Joe Lapinski’s “New Day”: A Bold Journey Through Trauma, Healing, and Love

Canadian indie artist Joe Lapinski unveils his bold and deeply personal new album, New Day, a genre-blurring exploration of identity, community, trauma, and healing. At the heart of the album is its theatrical and liberating focus track, “Set Free,” a passionate plea to break cycles of addiction and self-sabotage in the name of love.

Produced in close collaboration with longtime creative partner Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Gord Downie’s Country of Miracles), New Day is Lapinski’s most sonically adventurous and emotionally resonant release to date. Across its tracks, Lapinski channels life-altering transitions—opening a studio, becoming a father—into songs that wrestle with what it means to surrender to growth.

“Set Free” stands as a powerful centerpiece, blending indie rock punch with glam-era theatricality, calling to mind early Bowie and Bahamas in its fearless emotional range. It plays like a duet between two people desperate to connect, but haunted by inner baggage—a raw, slow-burn anthem made for anyone who’s ever felt like their past keeps them from the love they want.

“‘Set Free’ is a passionate scream – a cry to be free from your baggage, your addictions, your fear so you can finally let love in. It’s about pushing past what’s holding you back, not just for yourself, but for someone you care about. A thread that runs through New Day is ‘letting go.’ If we let love rule, we’ll find a deeper happiness, as well as a deeper connection to the people around us, and our community,” says Joe Lapinski, distilling the emotional core of the album and its title track.

A fixture of the Canadian independent music scene, Joe Lapinski is a songwriter, performer, producer, and sound designer based in St. Catharines, Ontario. He collaborates widely—with Minuscule, The Woodshed Orchestra, Rita & The Daydreamers—and is the founder of WOW! Recording Studio & Creative Music Space, a hub for artistic experimentation and community building.

New Day, co-produced with Dave Clark, features performances by Laurel Minnes, Jillian Rene Smith, Ian de Souza, and more. The album weaves Lapinski’s signature blend of lyrical vulnerability and musical experimentation through themes of letting go, leaning in, and trusting love over fear.

“We pushed the envelope on this one, and it paid off. There were tears of joy and laughter throughout the process. In the end, the album’s narrative turned out to be both deeply personal and universal. I love it,” shares Dave Clark, highlighting the creative synergy behind the record.

With singles like “Hurt A Bird,” “I Know This,” and now “Set Free,” New Day cements Lapinski’s place as a powerful voice in contemporary indie rock—one unafraid to go deep and dance through the fire at the same time. The album’s genre-defying sound reflects the emotional complexity of its themes, delivering an immersive experience that invites listeners to confront their own struggles with honesty and courage.

“Set Free” in particular serves as an emotional rallying cry, urging listeners to confront the chains that bind them and to embrace vulnerability as a path to liberation. The theatrical flair of the track, underscored by glam rock influences, amplifies the urgency of this message, creating a soundscape that is as cathartic as it is captivating.

Through New Day, Joe Lapinski reaffirms his commitment to exploring the human condition with honesty and artistic daring. The album’s rich textures and evocative storytelling invite audiences to join him on a journey toward healing—one that is marked by both pain and hope, surrender and strength.

In a music scene often dominated by surface-level themes, Lapinski’s New Day stands out as a bold statement about the power of music to transform and heal. With “Set Free” leading the charge, the album offers a heartfelt reminder that letting go and trusting love can open the door to a truly new day.