Alyson McNamara

“That was a huge lesson for me: if it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it,” says Alyson McNamara about “After Hours,” the opening track of her latest release Let Me Sleep. It’s a song that Alyson wrote nearly ten years ago and it was almost included on her 2018 album We All Heard Nothing. But the sonic layers and quick tempo of the 2018 version didn’t sit right with her so she scrapped the song.

Over the years, “After Hours” blossomed into something new and the version heard on Let Me Sleep has a hazy and laid-back vibe that sets the introspective mood of the entire record: “Take a deep breath,” Alyson urges. By the end of the track, she is revitalized and, ready to take on whatever comes next, declares: “Another page has been turned.” Let Me Sleep marks a new beginning for the Toronto-based indie-folk musician.

Alyson has toured across Canada with JUNO Award-winning band Said The Whale accompanying on-going collaborator Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club). She has recorded and performed with Canadian supergroup Anyway Gang and has opened for artists such as Sloan and Gregg Allman. She has accompanied and shared the stage with Canadian trail blazers Catherine Maclellan, Kaia Kater and Sarah MacDougall. Alyson has appeared on Paste Magazine NYC, BTR Live Studio and CBC First Play Live and has recorded with acclaimed producers Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck), Gus van Go (Sam Roberts, Whitehorse) and Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, U.S Girls).

Since her debut release in 2013, Alyson and her band settled into a groove of being a four-piece act of drums, guitar, bass, and keys. But ahead of making Let Me Sleep, Alyson began performing as a trio with her longtime collaborators Daniel McNamara (bass) and Kevin Richards (drums) and the stripped-down sound felt epiphanic and overhauled the direction of Let Me Sleep.

“Through performing as a trio, I realized how much space there was left for my vocals,” Alyson explains. “I was always curious about where the middle ground was between having that full-band sound and maintaining the intimate feeling of watching a singer-songwriter.”

Alyson’s intimate vocals, warm-crunchy electric guitar tones and connective lyrics expand upon the traditional idea of folk. Her style plays in a world somewhere between dream and reality. Immediately, listeners are brought to a place of peace, beautiful pain and comfort. Alyson’s writing style connects to her audience through empathy. The themes she writes about are often mental health, loss, hope, love, feminism, finding peace in being alone. Her listeners often comment that her songs bring them a sigh of relief, as they themselves feel heard. Alyson creates music that has a raw, relatable quality, cushioned by soothing and tasteful drums, bass, string arrangements and subtle background vocals. Her goal is to comfort listeners and let them know they aren't alone in feeling alone.

Alyson’s versatility as a performer allows her to convey her music in many different musical settings; confidently expressing her music as a solo act, full band and anything in between. She warms the room with her audience interaction and charm, honestly written songs and true passion for performing.