With the release of Niagara, UK born, Canadian raised and Toronto-based singer-songwriter John Southworth has considerably upped his singular ante; this audacious, double record features nine rich, expansive songs on the Canadian side, with eleven mirrored counterparts on the American.

The result is a multi-faceted, one-of-a-kind album – a collection of gorgeously crafted songs blending a vast and distinct selection of popular song and folk styles – while unveiling revelatory insights into both American and Canadian psyches. For John, the two towns of Niagara Falls and the often-overlooked natural wonder that lies between have always contained hidden narratives, secrets and mythologies. John describes the Canadian side songs as “spacious, numinous, Scorpion and evergreen” and the American as, “unhinged, noir, mythical and metallic”.

His songs have been covered by or written for fellow Canadian artists Sarah Slean, Buck 65, Martin Tielli (Rheostatics), Veda Hille, Hawksley Workman and Jully Black, and he continues to garner praise from the likes of Canadian artists Feist, Ron Sexsmith and Gonzales. Recently John has authored Daydreams for Night, with illustrations by New York artist David Ouimet, to be published in fall 2014.

“Canada’s best kept secret” – Stewart Mason, Criticalmob

“A truly, true original” – Steve Guimond, The Montreal Hour

“Delightfully eccentric- whose capacity for a wide range of antiquated styles seems to have emerged from a time vacuum.” – New York Press