Interview: Edmonton’s St.Arnaud Balances Resignation and Self-Assurance on “It’s Cool” From Self-Titled Third Album

Edmonton’s St.Arnaud, the project of Ian St.Arnaud, returns with St.Arnaud, a vibrant and collaborative third record that captures the full spirit of a band in motion. Expanding beyond its singer-songwriter roots, the album blends buoyant indie pop, roots textures, and early indie rock influences into a dynamic, lived-in collection that feels both loose and deeply intentional.

Released as a series of three deluxe singles before arriving as a full-length, St.Arnaud introduces a unique structural approach, grouping songs into distinct “movements” shaped by production style rather than genre. Drawing inspiration from the playful, raucous energy of Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, the album leans into pop hooks, sardonic lyricism, and a collaborative energy that defines its sound.

At the heart of the record is “It’s Cool,” a chill, confessional indie pop standout that balances resignation with quiet self-assurance. Built around a laid-back groove and an understated emotional core, the track explores the tension between feeling stuck and choosing to move lightly through it anyway. “It’s about brushing off that sense of futility,” Ian explains, “about self-assurance, and keeping your sense of humour alive. Stay light on your feet as long as you can. It’ll probably be ok in the end.” The song’s chorus, contributed by bandmate Tory Rosso, anchors that sentiment with an easygoing clarity that defines the track’s tone.

Across the album, St.Arnaud turns inward to trace the subtle shifts that shape our lives, the small, transient moments that only reveal their meaning in hindsight. Themes of stillness, movement, and reflection run throughout, grounded in observational songwriting that captures both personal nuance and broader emotional truths. Sonically, the record pushes into new territory, incorporating pedal steel, electric pianos, and more driving rhythmic foundations while maintaining the project’s signature warmth and wit.

With St.Arnaud, the project reaches a new level of cohesion and creative freedom. It’s a record defined by collaboration, curiosity, and the quiet confidence of an artist fully stepping into their sound.

1. What did you enjoy most about the creation of this new release?
There’s so many good moments, at different stages:
-When writing, which starts mostly solitary – when a lyric clicks just right it feels like it just fell down on you, you react right away. From “It’s Cool”, a favourite of mine: ‘your folks are heavy drinkers, they always bring a spare, you love them til you can’t, and then remember they were there’.
-When in pre-production – it would happen so often that I would be just about to give up a song or an idea, and a musical idea from Jonny (trumpet) or Tory (guitar) would completely save the song.
-When recording – that first playback with everyone in the room, just a magical moment for everyone involved, but also knowing that you now have to wait XX months for this song to be out in the world is hard.

2. Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.
Go to war with the army you have… a silly way of saying that you have all the tools you need already. Yes, you should keep honing your songwriting, practice your scales, but you can make something right now being who you are currently. My trick is to find people who complement your skill set, who encourage your ideas, and that you can spend a lot of time together with.

3. Who would be your dream artist/band to co-headline a tour with?
At the moment? Maybe MJ Lenderman, maybe Charlotte Cornfield, maybe Bill Callahan…

4. What sets your music apart from others in your genre?
I think our music tries to let go of being perfect. It tries not to get in its own way too much, if that makes sense. As we get along in our discography, I realize that I want to throw less and less into the trash bin entirely, and I do confidently feel that the quality of our musicality is still on the upswing.

5. Tell us what your favourite song is at the moment and why.
‘These Days Are Old’ by Spookey Ruben, a legacy weirdo from Toronto that I recently learned about. I caught the music video (from 1995) on social media lately, and it was so bizarre and Canadian and original that it just struck a chord. Self-expression, whatever that sounds like, is awesome.