From heartbreak to harmony, a rising force in Canadian folk-pop
As Canadian folk-pop continues to carve out a space that is both intimate and expansive, few artists embody that balance quite like Geneviève Racette. With the upcoming release of Golden (Deluxe), arriving January 30, 2026, the Montréal-based singer-songwriter revisits what has become one of the most defining chapters of her career, this time with greater clarity, confidence, and emotional depth.
Originally released in 2024, Golden marked a turning point for Racette, earning critical acclaim and debuting at No. 3 on the Folk Alliance International Chart. Now, the deluxe edition expands on that foundation with newly recorded material, stripped-back arrangements, and a striking reimagining of Come As You Are. The result is not simply an extension, but a reflection of an artist in motion, one who allows her work to evolve alongside her own personal growth.
Fresh off an international tour spanning Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Racette sits down with TorontoPages to reflect on healing, vulnerability, and the transformative power of revisiting her own story, this time from a place of steadiness and self-assurance.
Golden has been described as a musical sanctuary for you. Looking back now, how does revisiting it through Golden (Deluxe) feel emotionally different from releasing the original album?
I think back to when we recorded and released Golden, and I am a completely new person now. I have learned so much about myself through different experiences, therapy, and self-growth. I do not want to sound preachy or anything, but it is true. I have grown a lot, and I am much more confident and at peace. I am so excited to release these tracks from such a good headspace.
What made you realize that Golden wasn’t finished yet and that there was more of the story still asking to be told?
Definitely when I wrote the song “Common Denominator.” As soon as I finished it, I knew it belonged on Golden. I wanted to record it and add it to the album, but it was too late. Production was already finished, and the timeline did not work. I thought, what if I keep it and release it later as part of a deluxe version? The idea kept growing while we were on tour. We were performing a new version of “Come As You Are” that fans really connected with. One thing led to another, and here we are with four bonus tracks.
The deluxe edition feels quieter and more stripped-back in places. How did touring the album shape the way these songs evolved?
My relationship with these songs definitely changed while touring. When we released Golden in 2024, I went on the road for seven weeks, playing these songs night after night. It was my longest tour so far. Performing such deeply personal songs repeatedly made them feel like they no longer belonged only to me. They stopped being just about my story and became about all of us. That really struck me.
Healing is a central theme throughout Golden. What kind of healing were you seeking when you first wrote these songs, and what kind have you found since?
Originally, when I was working on the album, I was really looking for a sanctuary and an escape from the world I was living in. I created a world with the songs, the visuals, the press shots. Everything was intentional and thought through. Today, I think I have found peace. I am in a place in life where things are more stable. I am in love, I am happy. I am learning to give myself grace and to slow down a little as well.
“Come As You Are” has followed you for nearly a decade. Why did this moment feel right to return to that song now?
As a teenager, I connected to the heaviness of Nirvana’s music. I could blow off steam, jump around, and scream. Today, it is the songwriting and melodies that hit me the most. Coming back to “Come As You Are” now felt right because I am in a much calmer and more grounded place in my life. The song has always been there for me. I have been humming it since I was a kid. Revisiting it at this moment felt like reconnecting with my roots, but from a place of confidence and maturity, and transforming it into something that reflects who I am today.
How did your relationship with the song and with Nirvana’s legacy change between your 2016 cover and this new interpretation?
I actually recorded a cover of this song back in 2016. It was acoustic, very soft, and recorded in a church. With Golden, I had so much fun experimenting with production, so we wanted to bring some of that energy into this new version.
The new version of “Come As You Are” feels haunting and intimate. What guided your creative choices in reimagining such an iconic song?
It all started when I bought a harmonizer for the Golden album release tour. I was never a gear gal, so this was quite intimidating at first. I was supposed to be practising my own songs to figure out how to play them live. I sat down and naturally started singing “Come As You Are.” I guess I needed the comfort of a song I knew inside out. It literally just came out like that.
The video imagery shifts from cold rooftops to fire. What does that visual transformation represent for you personally?
I had almost forgotten about that rooftop video. It was so cold that day. I was so uncomfortable during the video shoot and in so many aspects of my life in 2016. I was still drinking; I am nine years sober now. I was working with the wrong people, and I was in the wrong relationships. The fire feels pretty ironic considering the freezing cold weather of the first shoot. Today, I am more confident. I know what I want. I feel much more mature and steady.
“Common Denominator” explores the realization that one person can be at the centre of recurring chaos. Was that a difficult truth to write about?
Not at all, actually. It was not hard to write, but it took me a long time to see the bigger picture and put it into words. When you get manipulated, especially in love, it can take a really long time to see clearly. Once those rose-coloured glasses were off, the song came out naturally.
