"Keep me awake"
Western Canadian alt-pop auteur Amelie Patterson is a songwriter’s songwriter with a golden reputation for her poetic craft and community-building. Her production and songwriting project Sound Keeper has secured placements with major clients like McDonald's. Following the success of The War EP, which featured the synth-heavy "Static" and the myth-inspired "Golden Line," Amelie now ventures into new territory with her latest single, Armageddon, out September 20th. Produced by Phenix Warren, the track blends a groovy, rootsy sound inspired by Lake Street Dive, Waxahatchee, and Gillian Welch, recorded in Calgary at Alta Studio with full-band backing. Armageddon was born out of a haunting personal experience: a forest fire in Kettle Valley that forced Amelie and her band to turn back during a tour. The event became a moment of reckoning about climate change, eerily paralleling the myth of Cassandra of Troy—able to foresee the future but never believed. With lyrics like “I’m gonna buy a new coat tomorrow, I’m gonna get my kicks today,” Amelie captures the frustration of witnessing a world on fire, knowing the warnings have long been ignored. Though lyrically heavy, the track eschews anxiety for a feel-good, roots and Americana vibe. Amelie notes, "I want the listener to feel good and groovy while listening, and if they want to tune into the lyrics and story, they can take a journey with me." Amelie’s refined folk roots are ever-present throughout her work, complemented by the collaborative spirit that defines her career. With performances alongside Reuban and The Dark, Serena Ryder, Matt Andersen, and Sarah Harmer, and accolades such as Alternative Recording of the Year at the YYC Music Awards, Amelie continues to make her mark as an artist and a community builder. She was also the inaugural poet laureate of Banff, Alberta, and a recipient of Calgary’s prestigious White Hat Award.