Lisa SQ Reflects, Reels, and Unravels on Debut Album “Reel Me In”

Montreal-born, Hamilton-based multidisciplinary artist Lisa SQ unveils her debut full-length album, Reel Me In, a kaleidoscopic reflection of her late 20s and early 30s. The album is filled with snapshots of introspection, growth, and playful sonic experimentation, released alongside the brooding, atmospheric lead single “Teeth.” The project captures Lisa SQ’s knack for turning life’s sticky moments into artful indie-pop catharsis.

“Reel Me In is kind of a sonic photo album,” she shares. “It’s a collection of songs that have grown from me trying to get to know myself better during a perplexing time of life. Naturally, some of the songs are moodier and more introspective, but overall I think there’s a playfulness fuelling the whole thing.”

Half recorded overseas on the Isle of Wight in a converted stone abbey, and half captured during impromptu “birthday sessions” in Toronto with a crew of close friends, Reel Me In thrives on spontaneity, collaboration, and imperfection. The project was produced by Tyler Kyte (Dwayne Gretzky), Ian Docherty (July Talk), and David Granshaw, bridging continents and creative circles—from late-night jams at Toronto’s Dwaynespace to sun-soaked sessions in the English countryside. This blend of locations and collaborators infuses the album with a sense of movement and unpredictability, mirroring the emotional landscapes Lisa SQ explores in her lyrics.

At the heart of the album is “Teeth,” a hypnotic swirl of dream-pop textures and lyrical bite. “Have you ever been crushed by the thing you love?” Lisa SQ asks. “‘Teeth’ is young love and falling hard. It’s lapping up the poison of pop culture romance – the glamourized torment of Ross and Rachel. Bonnie and Clyde, doomed from the start.”

The single originated from a moody, Twin Peaks-inspired instrumental by Ian Docherty, which Lisa SQ transformed into a disarming meditation on infatuation, jealousy, and self-realization. “The main motif was very evocative – dredging up all kinds of memories and feelings from early relationships I thought I had cleverly tucked away,” she explains. “It kind of broke me open in a weird way. I tried to lean into it and dredge up some young love.”

With its lush blend of synths, guitars, and eerie harmonies, “Teeth” builds toward an explosive finale, complete with a spontaneous French verse that dissolves into a sombre cacophony. “It’s not trying to tie things up in a pretty bow,” Lisa SQ says. “But instead letting things fall apart in atmospheric chaos.” The track exemplifies her approach across the album: embracing imperfection, unpredictability, and the raw energy of lived experience.

Lisa SQ’s multidisciplinary approach shapes not only the sound but also the emotional core of her work. Raised in a bilingual Montreal household, she grew up fluent in French and English, fostering a lyrical dexterity that imbues her indie-pop and art-pop compositions with nuance, wit, and intimacy. Her influences range widely, from Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf to David Bowie and El Perro del Mar, informing an eccentric, emotionally resonant sound that balances nostalgic warmth with avant-garde experimentation.

Throughout Reel Me In, Lisa SQ finds strength in vulnerability and beauty in imperfection while exploring how connection, creativity, and community can reel us back to ourselves. “I think each song can be linked to a moment of personal growth,” she says. “Without getting too existential, I think the heart of the album is about how the quality of our relationships to others and to ourselves is what really brings value and purpose to our lives.”

From spontaneous recordings to intricate sonic textures, Reel Me In positions Lisa SQ as a deeply imaginative voice in contemporary indie-pop, capable of transforming personal reflection into vivid, boundary-pushing art. It is at once intimate and expansive, playful and profound, a debut that marks both arrival and evolution.