Matt Holubowski / Vera Sola

Born of a Polish father and Canadian mother, Matt Holubowski grew up in a bilingual household in Hudson, Canada, and has always lived at the crossroads of the French and English languages. The notion of the isolation of two cultures within a single territory (the province of Quebec) fascinates this globe-trotter. With his second album, Solitudes, the self-taught musician, poet, and composer offers 11 titles that evoke isolation, estrangement, and exile while delving into the forms of solitude we seek and often need.

Holubowski’s unmistakable voice and steadfast personality was revealed to some during his appearance as a finalist on the popular television show La Voix. He has since worked tirelessly, surrounding himself with invaluable musical collaborators such as Stéphane Bergeron (Karkwa) on drums, Marc-André Landry (Chloé Lacasse) on bass, Simon Angell (Patrick Watson) on guitar, and Marianne Houle (Antoine Corriveau) on cello. The resulting Solitudes sold more than 30,000 units since its release on September 23; its tour will take Holubowski to more than 80 cities.

Vera Sola is a poet, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist.

A drifter performing her own songs alone in and out of dark bars under various pseudonyms, Vera Sola has toured and recorded with a variety of artists, for a long while accompanying singer-songwriter Elvis Perkins on the road. She has collaborated on film scores and provided original music for theater and performance art.

In early 2017, she experienced a total shift in relation to her voice and musicianship, and only then was she compelled to record and release her own songs. In the days following, hiding out in a studio in St. Louis, Missouri, she wrote, arranged, and performed all the parts on her upcoming LP, Shades.