide open call, and it took me several years to land the role. Although I’ve shifted my focus to recording and writing my own music since then, I’ll always look back fondly on this opportunity as a formative one and as a
moment of feeling like I accomplished something meaningful in the arts after years of school.
A major turning point came when I met my incredible vocal coach, Marla Joy, who has been
instrumental in helping me transition into a more contemporary singing style. Marla also
introduced me to Ben, who has produced my Carrie Matisse songs over the past couple of
years. The two of them have made it possible for me to create and release the kind of music
I’ve always wanted to share with the world.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
Love this question. Yes, my cousins and bandmates Joel and Ryan and I played a Breaking
Sound showcase at Handlebar in September that was a lot of fun! We met a couple of really
kind, supportive, and cool musicians who have also been hustling and releasing music
recently online. I love their work and them as people, so I’d recommend checking out Stephen Diego and Ray Hollow on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen. They’re pop artists so their music is great for dancing, singing along, or simply enjoying while looking out a window on one of these darker days of November.