Art lives on heartbreak. I was first introduced to Gallant, the young soaring R&B star when I saw him perform at the Westway earlier this summer. I can be socially anxious, and the tight-packed, beer-drenched crowd wasn't helping. Until he began performing, and then everything was okay. His music is like Xanax. We're on the comedown from an Era of Frills, when artists' teams put a lot of attention on "everything else," choreography, costumes, perhaps a fashion line. Gallant hints that as a community we're ready to get back to the soul of music. As a performer a sincerity burst through, an honesty to his vocals and organic dancing that melded the passion in the music. His new single "Weight in Gold" is an exemplary introduction to the artist if he hasn't crossed your radar. The overflowing ballad pairs crunchy hip hop beats with an R&B soul we've been craving. "I'm pulling my weight in gold/but I can't lift this on my own." Lyrics translate the agonizing frustration of realizing sometimes a partner can only meet you as far as they're willing to meet themselves. That being said, his voice is beautiful enough to make you believe that love is actually enough. He has the right look, at the right time, with more than enough talent; keep an eye on Gallant and listen to "Weight in Gold" below.

TRACK REVIEW - Gallant "Weight in Gold"