The Dears release brand new music video

Since first forming in Montreal during the mid-90s, The Dears have earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most revered and enduring indie acts. Led by the enigmatic Murray Lightburn, the group began in 1995 as a loose collective of musicians, gradually developing their approach from orchestral pop into chamber pop intimacy and later, a leaner but no less sophisticated brand of indie rock.

Murray’s cabaret-style vocals and lyrically heavy outlook, informed by influences like Serge Gainsbourg, became the band’s calling card, while keyboardist Natalia Yanchak, his long-time collaborator and spouse, has remained a central fixture since joining in 1998. Beyond them, the lineup has shifted constantly, with over twenty musicians passing through the ranks, giving The Dears a constantly changing sound.

Their 2000 debut record End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story fully marked their arrival with lo-fi grit and orchestral flourishes, immediately positioning them as a cornerstone of Canada’s indie rock renaissance. Critics and audiences alike were struck not just by their studio releases but by their live shows, described at the time as “the sonic equivalent of seeing the face of god.” Building on that momentum, they issued concept EPs Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique in 2001 and Protest a year later before breaking through internationally with their second full-length No Cities Left in 2003, released abroad the following year via Bella Union after a string of high-profile showcases at SXSW.

Along the way, The Dears have built a global reputation, touring extensively and performing live at Coachella, Glastonbury, Montreux Jazz Fest, Reading and Leeds, Austin City Limits and beyond. They’ve appeared on Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and Jonathan Ross, while playing alongside the likes of Morrissey, Bloc Party, Metric, Spiritualized, Rufus Wainwright and Broken Social Scene. Murray has also continued to expand his artistic reach, recently winning a 2025 Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Music in Documentary for Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story.

Now, The Dears prepare to unveil their ninth studio album titled Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful!, set to drop on November 7th via the Next Door Records imprint. Their first release since Lovers Rock, the album has already drawn acclaim, with New York Times bestselling author Jeff VanderMeer calling it “a new masterpiece” that blends operatic sweep with punk defiance. The inspiration for the new LP crystallised after a series of shows celebrating the 20th anniversary of No Cities Left, where Murray was surrounded by his band, his family and the reminder that life’s challenges can be met with determination and love.

“Sometimes it gets tough,” he reflects. “In our darkest hours we might think it’s never going to be better. But if we can just make it through, we find out what we thought was impossible; that we could smile again, maybe even laugh. The songs in this record are for everyone and anyone. They are meant to be supportive.”

The record’s themes shine in the brand new single “Tears of a Nation,” which arrives with a video directed by Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew. Set up by the twang of guitar notes and rustle of striking drums, the arrangement swells with bright synths textures and lively rhythm as Murray’s enters above the pulse of bass to form a catchy indie rock sound. Flowing with marching energy and capped by spectacular vocal performance, it’s a stunning slice of the band’s highly original and utterly compelling sound that continues to build the hype for their forthcoming full-length record.

Watch the music video for Tears Of A Nation below

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