Jeremie Albino w/ Benjamin Dakota Rogers

When Jeremie Albino was a teenager, he started busking around Toronto, setting up along the boardwalk or on downtown streets. “Usually nobody was listening,” he says, “but occasionally someone would stop, tell me it sounded great, and listen for a while. That kind of interaction felt special, and that’s when I realized I really love performing. I could hold a listener’s interest and give something back.”

That early experience set Albino on his path, teaching him the joy of connecting with listeners, whether it’s a crowd or just one person. Since then, he’s honed a unique mix of gritty classic country storytelling, old-school R&B rhythms, early rock ‘n’ roll energy, and southern soul vocals. His sweaty, livewire concerts have grown his audience from a few passersby to packed houses across Canada and the U.S. Our Time In The Sun, his soulful fourth solo album, feels like the culmination of what he started out on the streets of Toronto.

The title track showcases Albino’s remarkable emotional and vocal range. It’s a country-soul number about love gone bad, anchored by a Stax rhythm section and dramatic horns. Albino’s warm generosity toward someone who tried just as hard makes the song stand out from typical breakup tunes. He’s a rare singer who is always in the moment, bringing the listener along. “I try to put my heart into everything,” he says. “If I’m not giving it my all, why bother singing it?”

Though Albino loves performing, songwriting has always been more challenging. But that changed on Our Time In The Sun. Working with producer Dan Auerbach, he emerged as a sharp, observant songwriter on tracks like “I Don’t Mind Waiting” and “Struggling With The Bottle.” “I used to hate writing,” he admits. “It would take months to finish a song.” That all changed when he signed with Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound. “Something clicked, and we started writing 4 or 5 songs a day.”

Auerbach brought in Nashville songwriters like Pat McLaughlin, Joe Allen, and Bobby Wood to help. “Dan said, ‘If you’re building a house, you need carpenters.’ It’s the same with songwriting. These guys are the experts.”

Albino learned to let songs come naturally rather than force them. “Rolling Down The 405” was born during a break in the studio. “I started chugging on the guitar and singing off the top of my head… ‘Jimmy left me high and dry, rolling down the 401.’ But 405 just sounded better.” He strikes a balance between the specific and universal, allowing listeners to find their own meaning in his songs.

“Rolling Down The 405” was the first track recorded for Our Time In The Sun, with top Nashville session players. Together, they crafted a road song with the momentum of classic rock and the emotional depth of soul, reminiscent of JJ Cale.

The sessions often led to surprising directions, like “Dinner Bell,” which starts with a swampy rhythm and shifts into bayou psychedelia, featuring one of Auerbach’s wildest guitar solos. Inspired by an old gospel-funk record, the song reflects Albino’s storytelling and his musical influences.

Albino returned to Canada eager to write more songs. “I grew so much working with those guys, and it shows in the music. This record is the most me I’ve ever sounded. I’m more comfortable in my skin than ever before.”