Three years after sharing their debut album Communion, Toronto-based songwriter Ella Coyes is gearing up for the release of their sophomore record as Sister Ray this Friday via Royal Mountain Records. Believer is a continuation of the languid folk-rock introduced on the project’s early singles like “Crucified” which were further honed in 2023 with their Teeth EP. What we’ve heard of Believer so far features a richer sound, with the opening title track defined by a gentle blend of instrumentation underneath a lulling sax intro and Coyes’ lyrics about online sleuthing.
It’s this track that Coyes brings to their “Neighborhoods” session, filmed on a rooftop in Toronto. Set up in front of the apt backdrop of a drab gray skyline, the songwriter—bundled up for the winter weather—strums through the single on guitar with nothing but a hint of reverb masking the track’s raw lyrics. Check it out below, and pre-order Believer here.
