Dr. Rift is a musical project by Western Canadian Music Award-winning artist Kyle Halldorson of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is a hypnotic, emotional blend of Psych Rock, Alternative, and Prog that pulses with his Indigenous/Celtic roots. It is a complex, cathartic, and catchy bloodletting of grief and anxiety to honor the dead, the living, and the self.
Welcome to the wonderfully angular yet strangely familiar “Like a Charm,” the latest tune from Halldorson. The artist’s latest single is the marriage of influences and risk, balancing Halldorson’s lofty visions and innate ability to craft infectious melodies. “Like a Charm” is the antonym for complacency. A restless arrangement is anchored down to earth by Halldorson’s equally acrobatic vocals, giving the performance a circus-esque feel, except no trick mirrors are necessary. Despite the artist’s artsy approach, a rawness echoes throughout the single. What starts as an exploration into the overlap between electro-dance and indie rock slowly transitions into explosive acoustics before this sonic conflict is decided on the slow-burning outro. “Like a Charm” takes all the whimsy of experimentation and whittles it into a chugging anthem for the masses. Most artists take years to find their voice. Still, Halldorson explodes through the gates of rock music with an undeniable individuality and distinct charm, quickly separating Dr. Rift from his peers.
“This is one of my more light-hearted and fun songs. Though it puts light on my shortcomings due to second-guessing myself and my potential, it is done so with a tongue-in-cheek approach,” explains Halldorson. “Musically, it’s like a disjointed fuzz funk puzzle. Its intent is to be dancy, but each instrument on its own sits weirdly. Truly meant for a band, for the sum to be much greater than that of its parts.”
