Talk (musician)

Last updated

Talk
Background information
Birth nameNicholas Durocher
Born Ottawa, Ontario
Genres Indie rock
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass guitar
Years active2021–present
Labels Capitol Records

Nicholas Durocher, known professionally as Talk, is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician from Ottawa, Ontario, best known for his 2021 hit single "Run Away to Mars". [1]

Contents

Career

A native of Ottawa, Durocher has been active in the music business for a number of years, including a stint as a bassist in a country band, but had limited success prior to the early 2020s. Out of work, he was forced to move back to his parents' basement in the suburban neighbourhood of Stittsville in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] Feeling lonely and depressed, he wrote "Run Away to Mars" overnight after watching the film Interstellar . [1]

He released the song in June 2021 as his debut single, [3] and followed up in November with the EP Talk to Me. "Run Away to Mars" was moderately successful at first, but received a boost in 2022 when it went viral on TikTok, hitting the streaming charts in several countries. [1] By January 2023, the song had reached #1 on Billboard's Adult Alternative charts. [4] It also reached a peak of 22 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. [5]

In 2023, he participated in an all-star recording of Serena Ryder's single "What I Wouldn't Do", which was released as a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health. [6] A single, "Wasteland", which has been performed live on occasions, was featured on the soundtrack of MLB The Show 23 and was released on streaming platforms in late September 2023. Following the release of the song, he announced that his first album, Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees would be released on October 20, 2023.

In October 2023 he was the opening act for three shows during Shania Twain's 2023 Queen of Me Tour.

He received several Juno Award nominations at the Juno Awards of 2024, including Breakthrough Artist of the Year (which he won), Songwriter of the Year for the songs "Afraid of the Dark", "A Little Bit Happy" and "Wasteland", Album of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year for Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees, and Single of the Year for "A Little Bit Happy". [7]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
CAN
[8]
Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees
  • Released: 20 October 2023
  • Format: Digital download, CD
  • Label: Capitol Records
33

EPs

List of EPs, with selected details
TitleDetails
Talk to Me
  • Released: 19 November 2021
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: DooGood

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
CAN
[5]
CAN
Rock

[9]
NOR
[10]
SWE
[11]
US
AAA

[12]
US
Alt

[13]
US
Rock

[14]
"Run Away to Mars"20222214291622Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees
"How to Save a Life"Non-album single
"Afraid of the Dark"202347Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees
"A Little Bit Happy"75
"Wasteland"3
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Days Grace</span> Canadian rock band

Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992 originally as Groundswell. Groundswell played in various local Norwood backyard parties and area establishments before disbanding in 1995 and regrouping in 1997 under its current name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathleen Edwards</span> Canadian singer-songwriter and musician

Kathleen Margaret Edwards is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. Her 2002 debut album, Failer, contained the singles "Six O'Clock News" and "Hockey Skates". Her next two albums – Back to Me and Asking for Flowers – both made the Billboard 200 list and reached the top 10 of Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart. In 2012, Edwards' fourth studio album, Voyageur, became Edwards' first album to crack the top 100 and top 40 in the U.S., peaking at #39 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #2 in Canada. In 2012, Edwards' song "A Soft Place To Land" won the SOCAN Songwriting Prize, an annual competition that honours the best song written and released by 'emerging' songwriters over the past year, as voted by the public. Her musical sound has been compared to Suzanne Vega meets Neil Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Desman</span> Canadian singer, songwriter (b. 1982)

Shawn Bosco Fernandes, known by his stage name Shawn Desman, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, dancer, and choreographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serena Ryder</span> Canadian musician

Serena Lauren Ryder is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Born in Toronto, she grew up in Millbrook, Ontario. Ryder first gained national recognition with her ballad "Weak in the Knees" in 2007 and has released eight studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leela Gilday</span> Canadian musician

Leela Gilday is a Dene-Canadian singer songwriter, born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She has released five solo albums since 2002, two of which have won the Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year.

<i>Is It O.K.</i> 2008 studio album by Serena Ryder

Is It O.K. is the third major label album by Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder. The album was released on November 11, 2008, in Canada. The singles for this album are "Little Bit of Red", "All for Love", and "What I Wanna Know". The album won Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Strumbellas</span> Canadian band

The Strumbellas are a Canadian rock band from Lindsay, Ontario, formed in 2008. Their music has been described as alternative country, indie rock, and gothic folk.

