These are Halifax’s best songwriters of 2024

From poetic verses to clever turns of phrase. Catchy melodies to soft but powerful chord progressions. There’s much to appreciate about the songwriting process, whether it be lyrical or compositional.

Most artists will tell you one of two stories—a tune that came to them out of nowhere, or a demo that’s been sitting unfinished for years on a dusty old hard drive. Some will share stories of both. Songwriting is far from easy, but if you’ve ever attempted to pen a diddy yourself, you’ll know that it can be one of the most rewarding exercises for a creative, even if the public never hears a note.

For those artists who not only commit to the gruelling process but then share their work with the world, we have the Best of Halifax awards, where the city has nominated musicians from across the creative spectrum to go head-to-head for gold. Once more, our series of nomination summaries will tackle the city’s best songwriters.

If you haven’t already, make sure to vote for your favourite musicians, restaurants, public figures, and much more at the Best of Halifax website.

Mel Farrimond

Farrimond is a powerhouse on the piano. Weaving delicate keys with softly sung words of encouragement, this Scotland-born and Musquodoboit Harbour-based musician has over a decade and a half of professional recording experience. She released her first EP, Melancholy, in 2008. In 2011, this was followed by her full-length debut, Through the Darkness, featuring some of her best songwriting, including tracks like the reflective and powerful “Moon Song”. Most recently, Farrimond released her single “It Takes Time” in 2023. She also has plenty of experience in songwriter circles, even hosting the Bluebird North songwriters’ showcase for the Songwriters’ Association of Canada.

Joel Plaskett

Plaskett is a veteran of the Halifax music scene, having made waves across the country for his creative songs and ever-evolving sound. He also happens to be last year’s gold winner in this category and has won the title frequently over the years. Perhaps his biggest hit, “Nowhere With You”, has been an anthem at East Coast parties for nearly 20 years. His more recent catalogue is nothing to scoff at, as his 2024 album One Real Reveal shows that Plaskett hasn’t come close to running out of creative juices. With a stripped-back acoustic sound recorded on a four-track cassette machine, Plaskett’s folksy charm remains in full force, and his drive to do something different on each of his records is admirable.

Alexander Gallant

An acoustic tour-de-force, Gallant’s songs are as folksy as they are beautiful. His soft singing pairs well with plucky guitars, and his 2023 album Waiting Table Blues is indicative of Gallant’s strengths. Even then, the multi-instrumentation on his latest single “It’ll Make You Laugh” shows that he’s far from a one-trick-pony. As his Bandcamp page describes, Gallant touches on everything from the profound to the absurd, and he does so with such skill and sublimity that it’s hard not to feel like he’s in the room with you when you’re listening.

Michelle Ryder

Music that aims for nostalgia for a previous era is difficult to produce. It can feel bloated with sonic references, or it can completely miss the mark on what made songs from that bygone time work. Sometimes, it can just feel too dated. None of this can be applied to the original songs from Michelle Ryder and Side Hustle, who have nailed 1980s rock aesthetics on their last two singles, “Lie to Me” and “Closer to You”. Ryder’s soaring vocals pair well with the slow, nostalgia-drenched instrumentation. Their experience covering music from a wide variety of genres has no doubt influenced their original work, but these two singles are as original as 1980s nostalgia can get.

Jordan Turnbull (Where Giants Once Stood)

The vocalist and guitarist of Halifax alternative metal band Where Giants Once Stood has had a great year with two fantastic singles— ”Try As I May” and “So Comes The End”. While they are also known for their many covers, the band’s original tracks feature a blend of different elements of metal: guttural screams, heavy guitar distortion, a melodic chorus, and a perfect sense of melodrama. With themes of betrayal laden throughout, Turnbull and Where Giants Once Stood have proven that they’re one of the city’s top metal acts.

Eliza Rhinelander

The poetic stylings of this young singer-songwriter have already attracted quite the audience, having had her debut EP Good Old Days crowdfunded in 2023 for a 2024 release. Now that it’s available, it’s easy to see why folks were quick to help Eliza Rhinelander: her simple yet sweet acoustic sound with romance-focused storytelling is finely crafted. She is yet another stand-out folk artist in Halifax with a sound that could rival Taylor Swift’s own attempts at folk.

Adam Baldwin

Another Halifax mainstay, Dartmouth’s Adam Baldwin has been serenading us with his indie folk tunes for nearly 20 years. He delves deep into acoustic-focused tunes with support from a bevy of folksy instrumentation, such as fiddles, all paired with a charming country affectation and clever storytelling. His recent live recording of “Dark Beside the Dawn” paints a clear picture of Baldwin’s talents, and his song “Lighthouse in Little Lorraine” is one of the most entertaining storytelling songs to come from the East Coast.