Growing up in Whitehorse, Declan O’Donovan first learned piano from a ragtime player. While his music has evolved far beyond that early influence, he’s never forgotten how to sink into a swinging groove. O’Donovan has led a nomadic existence, relocating to Montreal with his popular bar band Scotch early in his career. He later moved to Toronto and continues to float between these two locations and home when he’s not otherwise travelling and touring various parts of the world. In 2022, he accompanied Irish folk singer (and Folk Fest alum) Susan O’Neill through Ireland playing piano, organ and providing backing vocals, as well as opening her shows. He’s played side man to a range of acts and in between has managed to produce three strong solo albums, the most recent of which was 2023’s Amok. A quiet masterpiece, O’Donovan says this album was about losing track of time, inspired by a solo hiking trip out to the northernmost tip of Vancouver Island, a psilocybin-fuelled journey of self-discovery. He recorded it on the island producing a lush, ethereal album still grounded in the roots and blues he grew up on. Featuring soaring keyboards, juicy basslines and his always catchy melodies, the music and harmonies give the sometimes stark, even apocalyptic lyrical themes a sense of warmth and hope. O’Donovan sets a scene of despair then pulls it back from the edge with a good groove, a wink and nod to let you know it’s going to be okay.

— Sean Myers