At first glance, the transformation from folk-duo darling to glitter-soaked alt-pop auteur might read like an identity crisis. But for Brighid Fry — formerly one half of Moscow Apartment, now commanding attention as Housewife — it’s more like watching a butterfly shed its second set of wings.
The Toronto artist’s evolution from classical violin wunderkind to indie-pop provocateur asserts itself on ‘Girl of the Hour’, a six-track EP that sparkles with the confidence of someone who’s been preparing for this moment since before they could tie their shoes.
“As cheesy as it sounds, I really have been making music since I could pick up an instrument,” Fry reflects, describing a journey that began with a third-birthday violin and a grandmother’s prescient TSO Kids subscription. Even then, the seeds of songwriting were sprouting: “It started with just making up little songs about pets or whatever. I remember five-year-old me had a version of Broken Social Scene’s ‘Anthems for a 17 Year old Girl’ where I changed the lyrics to be all about my cats.”
That childhood Broken Social Scene cover would manifest into something remarkably prophetic. “Getting to sing Anthems with Broken Social Scene when I was 17… that was pretty awesome,” Fry recalls. “It was a televised New Year’s Eve show during the pandemic, and we were doing social distancing, but that was a huge highlight and gift!”
The leap from Moscow Apartment’s folk-tinged success — complete with a Canadian Folk Music Award — to Housewife’s alternative universe wasn’t without its tremors. “It definitely was scary at first, but it also felt very right at the time,” Fry admits. “It is really freeing and exciting to make something that represents you completely and that you get to have complete creative control over.”
‘Girl of the Hour’ emerged organically rather than from careful calculation. “I definitely didn’t write these songs specifically for it, that’s for sure!” Fry notes. “Some of these songs, like ‘Wasn’t You’ or ‘I lied’, were written over two years ago. I initially wasn’t planning on those two being on an EP, planning for them to be standalone singles. But at some point, I realized that they still felt like they could really tie in with newer stuff and make something special and cohesive.”
The collection’s standout moment arrives with ‘Matilda’, a deceptively layered narrative that exemplifies Fry’s gift for finding profound meaning in seemingly mundane moments. “My favourite track on the EP is the song releasing with the EP, ‘Matilda’,” she shares. “I’m not sure how to explain why it’s my favourite other than that I just knew. It was like love at first sight… It’s a song that, on a surface level, is about getting my bike stolen, but it’s also about grief and loss. I think all my favourite songs of mine have more than one meaning or layer to them.”
This multi-layered approach to songwriting reflects Fry’s broader artistic philosophy. “Songs are just the way I process the world,” she explains, before adding with characteristic wit, “I even once wrote a song from the perspective of a sock lost under a bed when I was a kid.” More frequently, though, her writing gravitates toward weightier themes: “I mostly end up writing about the two things that get the most like ‘emotional airwaves’ with me- and that ends up being my physical / mental health, and relationship to gender / the patriarchy.”
The path to ‘Girl of the Hour’ twisted through unexpected terrain. Between health challenges and the distinct rhythms of neurodivergent creativity, Housewife’s Brighid Fry navigated a delicate balancing act. “It’s tricky to find a balance of making what I want to make while also not ignoring my health, especially since I have autism and am so susceptible to burnout,” she reflects. “Sometimes I had to take time off when I could, and sometimes I just had to muscle through it.”
Yet these challenges have only strengthened the authenticity of the final product. The EP found its true voice not in studio isolation, but under stage lights. “Weirdly I think playing the songs live on tour is where that happened for me. Getting to really see how people reacted to them, and feel how they flow together and create different moments, that is what made me feel that this EP had a voice.”
Looking ahead, where some might burden themselves with grand predictions, Fry embraces beautiful uncertainty. “I’m really bad at expectations for things – I always either have way too many high hopes or way too low. So I just try not to think about it too much. I just make the art to the best of my ability, and share it as wide as I can, hoping it will allow me to keep making art.”
This measured approach shapes her 2025 trajectory. While concrete plans remain fluid — “In response to my health issues, I am trying to respect and take care of my body this year and go with what feels right” — creative momentum builds beneath the surface. “I have been writing TONS and am starting to feel really confident about the collection of songs I have, so I will definitely be starting recording on my first full length this year.”
“I’ve dreamed about making a proper full-length record for years now,” she adds, “and you can only make your debut album once, so I want to make sure everything about it feels right.”
Beyond the recording booth, Fry’s artistic vision intertwines with environmental action through her work establishing Music Declares Emergency’s Canadian chapter. “I see it as a no-brainer,” she explains. “I have always seen the connection between activism and art – my first ever (non-recital) show was a fundraiser for Greenpeace. I also am a firm believer that everything is political and that we have the responsibility to all bring activism to our lives in any way we can.”
‘Girl of the Hour’ is a testament to artistic evolution, personal resilience, and the power of self-expression. Whether performing to 2,400 hometown fans supporting Paolo Nutini or discovering new horizons at Waves Vienna (“I absolutely fell in love with the city, and it was so cool that I got to travel there because of work”), Fry continues to prove that the bravest artistic decisions often yield the most rewarding results.
Taken from the April 2025 issue of Dork.
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