Non Canon is the indie-folk alter-ego of Bristol-based singer-songwriter Barry Dolan, best known as the frontman for the heavy, riff-driven alt-punk project Oxygen Thief.
Born out of a desire to step away from the distortion pedal, Non Canon swaps out loud, abrasive punk for intimate acoustic guitars, sweeping strings, horns, and delicate piano arrangements. The project allows Dolan to showcase a more introspective, storytelling side of his songwriting. With a sound that blends traditional folk with chamber-pop elements, his lyrics are highly personal, poetic, and beautifully crafted, touching on everything from mental health and politics to everyday melancholies.
Certain Stories, the third Non Canon album, is a solo record filled with collaboration; some songs feature lyrics adapted from friends’ poetry and short fiction, others have guest vocals by tour buddies who have become lifelong pals, and the artwork was painted by an old school friend as she listened to the songs.
Twelve tales of sadness, loss, climate anxiety, fiercely-guarded hope, and quiet nights in, Certain Stories is for fans of Idlewild/Roddy Woomble, Tim Kasher, Bright Eyes, and that bit at Manic Street Preachers gigs where James Dean Bradfield plays some acoustic songs on his own.
