Vivienne Wilder - I Don't Believe (2022) [Hi-Res]

Drawn to outsider art and '90s indie music, Toronto's Vivienne Wilder tackles inner strength on her latest release 'I Don't Believe,' a reference to her dismissal of most evil actions as addictive power trips by individuals who are themselves feeling outcast. Over 8 tracks of Elastica-tinged indie mixed with the sax-laden The Zutons, while discussing Tom Waits with Mazzy Star inspired music, Vivienne Wilder delves into topics surrounding mental health, both her own and those around her. With a lauded, distinctive voice that's been strengthened through weekly YouTube livestreams during the pandemic, Wilder's take on the world is engaging, raw and at times raucous.

Anxiety, self-doubt, substance abuse, codependence and suicidal ideation are recurring themes in her writing, but her message grasps for those stories of hope, and rises them for us all to reach out and be drawn upwards.