You’ve included an a cappella version of “Golden,” built entirely from layered vocals. What does your voice allow you to express when everything else is stripped away?
That is such a good question. I love recording vocals and being able to zoom in and create magic with textures, backing vocals, harmonies, and tone. When you strip away all the instruments and listen to pure vocals, it becomes so intimate. It is pure and raw. You can really hear bits and pieces of emotion in an a cappella version.
How did recording an a cappella track challenge you technically and emotionally as a vocalist?
We did not actually record it per se. We took the original track and removed all the instruments. I had so much fun with the vocal production on that song that I wanted the vocals to have their own moment to shine. I wanted them upfront so everyone could hear all the tiny details we worked so hard on in the studio. I had the idea while listening to some of Ariana Grande’s a cappella versions!
The acoustic version of “My Thoughts Of You” feels incredibly raw. Why was it important to revisit that song in its most exposed form?
Thank you. “My Thoughts Of You” was a bit of the weird one on the album. We tried something new with vocal effects mixed with pedal steel and synth bass. I had never done anything like that before. It was so fun, and I am really proud of how it sounds. But part of me had another version in mind, something more acoustic, raw, and honest. The song is about fantasizing about someone; it does not get more intimate than that. I felt like it deserved to be heard in a new way.
As a bilingual artist, how do you decide which emotions or stories belong in English versus French?
I do not. Honestly, I have no control over my creative decisions. Some songs and ideas just come out in French, and others in English.
Has your relationship with vulnerability changed over the course of making Golden and Golden (Deluxe)?
I have been told that my vulnerability is my superpower. It comes up all the time in interviews and conversations about my music. I used to hold back in my songwriting, but once I realized I did not have to, that is when my career really started moving forward. I try to see vulnerability as a tool. For me, sharing is healing. Of course, I do not sing about every personal detail of my life, but accepting my sensitivity and openness has been life-changing.
You’ve spoken about allowing your work to grow alongside you. How do you know when a song has grown enough to be shared again?
I do not. It is really hard to tell. My relationship with these songs started a long time ago. I began writing and recording Golden in 2022. It is hard to trust my own judgment sometimes. I mostly go with a feeling, take a leap, and hope for the best.
Golden debuted at #3 on the Folk Alliance International Chart. Did that recognition change how you viewed the album or your place in the folk community?
Milestones like that feel validating, but they do not suddenly change how I see myself or my work. What they do is remind me that I can keep going, even when things feel uncertain. I am still questioning myself and still learning, but I feel more anchored in the idea that there is space for me to exist as an artist.
Your music has reached new audiences through touring and sync placements like Heartland. How does it feel to see such personal songs take on a life of their own?
It is the coolest feeling ever. I love when someone shares something personal on social media and uses my song, or when someone tells me after a show how much a certain song means to them. It makes me so happy to know people can escape through my music and feel whatever they need to feel. That is why I do what I do.
What did performing these songs night after night across Canada, the U.S., and the UK teach you about yourself?
Oh my gosh, so much. I learned that I am not a night person and that I really need alone time. I learned that after a few weeks on the road, I can become very focused and intense when I want things done properly. I also learned how deeply committed I am to music. Seeing friends along the way is one of the best parts of touring. I learned that I can drive very long hours during the day, but absolutely not at night. I learned that I am hypersensitive. Touring is a huge learning experience, and I am still learning from it.
You’ve collaborated with artists like Dallas Green and shared major festival stages. How have those experiences shaped your confidence as an artist?
I am a deeply insecure person, in my personal life and in my music. I am grateful every single day for the incredible people around me and the opportunities I have been given, but as artists, we constantly go through humbling experiences. For every good thing, there are many hard ones. Those moments remind me that I am still the same Geneviève who once never played outside of Québec and never charted. After more than a decade of pushing, people are finally starting to know who I am, which feels pretty special!
How do you protect your emotional well-being when your art requires such openness?
As I said before, sharing is healing for me. When I reach the point of writing a song about something I have been through, it usually means I am ready to share it. Of course, I do not share every detail of my life publicly. I have a therapist for that. 🙂
Looking back, what did making Golden teach you that you will carry into your next body of work?
To trust my instincts, in the studio, in songwriting, with collaborators, and on stage.
What do you hope listeners, especially those going through their own periods of upheaval, take away from this expanded release?
I hope you get to escape your world for a few songs. I hope you feel soothed. I hope you get what you need from it.
Your message for us at TorontoPages magazine:
Thank you for being so attentive with your questions. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoy Golden (Deluxe).
