MJ Cyr
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
MJ Cyr grew up in New Brunswick and began singing in her teens. Now hailing from Toronto, MJ's strong voice and unique songwriting is enough to grab your attention after the first listen. I was lucky enough to stumble across her the evening of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche in September and now I can't get enough. The Bottom Line, above, is one of my favourite songs from MJ. - http://buzz.roots.com
Ben‘s friend MJ is visiting the UK from Toronto at the moment. She and Ben used to play a lot together while he lived in Canada, and she’s here to do some recordings and play a few gigs on evenings off.
There’s some saxophone on MJ’s recordings, so I joined her and Ben onstage for a gig in the west end the other evening; the opening band apparently had the current Guardian single of the Week and, as so often happens in these music-industry-worthy situations, a large portion of the audience cleared off when they’d finished playing leaving us with a reduced but spirited audience. The reduction in numbers seemed to prove no problem to the atmosphere of the gig either; I can’t remember the last time I saw an audience react so positively to someone they’d never seen before.
MJ’s doing a couple more gigs whilst she’s over here, at Miss Q’s on the 6th, then The Hope and Anchor in Islington on the 13th. I heartily recommend you get down to one to check it out.
In the meantime, visit her website, complete with regularly updated dispatches from her British adventures, and also watch and listen on the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWliaa2Jqqw&feature=player_embedded#at=12 - Stuff from my Head (UK)
Discography
The Bottom Line - Dec 2008
Ladders - Mar 2010
Canopy - Apr 2012
Photos
Bio
MJ spent her childhood in rural New Brunswick. Too shy to even speak at age 5, MJ found a love for dance by age 10, and began singing in her teens.
Eventually, she made her way to musical theatre school in Toronto - finding joy in playful collaboration. Showtunes soon led to singing originals, then accompanying herself on guitar or keys while experiencing the thrill of writing her own material. Her downtown apartment became an impromptu jam space; a welcome place for fellow musicians to create, and play together. In this environment, MJ quickly found her unique voice among the array of instruments, pedals, and recording equipment. Indeed, Toronto has been fertile ground for MJ, having completed two EPs ('The Bottom Line' & 'Ladders'), music videos, and more than a few live shows around the city.
MJ has toured extensively in support of 'The Bottom Line', across Canada, The United States, and the UK. Its messages, and themes proved universal, and captured the attention of college radio; and it wasn't long before MJ quickly gained a new audience through word of mouth on her stirring live shows.
The follow up to the The Bottom Line is her new EP Ladders; another exhibition of MJs soaring, yet sensitive vocals and nuanced writing. Most of the material was written immediately before, and after shows, or while traveling to new places to perform, something less intentional than it was a sign of where she had found new inspiration.
Her latest work, Canopy, being released on April 29.
www.mjcyr.com
Band Members
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