JP Maurice is an incredibly talented musician. His style of indie pop in many ways redefines what pop music can be. It’s catchy, has depth, and most of all, hits hard lyrically. He’s been a staple of the Vancouver music scene for a long time now.
While he is a great performer, where he really shines is in production. His Mom bought him a Tascam 4track tape recorder when he was 14, and the rest, as they say, is history.
As he developed his abilities in the studio, he produced music for Hannah Georges, Gold + Youth, Said the Whale, Hey Ocean, Shad, Mother Mother, and even Pink!
He’s made five albums as a performer, starting with Noverdubs in 2011. It’s mellow and soothing. He followed that up with The Arborist in 2013, which is more up-tempo than his debut release. It still has that mellow vibe to it, but it feels more layered and energetic.
Years went by until he released his third album in 2018, called Boys. In typical JP Maurice fashion, this so-called pop album redefines the genre. It’s so much more than pop. I’m a big fan of “Shapeshifter” and “Yo Yo.” He released A Blue Light Christmas in 2019. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of Christmas music, so this album isn’t for me. But if Christmas music is up your alley, you’ll enjoy this one.
Pressure Makes Diamonds (2021) was his fifth album, and in my opinion, his best. The tone is much different from his previous albums, and I think this makes for a unique sound. I think the fact that it came out during the pandemic The lead single, “Unstoppable” is optimistic and sends a strong message. “Runaway” is one of his most energetic songs, and it’s one where I can’t help but tap my foot and bob my head. It’s a jam. I think my favorite song though is “Black as Black.” It gives me the feeling of riding a horse at sundown in the scorching heat. The line “I was lost, and I wasn’t sure what I was meant to be” speaks to me. It brings me back to where I was a couple of years ago before I went back to school and my life was running in circles.
His final release, an EP called Twins, was released on January 1st this year. It was made alongside Chris Gay and Kate Nash. It feels a lot more experimental but still has a lot going for it. Worth a listen for sure.
If you want to see JP Maurice live, you’ll get your chance in June. He plays at Guilt & Co in Vancouver on June 10th and follows that up with shows in Nanaimo, Victoria, Comox, and Salt Spring Island from June 14th – 17th.
If you can’t make it, don’t fret. You can hear JP Maurice consistently on Evolution 107.9. Tune in now!