Vinyl - To Cherish (Ecomix Grey)

Northcote is the musical project of Canadian singer-songwriter Matt Goud, known for his heartfelt songwriting, resonant voice, and dynamic live performances. Launching in 2008, Northcote has toured extensively across North America and Europe sharing stages with The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner, and Hot Water Music, while building a loyal fanbase through anthems of connection, resilience, and hope.

In 2026, Northcote will release To Cherish, a full-length album recorded at Rain City Studios in Vancouver with producer Jesse Gander (Japandroids, White Lung). The album represents both a sonic evolution and a deeply personal chapter for Goud, inspired by the end of a long-term relationship, the culmination of a spiritual season in his life, and the renewed momentum found in returning to the road post-pandemic. 

“In the spring of 2024, we toured Europe with Chris Cresswell from Hot Water Music and The Flatliners, along with our friend Matze Rossi from Germany. Around that time, I was just beginning to dream about a new Northcote record. I already had the title To Cherish in my head. I had written it down on looseleaf paper over and over. After we got back from Europe, we played a few shows in Quebec and Ontario. Stephen and I were driving a borrowed car—it was a Kia Rio with 300,000 kilometres on it—lent to us by our friend Miguel. Somewhere along those drives, I started talking to Stephen about To Cherish and about making the record with Jesse Gander in Vancouver.” 

Shaped by the duo touring model that carried Northcote through recent years, the record captures the raw intimacy and intensity of those shows. Long-time collaborator Stephen McGillivray expansive guitar work anchors the sound, with additional contributions from Paul Rigby (Neko Case), percussionist Mike Battle, and arrangement support from Gander and bassist Eric Paone. Together, they crafted a set of songs that are as physical and cathartic as they are lyrical and reflective. The album reflects on themes of grief, gratitude, joy, and hope—urging listeners to treasure life’s experiences, even the difficult ones, as part of what shapes us.

Speaking of the lead single, Matt ponders “Alternate Universe, is a daydream on what might’ve been, an homage to the road not taken. “I was feeling regret and disorientation while mourning a divorce, a mourning I had to experience and somehow let go of in a way that was good for me.”

Tracks like “Tangled Strings” and “Cherish the Way” balance confessional songwriting with a full-bodied energy that carries into Northcote’s live performances, while songs like “Cut Me In Two” break away from that, with a intimate finger picking and vulnerable vocal performance. “A mystery about heartbreak is that over time, you might come out of it for the better. And might realize it was something that was needed.”

Over the past decade, Northcote has released seven studio albums, steadily cultivating a grassroots audience through powerful performances in intimate venues and festival stages alike. The DIY spirit that fueled his 2024 tours—including the If You Roam tour with Chris Cresswell and a Western Canada headline run—remains central to the new chapter ahead. With a vibrant international fanbase, Northcote continues to expand his reach, contributing meaningfully to the music community. 

Track Listing:

1.    Alternate Universe
2.    Cherish The Way
3.    Got Away
4.    Holding On To Nothing
5.    Dying To
6.    Cut Me In Two
7.    Ghost To A Ghost
8.    Tangled Strings
9.    Lessons In The End
10.  Another Love Song