Lisa Humber states her case in black and white on her bold new ballad Shades Of Grey — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Featuring bold piano and moody, dramatic strings, he Canadian singer-songwriter’s piano-driven ballad can be taken as both a challenge to think critically as well as a diary chronicling the tumultuous end of a relationship. The one thing she knows for certain, however, is she can’t succumb to wishy-washiness, or to rigid thinking. The longing for a deeper connection is visceral and palpable.
“Shades Of Grey is an anthem for the times,” the Toronto artist says. “Born in the midst of misinformation and fake news, this song is a rallying cry urging listeners to ask questions.”
The song is one of eight on Humber’s new EP The Space Between, slated for a late-August release. The project represents the renewed commitment Humber made to her own music during the pandemic; up until then, she had always worked behind the scenes as a stage manager for touring commercial musicals. “I love that job,” Humber says. “I thrive on the fast-paced exciting world of backstage life. Music has always existed in the space between my professional ambitions and the blue skies version of my life.
“I don’t want to call this a pandemic record,” she continues, “but I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that in March of 2020, Covid-19 not only changed life as we know it on a global scale, but it also had a significant impact on a micro individual level. When it felt like everything else had been taken away, music and the stories I wanted to share through my own creations were the only thing that made sense.”
Blending dreamy alt-pop, melancholic rhymes, hopeful optimism, and elements of adult alternative to create a unique sound that rises from the ashes of the pandemic, The Space Between highlights life in the space between the good, the bad, and the messy.
Humber collaborated with producer and guitar master Justin Abedin, who she met while working backstage on the musical Come From Away. “Justin has this incredible ability to breathe beauty into everything he does and knows exactly how to frame and shape my lyrics and melodies into something that feels authentically me,” Humber shares. “Without him, I don’t think these ideas and songs would exist outside of my own heart and mind.”
Watch the video for Shades Of Grey above, sample more songs from Lisa Humber below, and find her at her website, Instagram and Twitter.
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