Victoria Houser knows you don’t like her When You’re Sober — and the feeling’s mutual in her bittersweet new Americana single and performance video, showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The first preview of the Nova Scotia-bred, Toronto-based country-roots artist’s upcoming EP Somewhere Close To Home, When You’re Sober cleverly disguises a tale of love’s demise with the cheerful clinking of glasses and lively tunes. A refreshing and authentic take on relationships, wrapped in an unforgettable Americana melody, the track aims to make you laugh while tugging at your heartstrings:
“We’ll grab some whiskey and some wine
Something to help us pass the time…
I’ll take a Bulleit to the heart
Jack and Jamie do your part
Don’t you leave us all alone,
‘Cause if we go home, it’ll all fall apart.
Cause you don’t like me when you’re sober
Don’t want me when the party’s over.”
“I love to write songs that tell a story, and for When You’re Sober, I aimed to tell a tale that would make listeners feel a little sad and a little amused, juxtaposed with a catchy melody, to showcase the complexities of relationships (and couples who drink) in a light-hearted way,” says Houser.
“The song touches on something many of us can relate to — staying blind to problems in a relationship… at all costs. Beneath the whiskey and wine-soaked facade of When You’re Sober lies a poignant narrative of a relationship held together by a fun night out, even as it teeters on the brink of collapse.”
Musically, When You’re Sober delivers a warm palette of sounds. Acoustic guitars are accompanied by walking bass, bell-like electrics, train track drums, Calexico-style trumpets, and dancing fiddles, with each instrument acting as a character in her story. Along with Houser on vocals and acoustic guitar, Somewhere Close To Home features Chris Staig on electric and acoustic guitars, Dennis Mohammed on bass, David MacDougall on drums, Shelley Coopersmith on fiddle and Tim Hamel on trumpet. The EP was recorded at Lincoln County Social Club in Toronto, with engineering and mixing duties by John Dinsmore and mastering by Andrew Seok. The video for When You’re Sober was shot and directed by Joy Webster and Nick Tiringer, with sound engineering by Michael Legere.
Houser’s musical journey began organically, influenced by her upbringing. She seamlessly combines country and folk elements with an East Coast flair, drawing inspiration from musical luminaries such as Gillian Welch, Neko Case, Lucinda Williams and Anne Murray. The result is a rich blend of traditional country, modern folk, deep roots, and singer-songwriter influences, delivering authentic and heartfelt storytelling at its core.
Watch the video for When You’re Sober above, listen to the song below and toast Victoria Houser on her website.
