Ursa Major

What's so good?

There's been a little bit of online activity across the last year or so on this artist's online profile, but 19-year-old Toronto producer Ursa Major has really come into his own with his latest "Dusk."

With a really modern R&B-infused production that suits a dance and urban scene, it's the perfect track for sultry reflection.

While we all deal with dry January (or still keeping up the facade of our New Year's resolution), at least we can indulge in some addictive bass in tracks like this to keep our spirits high.

Sounds like: Jaymes Young, The Neighbourhood, Sir Sly - Indie Shuffle

With a fresh, provocative take on R&B, Toronto-based Ursa Major premieres his debut single, “Dusk”, and, though this is the first time we’re covering him here, his structured production and definitive vocal delivery assures us that we will be seeing more of his work to come.

The simplicity of his track here is definitely one of the best virtues it has. It only incorporates the absolutely necessary elements to give it appeal, and its production—provided by Noah Barer and Cavewerk—and vocals compliment each other in the most ideal way. Ursa’s vocals are unique, heavily textured, and extremely detailed, and the amount of repetition he uses in the chorus and his cohesive, cool flow produces a sound that’s grimy, fresh, and alluring dark (it’s an odd combination, admittedly, but it works). “Dusk” is really a one-of-a-kind R&B track that has aesthetics paired we’ve not seen or heard before, and, as it’s set the bar high for the artist, it makes us anticipate anxiously future material from him to come out. - HillyDilly

Ursa Major, where does one even begin? This kid is a Toronto based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, and I would be very surprised if someone doesn’t scoop him up in the next couple of years. “Dusk” is a standout track. It exists within that same realm of bedroom R&B that has become synonymous with The Weeknd, it’s bold, raw, and breathless, and it relishes in the hyper-sexualized fearlessness of youth. It’s part love song part confessional and it has a killer hook. This guy’s gunna be a hit. - A Journal of Musical Things

When we first heard the debut single from up-and-coming 19 year-old R&B Canadian artist, Ursa Major, we were transported to the future. As the music industry changes, so do genres – blending influences and cross-genres – but when something like this comes your way, it’s hard not to sit back and observe. While artists like The Weeknd, Banks, The Neighbourhood and Troye Sivan have been mixing electronic elements into a seductive R&B beat, Ursa Major’s “Dusk” just might beat all of his predecessors out of the park. Decide for yourself? - The Daily Listening

Ursa Major ist das Projekt eines 19-jährigen Multi-Instrumentalisten und Singer/-Songwriters aus Toronto. Der Kanadier selbst beschreibt seine Musik als „psychedelic R’n’B“. Besser hätten wir es wohl auch nicht sagen können. Denn tatsächlich fallen einem beim ersten Hören seiner Debütsingle „Dusk“ gleich Namen wie The Weeknd oder Flume ein. Sperrt man seine Lauscher dann jedoch weiter auf, kann man die psychedelische Herangehensweise des jungen Künstlers klar heraushören und entdeckt eine komplett neue Ebene des Songs.

Auf seinem Soundcloud-Account hat der Musiker außerdem noch zwei weitere Songs hochgeladen, die in eine komplett andere Richtung gehen und die bereits vorhandene musikalische Vielfalt des Durchstarters deutlich werden lassen. Er zeigt also keine Scheu die oftmals unpassenden Genres Psychedelic Rock und R’n’B ineinander verfließen zu lassen. Hilfe bei der Produktion seiner Single „Dusk“ hat sich Ursa Major bei Noah Barer und Cavewerk geholt. Verfolgt der Newcomer seinen Weg weiterhin konsequent, dann sind wir uns sicher, dass uns hier ein ganz großes Ding erreicht hat.

Für Fans von: Flume, Banks, The Weeknd - The Postie

January is proving to be a month extremely dense of new exiciting releases. One of these is surely Dusk, the debut single from Ursa Major, a 19 year old singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto. The track combines vintage beats, darkly hypnotic modern arrangements and ultra-confident vocals. With its extreme pop appeal it has immediately captured my attention and with that dope bass line I’m sure is going to find a comfortable sit on the list of your favorites. - Going Solo

Des conseils sombres et obsédantes qui glissent sous un doux chant avec ponctuations sombres de RnB , voici la Grande Ourse avec Crépuscule . Tissage ses notes avec des oscillations marquées de lignes de basse et ombragées teintes gorgées de combinaisons psychédéliques et hypnotiques , Ursa Major, l'artiste de 19 ans , originaire du Canada , saisit le cœur de ses harmonies magnétiques .

Avec les touches nu-soul et rock cliquant , Ursa gravite en eaux troubles, parsemée de synthés ombragées et les sautes accrocheurs qui saisissent le corps avec le pouvoir, le mélange rétro et moderne à les mêmes notes produites par Cavewerk et Noah Barer. Puis son groove singulier, fiévreux, fébrile, Ursa crée piqûres enivrantes qui conduisent à une dépendance sans fin . - Pause Musicale

Ursa Major is the project of a 19 year old based out of Toronto who has worked to fuse psychedelic rock wit R&B and explored the frontier of music that lies between “the sounds of the past and the production of the future.” Ursa Major’s music has been created, composed and cut in dorm rooms, basements and bedrooms and was produced and engineered by Montreal’s Cavewerk and Noah Barer.

“Dusk” is a dark, muddy and seductive track that straddles the fence between R&B and electronic music. It incorporates sounds both strange and familiar, the perfect balance for fans of the quickly evolving musical world of R&B. - Music For Lunch

This 19 year-old singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer hails from Toronto, Ontario. He self-describes his music as Psychedelic R&B, a middle ground between the sounds of the past and the production of the future. Ursa Major is the accumulation of years of exercise and exploration, an attempt to combine the worlds of psychedelic Rock and R&B. This is music that was made in bedrooms, sculpted in basements and school dorms. It was finally flushed out with the help of Montréal based producers Noah Barer and Cavewerk who helped to compose “Dusk”. Lyrically intense, he dissolves his past and move into the future examining some of the fears of moving on, in love and out of love onward and onward again. - SPILL Magazine

Normally not an R&B fan, but this has a really unique sound.

“I’m a 19 year old singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer from Toronto, Ontario. I self-describe my music as Psychedelic R&B, a middle ground between the sounds of the past and the production of the future. Ursa Major is the accumulation of years of exercise and exploration, an attempt to combine the worlds of psychedelic rock and r&b. This is music that was made in bedrooms, sculpted in basements and school dorms. It was finally flushed out with the help of Montréal based producers Noah Barer and Cavewerk who helped to compose ‘Dusk’. Lyrically intense, I dissolve my past and move into the future examining some of the fears of moving on, in love and out of love onward and onward again.” - Find a Song Blog

Psychedelic rock and r&b, Toronto based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, Ursa Major just dropped his fresh new debut single “Dusk.” It features sounds of the past with top notch production. It was flushed out with the help of Montréal based producers Noah Barer and Cavewerk, check it out below. - GroundSounds