Kyle Richardson shares a life-affirming message we all need to heed in the neon-charged video for his uplifting, empowering single Can You Hear Me — premiering exclusively on Tinnitist.
A modern pop-rock anthem urging everyone to live loud, proud, in the moment and without regrets, the Vancouver singer-songwriter’s latest cut combines bouncy verses, a call-and-response chorus with big harmonies, and appropriately energetic percussion. Written by Richardson and fellow Canadians Andrew Allen and Grammy-nominated Jeff Dawson (who also produced), it’s the first of three planned singles to land from the artist’s debut album Louder Than Words, which arrives later this year. The colourful accompanying video was produced by Roadhouse Productions.
“This song is a strong musical representation of my direction as an artist,” Richardson says. “It’s about confidence, hope, and inspiration — all major themes that the album touches on as well. For the video, I really wanted the visuals to be kinetic and colourful to really emphasize the urgency behind the lyrics. Working with AJ Astle and Roadhouse Productions, we found an edgy studio location filled with modern aesthetics and bright neon signs to really bring the bold sentiment of the song to life.”
As the first new music from the Vancouver LGBTQIA+ artist since 2019, Can You Hear Me acts as a re-introduction of sorts. Having written with a wide range of Canadian artists, including superstar Carly Rae Jepsen, WCMA-nominated DYLN, and rising star Garrett Neiles, Richardson previously released two singles of his own to Canadian radio (Painkiller and So Hot It Hurts) and has lent his talents as a guest vocalist on a number of collaborations, including Bobina’s 2016 single Love is The Answer and its remixes, which have earned more than 1.5 million streams.
As an artist who has produly performed at Pride events around his home city (including 2019’s New West Pride), Richardson also wants Can You Hear Me to serve as a calling card for the LGBTQIA+ community — especially fellow artists and creatives — to follow their inspirations. Ultimately, his aim is to guide others to live boldly, while also leaving them ready for more music.
“I want to give all of us the confidence to live loud in the moment, make memories to hold on to, and celebrate the good times while you can,” he says. “Treat every night like it’s your last night, so you won’t have any regrets.”
Can You Hear Me is currently on radio and streaming platforms. The video officially hits YouTube on Thursday, May 25, but you can watch it right now above. Hear more music from Kyle Richardson below, and find him on his website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
