Toronto-based artist Marshall Jacklin pries this question open with every note that leaves his mouth. Trained at York University as a pianist and vocalist, Jacklin has crafted a distinct sound that bridges the past, present, and future. Influences such as Ravel, Monk, Simone, Newman, DangerMouse, and Sparklehorse converge in Jacklin’s sonic universe. His approach merges classic songwriting and traditional arranging with modern production techniques—think string quartets over 808 beats, musique concrète blending with wavetable synthesis, and Harry Nilsson-inspired harmonies enveloping Carver-esque narrative lyricism.

“I am primarily interested in what songs can be, in a belief that they can exist beyond emotional immediacy; the form can express complex stories with the same diversity of subject and nuance as film, literature, or painting,” Jacklin says.

Following two live recordings in the summer of 2023, Jacklin released his first official single under his own name on November 23rd, 2023. A complete reworking of the emo classic “Came Out Swinging” by The Wonder Years, the song was featured on blogs Surviving The Golden Age and Tinnitist, and received airplay on numerous Canadian college radio stations. His subsequent two singles, “Movement” and “Salt,” were both featured on Exclaim’s The Eh List and received press from Canadian Beats and Obscure Sound. Currently, he is putting the finishing touches on his debut EP, “Your Hands – From Mine,” scheduled for release in late 2024.

A complete artist, Jacklin writes, produces, performs, arranges, and records his material. He has graced stages across Canada, connecting audiences with his crushed-velvet tenor and keyboard virtuosity. During his formative years, he performed alongside rising Ontario acts like Aysanabee, Jeremie Albino, and Ten Kills The Pack, and has opened for indie legends Dizzy and Chastity as a member of the band Native Other. Recently, at The Listening Party—an event showcasing new music from emerging artists held at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre—Jacklin’s latest piece left the audience in awed silence.

If you feel a wish to remember the immense beauty and gravity of everyday living, this music is for you.