In partnership with Coalition Music, rising Toronto-based singer Ethan Young marks the label’s first signee with his single “Boring,” which arrives on Sept. 18.
Two major Canadian songwriters and producers are teaming to launch a new record label.
Nate Ferraro and Mike Wise have launched Chromatica Records, which they’ve described as an “artist-focused record label.”
The duo have quite the roster of artists they’ve worked with, including Beyoncé — Ferraro was one of five Grammy-nominated songwriters for his work on “Texas Hold ‘Em” alongside fellow Canadian songwriters Lowell and his writing partner bülow — plus Lady Gaga, Charli xcx, Chappell Roan, Alessia Cara and more.
With a mandate claiming to “intentionally stay close to the art,” the record label intends to be heavily involved in an artist’s work, from creation to production to release.
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“Like the chromatic scale, Chromatica is about including the whole picture when it comes to working with artists,” they share. “It’s about ignoring the usual metrics that the industry uses as a crutch and leaning into what’s behind the music.”
Ferraro and Wise met as teenagers back in the early 2000s, as members of Canadian alt-rock band The Midway State. Since then, they’ve earned Grammy and Juno nominations for their songwriting and production work, describing their transition from artists to writers to producers and now record label co-owners as “natural.”
The first signing at Chromatica Records is emerging Toronto-based singer Ethan Young, with his single, “Boring,” out Sept 18. Making bold, emotionally charged hyperpop, Young’s music is described as blending catchy melodies with raw, conversational songwriting that explores the messiness that comes with growing up.
"Boring" was his way of processing a bad date. "The person was great on paper, but when it came down to actually talking, there was no chat, no banter, and I felt like I was doing all the work to keep the conversation interesting," he tells Billboard Canada.
"I came into the studio that day wanting to write about the first thing that came to mind, and that experience immediately became the song. The hook basically wrote itself. Mike Wise then took it to another level with the production and made it into a really fun, high-energy track, which is kind of ironic considering the title."
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Citing his “long history” with Young, Ferraro says their working relationship helped him realize “how important artist development is,” and the lack of attention it gets “by the traditional music industry.”
“Ethan is a truly unique talent who has had our attention for some time, and we couldn’t be more excited about what we can build together,” Ferraro and Wise tell Billboard Canada.
But they aren’t doing it alone. The pair are teaming up with Cole Lanni and Mat Fruitman from artist management and independent record company Coalition Music, who will be their partners in launching Chromatica Records.
“We’ve been working together with Coalition Music for years in many different capacities, on both sides of the stage as producers, songwriters, artists, and now as label partners,” say Ferraro and Wise. “With them we feel incredibly well equipped and excited for this next chapter.”
Coalition Music boasts past and present partnerships with some of the country’s biggest acts, including Simple Plan, Our Lady Peace and Amanda Marshall, among others. Notably, they helped launch Punjabi-Canadian superstar Ikky's label, 4N Records, in partnership with Warner Music Canada and Warner Music India, which aimed to bridge the gap between India’s music scene and its global impact.
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Lanni and Fruitman plan to implement “the blueprint from that partnership” with Ferraro and Wise at Chromatica.
“Mike and Nate have an exceptional ability to recognize, nurture, and propel talent. Their creative instincts and their commitment to crafting great art are unmatched,” says Lanni. “We have a tremendous respect for them individually and are honoured to have been chosen to assist them as they pair up.”
