Purveyors of: French hospitality, self-reflection, harmonicas.
File next to: Neil Young, Fruit Bats, José González.
Appearing: Wavelength Winter Fest 2025 Night 2: Ducks LTD. + Tallies + Alex Nicol + Priors + controller.controller + Essie Watts + Sad Stab (DJ Set): February 28, 2025 @ St. Anne’s Parish (651 Dufferin Street)
Alex Nicol is a folk singer/songwriter based in Montreal. In 2022, Nicol went viral on TikTok, amassing over 1.2 million views of him performing his original song “Bridge Back To Me”. Since then, the crooner has supported The House of Love (Creation Records) on their 30th Anniversary Tour across North America, appeared on Radio X in London and Radio Eins in Berlin, and released Been A Long Year Vol. 1 and 2.
In anticipation of his performance at Winter Fest 25, Wavelength’s Lian McMillan talked to Alex about how his writing has progressed and his relationship with the music industry.
WL: Welcome to Wavelength! We are so excited to have you join us on Night 2 of Wavelength Winter Fest. Which other act are you looking forward to catching on the lineup?
I’m excited to see Owen Pallet – I think he’s incredible and it’ll be my first time.
WL: You used to be a copywriter, and you are now a full time singer-songwriter. How did your relationship with writing and words change during this transition?
I’m bringing less fatigue to the table when I write now. I’m also trying to be more emotional, more reactive to the music, and less intellectual about the whole enterprise.
WL: Your songs feel like a confessional, is there someone you are speaking to in particular?
Mostly myself.
WL: What surprised you the most during your Europe tour this past fall?
The hospitality of the French – it’s customary to feed the artists and crew a hot meal before the show – and the road-side food and breathtaking beauty of Spain. I think Bilbao and Valencia were my two biggest surprises in terms of beauty and quality of life. I was surprised also in my ability, alongside Manu, to capture the attention of hundreds of people a night, in spite of the language barriers.
WL: Though you’ve been in the music scene for over a decade, you went viral on Tik Tok in 2022. In your experience, how has this app changed your relationship with the industry?
It’s opened me up to audiences – i.e. real people – rather than thinking I need the “gatekeepers” within the music industry to find my audience for me.
WL: What can the Wavelength audience expect from your set on February 28?
A trio set with plenty of vocal harmony and smiles on stage. Potentially a cover. Definitely a harmonica solo or two.
Friday night’s lineup will feature two floors of amazing guitar bands across a range of 21st century indie music styles.
Alex Nicol joins swoony dream-pop band Tallies and buzzy, jangly indie pop crew Ducks LTD upstairs at St. Anne’s Parish.
Downstairs features music from garage punk outlaws Priors, new wave tinged indie-pop project Essie Watts, and the return of Controller.Controller, a band whose infectious dance-punk sound left a mark on the 2000s.
All-vinyl DJ sets from the always amazing SadStab.
Thursday Feb 27- Saturday March 1
St. Anne’s Parish Hall
651 Dufferin Street, Toronto
Doors 7pm
$25 single tickets
$55 weekend pass
plus taxes and fees at DICE.FM
Tickets: https://bit.ly/WLwinter25
All Ages + Licensed