In 2003, Andrew Spice was hailed as one of Canada’s most promising talents. His debut album, Pretty Demons, was produced by 3-time Juno Award nominee and regular David Bowie collaborator Emm Gryner, resulting in a nomination for Outstanding Debut Recording at the OutMusic Awards as well acclaim from the Toronto Star and NOW Toronto – with comparing him to a male equivalent to Tori Amos or Sarah McLachlan.
Andrew Spice
Yet for all that potential, Spice followed a different calling. He earned a PhD, became a clinical psychologist, and founded the DBT Clinic in Toronto, providing treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, self-harm and suicidal behaviours, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, antisocial behaviours, and sexual behaviour problems.
While he’s a leading figure in his field, he never lost the passion for music that resulted in his first wave of success. And so with a wealth of life experience to draw upon, he set about writing a new catalogue of songs for a long overdue second chapter in his career. That moment starts today with the release of the single High Park.
With High Park,Spice finds beauty in sadness, his expressive and eloquently enunciated voice drawing parallels between then-and-now: his previous family life now reduced to just him and his dog. Coloured by affecting, chiming piano and stark strings, the new single is devastatingly vulnerable: a queer artist courageously sharing his truths with the world. And in one swoop, High Park firmly re-establishes Andrew Spice as a unique voice in indie music.
Spice says, “High Park is a song about recovering from devastating loss by connecting with nature and animals. It is a breakup song, a celebration of newfound independence, and a love letter to Toronto and to my dog.”
High Park was written solely by Spice, with production from the acclaimed solo artist Matthew Barber. It also features contributions from Adrian Gordon Cook (MorMor) and Mike Tompa (Silverstein). The video takes us to the location of the song, Toronto’s famously striking High Park, with luscious natural scenery complementing Andrew’s stark solo performance. Check it out below:
He adds, “The High Park video depicts the literal process of communing with the woods and my dog, as well as the metaphorical process of grieving a loss there.”
There will be more to come from Spice in the coming months as he builds towards the release of his second album early in 2025. Grounded by his piano and his candid lyrics, he expresses both the fury and profound loneliness brought on by trauma. He finds a measure of comfort in the gentle, wise company of his pets, shares spikes of humour along the way, and ultimately experiences rebirth by way of rediscovering his creativity. His new songs span a spectrum of emotions, from utter despair and desolation to the purity of connection, whether with animals or with people. His goal is to inspire a simple belief in the listener – that hope can be waiting on the other side of unimaginable darkness.
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