Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Provided via artist
Canadian alt-rock artist Nix Ironstone continues to build on her bold new rock sound with her new single “Sincerely, Me,” arriving on August 21 via Patriam Records on all streaming platforms. Watch the video here.
Produced by and co-written with powerhouse duo Chris Dimas and Taylor Perkins of JUNO Award-nominated band Bleeker, “Sincerely, Me” is a dynamic, alt-rock anthem that transforms the end of a one-sided, toxic friendship into a sarcastic yet empowering goodbye. Fuelled by soaring guitars, explosive hooks, and razor-sharp lyrics, the song captures the moment when frustration turns into freedom, leaving behind the need for closure and choosing yourself instead.
Driven by infectious energy and a chorus made to be shouted back from the stage, “Sincerely, Me” delivers a witty and unapologetic take on walking away from relationships that no longer serve you. Equal parts cathartic and fun, the track reminds listeners that setting boundaries isn’t cruel, it’s necessary. The track will be serviced to Active Rock radio in early September via industry veteran Steve Coady.
Nix has built a reputation as a passionate advocate for women in music through initiatives like HarmoniaFest and the Harmonia Songwriter Series.
With a bold shift in sound, Nix Ironstone is stepping fully into her most authentic artistic identity, delivering music that is raw, cinematic, and unapologetically powerful.
I had the opportunity to chat with Nix about her new single, her bold sound shift and what’s next.
Kat: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your musical journey so far?
Nix: I’m a Canadian singer-songwriter and artist who spent over a decade making country music under the name Nicole Rayy. That chapter of my career gave me so much! I released a lot of music, performed across Canada and internationally, earned ten CMAOntario Award nominations and built an incredible community around what I was doing. But creatively, I started to realize there was another side of me that I hadn’t fully explored yet.
There had always been a darker, heavier influence underneath my music and eventually I reached a point where I didn’t want to keep trying to fit myself into a particular box. Stepping fully into Nix Ironstone was really about giving myself permission to follow those instincts completely. Now I’m making music that lives in the alternative rock and goth-pop world, while still holding onto the storytelling that has always been at the centre of what I do. It feels less like I became a completely different artist and more like I finally stopped holding parts of myself back.
Kat: You’ve described this new chapter of your music as a bold shift in sound. How would you describe the evolution of your sound and the artist you’re becoming?
Nix: The biggest evolution has been letting myself be louder and a little less polished emotionally. I spent a long time thinking about where a song was supposed to fit, and now I’m much more interested in whether it feels like me.
I’ve always been drawn to darker production, cinematic moments and songs that have some bite to them, so this chapter is really about bringing all of those influences to the forefront. At the same time, I don’t want to lose the vulnerability or storytelling that has always been part of my songwriting. The difference now is that I’m not pulling anything back or worrying about how a song is going to be categorized. I’m letting each song go where it naturally wants to go and embracing all the things I’ve always loved musically. Nix Ironstone feels like the most honest version of me as an artist because, for the first time, I’m creating without putting boundaries around what my music is allowed to be.
Kat: What was the inspiration behind your new single, “Sincerely, Me”?
Nix: “Sincerely, Me” came from the end of a friendship that had become really unhealthy. Friendship breakups are strange because they can hurt just as deeply as romantic breakups, but we don’t always give ourselves the same permission to grieve them or even talk about them.
The idea that unlocked the song was essentially, what if you could send a sympathy card to someone for the loss of your friendship? From there, it became this sarcastic condolence card to someone who lost access to you because of the way they treated you. There’s anger in the song, but there’s also humour and freedom in it. It isn’t really about sitting in the hurt anymore. It’s about reaching the point where you can say, “I’m done, I choose myself, and you’re the one who has to live with losing me.”
Kat: What was the creative process like for this single? Any unique challenges or memorable moments you can share with us?
Nix: I brought the idea for “Sincerely, Me” into the writing room with Chris Dimas and Taylor Perkins of Bleeker. I had been going through the fallout of a friendship and had this idea of writing a song that essentially felt like a sympathy card to someone for the loss of my friendship. I knew I wanted it to have that sarcastic edge rather than simply being a sad friendship-breakup song, and Chris and Taylor immediately understood what I was going for.
One of my favourite things about writing with them is how willing they are to really chase an idea and push it as far as it can go. We had so much fun finding lines that played into the language of a sympathy card while still telling the real story underneath it. The song came from something genuinely painful, but we were able to turn that hurt into something empowering, sarcastic and fun. Musically, they also understood exactly where I wanted to take the song and helped give it the heavier alt-rock energy and edge I was looking for.
Kat: What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Nix: More than anything, I want people to feel understood. A lot of my songs live in emotions that aren’t necessarily neat or pretty, and I think there’s something really freeing about allowing yourself to feel those things instead of pretending you’re above them.
With “Sincerely, Me” specifically, I hope people walk away feeling empowered to choose themselves. You don’t always get the apology, explanation or closure you think you need, and sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is close the door yourself. If someone can scream the chorus in their car and feel a little lighter afterward, then the song has done its job.
Kat: What has been the most rewarding experience of your music career so far?
Nix: It’s difficult to choose one moment because some of the most rewarding parts of my career haven’t necessarily been the biggest or most obvious milestones. Of course, things like award nominations, hearing my music on the radio and getting to perform on incredible stages are moments I’m extremely grateful for. But I think the most rewarding thing has been building something that has lasted and continuing to evolve within it.
Making the decision to step fully into Nix Ironstone after more than a decade of making music under a different name was terrifying, but seeing people embrace this side of me has been incredibly rewarding. There’s something really special about having listeners who have been with me for years come along for the evolution while also watching completely new people discover the music. At this point in my career, being able to make something that feels genuinely authentic to me and have it connect with somebody else feels like the biggest win.
Kat: You’ve become a strong advocate for women in music through initiatives like HarmoniaFest and the Harmonia Songwriter Series. Why is creating space and opportunities for women in the industry so important to you?
Nix: It became important to me because I saw firsthand how much harder it is for women to access the same opportunities, particularly ones where we aren’t treated as the exception in the room. I didn’t want to just talk about wanting things to change; I wanted to create something tangible that could help.
That’s ultimately why I started HarmoniaFest, which just celebrated its seventh year. The goal has always been bigger than simply putting women on a stage. It’s about creating a space where artists can perform, build relationships, learn from one another and feel like there is room for all of us. The Harmonia Songwriter Series grew from that same philosophy on a more intimate scale, bringing songwriters together to share their music and the stories behind it.
I’ve always believed that supporting another artist doesn’t take anything away from your own career. There is room for more than one woman to succeed, and the more we create opportunities for each other, collaborate and genuinely champion each other, the stronger the entire music community becomes.
Kat: What else can fans expect from you this year?
Nix: “Sincerely, Me” is really another piece of the world I’m building with Nix Ironstone rather than a standalone moment. I’ve been back in the studio with Chris and Taylor working on more songs, and I’m really excited about how much further we’re pushing the sound. Each new song is helping define this project a little more.
There will also be more live shows and plenty more from this era throughout the rest of the year as I continue building toward my first album as Nix Ironstone, which is planned for 2027. I can’t wait to keep taking people on this journey with me, and I’m so excited for everyone to hear where the music goes next.
Connect With Nix:
Facebook: @NixIronstone
X: @nixironstone
TikTok: @nixironstone
Instagram: @nicolerayymusic
Website: https://nixironstone.com/