Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Hilary Gauld
Some things come back in style – vinyl, bell bottoms, even the Backstreet Boys. But that relationship that finally pushed you past your limit? Leave it in the archives. “Comeback” is Amanda & James’ new chapter-closing, door-locking, don’t-text-me-at-3am anthem, written by Sam Davaiu (Ottawa), Ali Dutton (Calgary), and Joey DePaiva (Nashville). When Daviau first pitched the song, the duo immediately connected with its cheeky confidence and clever nostalgia.
Powered by a playful groove, bluesy melodies, and the soaring harmonies Amanda & James are known for, Comeback celebrates moving on for good – no reunion, no revival, no sequel, no Ross-and-Rachel energy here. We are definitely on a break … forever.
Produced by Matt Koebel (CMAO & CCMA nominee) and mixed/mastered by Brandon Unis (7x JUNO nominee), Comeback is a fun, fierce, hook-heavy soundtrack for anyone done with the on-again/off-again cycle. There ain’t no way we’re making a comeback, and honestly? It feels good.
I had the opportunity to chat with Amanda & James about their new single, their musical journey so far, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your new single “Comeback”?
Amanda & James: “Comeback” is a chapter-closing, door-locking, don’t-text-me-at-3 am anthem for people who are over that will-they-won’t-they relationship.
Some things come back in style – vinyl, bell bottoms, even the Backstreet Boys. But that relationship that finally pushed you past your limit? Leave it in the archives. “Comeback” is all about reclaiming your power with a wink: no reunion, no revival, no sequel, no Ross-and-Rachel energy. We’re not “on a break”… we’re on a permanent exit. It celebrates the moment you decide you’re worth more than another spin on the rollercoaster.
Kat: What do you hope fans take from the track?
A&J: There are so many sad break-up songs, but this one is playful. Sometimes letting go is not only freeing but fun. You hit the point of no return, and it’s satisfying to slam the door and celebrate walking away. We’ve had this song in our live set for a while now, and we always have a blast singing it. With its catchy groove, bluesy melodies, and soaring harmonies, audiences just love it. If fans are looking for an empowering soundtrack to the feeling of “I’m done,” this song is it. We hope people belt it out in the shower or in the car.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
A&J: Collaborating with other artists is amazing and challenging. Everyone brings their own ideas, and it’s always exciting and complicated to combine all that artistic energy. But when it works, it’s so awesome. Everyone knows that what makes the song the best it can be is the thing that matters most. And ultimately, when we’re deciding what to record, the best song wins. We’ve co-written with tons of other songwriters, but “Comeback” was pitched to us by Sam Daviau. She wrote it with Ali Dutton and Joey DePaiva. We connected with the song right away and then made it our own by changing a few lyrics, bumping the tempo, and giving it even more of a playful vibe.
Bringing a song to life requires so many different elements. “Comeback” was produced by Matt Koebel (CMAO & CCMA nominee) and mixed/mastered by Brandon Unis (7x JUNO nominee). We love how the song ended up – it’s a fun, fierce, hook-heavy tune for anyone done with the on-again/off-again cycle. We have to admit it feels pretty satisfying to sing “There ain’t no way we’re making a comeback.”
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
A&J: The last 14 months have been a whirlwind for us. We were working together here and there on some duets over the last few years and doing a lot of gigging together. Then something clicked when we put out our song “Another Round,” and our country version of “I’ve Had The Time of My Life.” We were having more success together than apart and having a great time working together. We finally decided to formally become a duo, and that decision created many new opportunities for us. We were nominated for Group or Duo of the Year at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards and got to perform at the Awards show last June – that was definitely a highlight of our year. Then, we played tons of summer shows, including headlining at Canada’s Wonderland and doing some sets at Boots in the Creek, Market Square, and more.
What have we learned? The music business can be gruelling. You have to be your own biggest fan, constantly believing in yourself and hustling for opportunities. We try to make sure the joy of it all stays front and centre. Balancing the fun and the hard work can be a challenge, but it’s definitely easier to do together. We are focused. We meet at least once a week to rehearse or tackle administrative things. People have no idea how much has to happen behind the scenes for a song to come out. We love what we do, but we also take it very seriously. It’s important for us to give this all we’ve got. We do a lot of laughing. It helps if you are genuinely friends and enjoy doing what you do.
Kat: What’s next?
A&J: We’re gearing up for an exciting 2026. We are planning shows, writing a ton of new music, and working on putting an album together. We have some shows planned in Mexico in February, so that will be a great escape from the cold Canadian weather. Alongside our Amanda & James live performances, we have a tribute show called Time of My Life: The Greatest Duets in Concert. It’s a show packed with all the popular duets people know and love from past and present – everything from “Islands In The Stream,” “Jackson,” and “From This Moment” to “Shallow,” “Need You Now,” that iconic song from Dirty Dancing, and even a few of our originals. We’ll be performing that show as well next year. There’s a lot of great stuff to look forward to.
Connect With Amanda & James:
Website: www.amandaandjamesmusic.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amandaandjamesmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandaandjamesmusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmandaAndJamesMusic