Locally known songwriter releases new single

WINDSOR – As this area moves into Stage 3 and life begins to return to some of its pre-pandemic rhythms, local pop/ soul singer-songwriter Crissi Cochrane is releasing a new single that speaks to the hard feelings of this strange summer.

In ‘Can We Go Back’, Crissi stirs up nostalgia for simpler, easier times, with a strong dose of soulful, feel-good vibes.

While writing the lyrics back in April, Crissi anticipated that the world would be in need of some soothing amidst the ongoing pandemic.

“I knew that this song would be coming out in the summer, when we’d all be feeling exhausted and worn-down by pandemic life,” says Crissi. “I think that we need art to tell our stories, and I wanted to contribute something that speaks to what it was like to be alive in this time.”

In tandem with its release on all major streaming platforms, the single is accompanied by an official music video, directed by Crissi’s husband and collaborator, Mike Hargreaves. The video captures the artist at home and wearing a mask in downtown Windsor.

“In the video, I’m exploring deserted spaces, trying to get a feel for whether or not it’s safe,” says Crissi, who last performed publicly in February at the release show for her 2020 album Heirloom. “At the end, I’m wearing my mask at the river – suggesting that no, I don’t feel safe, and I can’t go back just yet.”

Crissi Cochrane, as photographed by Heike Delmore.

‘Can We Go Back’ is Crissi’s first cowrite, created in collaboration with Dane Roberts, Austin Di Pietro, and Mike Hargreaves, also known as Soul Brother Mike – all fellow members of the Soul City Music Co-op, a music label co-founded at the start of 2020 by Crissi and Mike.

The single is available now on all major streaming platforms and on Crissi’s website, and the official music video can be found on YouTube.

Crissi fashions a sultry, soulful brand of popular music, combining her Nova Scotian singer-songwriter roots with her love of jazz, retro pop, and classic soul. Since going viral on Spotify with more than 13 million plays of her 2014 album Little Sway, Crissi has become a household name in Windsor-Essex, beloved for her silky vocals, expert songwriting, and fierce musicianship.

Her latest 2020 album ‘Heirloom’ features a small orchestra, with mix engineering by Juno-nominated engineer Brandon Unis. Crissi delivered a popular TEDx talk in 2017 on her side-hustle of writing custom love songs for listeners around the world and has showcased at festivals including the Junos and Canadian Music Week, and has also graced the stage of The Bank Theatre in Leamington.