<i>Harmony</i> (Serena Ryder album) 2012 album by Serena Ryder

Harmony is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder. The album was released on November 27, 2012 in Canada, and on August 27, 2013 in the USA. A French edition featuring bilingual versions of two songs was released for the Quebec market on September 24, 2013. It received three Juno Award Nominations in 2013, winning Adult Alternative Album with five more (pending) nominations the following year including Album of the Year. The album was co-written and produced by Jarrod Bettis and Jon Levine and mixed by Joe Zook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stompa (song)</span> 2012 single by Serena Ryder

"Stompa" is a song performed by Canadian singer/songwriter Serena Ryder. The song was written by Ryder and Jerrod Bettis for Ryder's sixth studio album, Harmony (2012). The song was released as the lead single from the album in September 2012 in Canada, and then in February 2013 in the United States. On February 15, 2013, a French version of the song was released to Canadian iTunes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What I Wouldn't Do</span> 2012 single by Serena Ryder

"What I Wouldn't Do" is a song performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder, which was released as a single in November 2012. The song was written by Ryder and Jerrod Bettis for Ryder's fifth studio album, Harmony. The song was released as the second single from the album in Canada. The song was featured in a 2013 episode of Grey's Anatomy and Rookie Blue, however, release of the single in the United States was delayed due to the success of Serena's previous single "Stompa".

Hill Kourkoutis is a Canadian songwriter, producer, mixer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, director and actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Roy</span> Canadian pop singer and songwriter (born 1989)

Jonathan Piuze-Roy is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. Son of Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, he initially pursued hockey in junior leagues, and started to switch paths in favour of music in 2007 after his father encouraged him away from hockey. He has released three albums, and his major-label debut, Mr. Optimist Blues, was released in 2017, which includes several songs written by 1980s pop star Corey Hart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Prince (musician)</span> Canadian musician

William Prince is a Canadian folk and country singer-songwriter based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Reklaws are a Canadian country music duo from North Dumfries, Ontario, formed in 2012. The duo consists of siblings Stuart and Jenna Walker. They have released three albums, Freshman Year, Sophomore Slump, and Good Ol' Days. The duo has achieved four number one hits with "Feels Like That", "Can't Help Myself", "11 Beers", and "Honky Tonkin' About" on the Canada Country chart, in addition to multiple gold and platinum certified singles.

Oluwatobi Feyisara Ajibolade, known professionally as Tobi , is a Nigerian born Canadian singer and rapper signed to RCA Records and Same Plate Entertainment. He released his debut studio album Still in May 2019, his second album Elements Vol. 1 in 2020, and his third album PANIC in 2023.

Ryland James Clark, known professionally as Ryland James, is a Canadian pop singer from Deseronto, Ontario, whose self-titled debut EP was released in 2020.

Wild Rivers is a Canadian folk band from Toronto, Ontario. It consists of Devan Glover (vocals), Khalid Yassein, and Andrew Oliver. The band released their self-titled debut album in 2016. Their second studio album, Sidelines, was released on February 4, 2022.

Briannah Donolo, known professionally as Rêve,(born 2 March, 1996) is a Canadian singer and songwriter, signed with 31 East / Universal Music Canada. Her single "Ctrl + Alt + Del" was certified gold in Canada on 15 February 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawnee Kish</span>

Shawnee Kish is a Mohawk singer-songwriter from Canada. She is most noted as a Juno Award nominee for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022, for her self-titled debut EP.

Preston Pablo is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Timmins, Ontario. He is most noted as a three-time Juno Award nominee at the Juno Awards of 2023, winning the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award, and receiving nods for Single of the Year for "Flowers Need Rain", and the Fan Choice Award.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Weaver, Jackson (January 5, 2023). "TALK's hit song Run Away to Mars came out of 'loneliness and the pandemic'". CBC News.
  2. Boswell, Randy (October 6, 2022). "From Stittsville to Mars, the unlikely journey of Ottawa musician Nick Durocher". Ottawa Citizen.
  3. Scott, Jason (June 28, 2021). "Daily Discovery: TALK Shoots For The Stars With Debut Single, 'Run Away To Mars'". American Songwriter.
  4. Kevin Rutherford, Rutherford, Kevin (January 20, 2023). "TALK Scores His First Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1 With 'Run Away to Mars". Billboard .
  5. 1 2 "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of August 5, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  6. Furdyk, Brent (March 2, 2023). ""Feel Out Loud: Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder & More Canadian Artists Collaborate On New Single Promoting Youth Mental Health Initiative"". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023.
  7. "Here are all the 2024 Juno nominees". CBC Music, February 6, 2024.
  8. "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of November 4, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  9. "Billboard Canadian Rock". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  10. "Discography Talk". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  11. "Discography Talk". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  12. "Billboard Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  13. "Billboard Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  14. "Billboard Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  15. "Canadian certifications – Talk". Music Canada . Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  16. "Sverigetopplistan – Talk" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved April 27, 2024.