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Alex Edkins

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Alex Edkins
Born
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
OccupationsSinger, songwriter, composer, producer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active2007–present
LabelsSub Pop (Metz)
Telephone Explosion (LIDS)

Alex Edkins is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and producer from Ottawa, Canada. He is best known as the frontman of Metz, Edkins has also released two solo albums as Weird Nightmare.[1] Together with the keyboardist Graham Walsh he formed the studio-project Noble Rot and released the album Heavenly Bodies, Repetition, Control.[2][3]

In addition to this Edkins has contributed music to the film Don't Fall In Love With Yourself,[4] the video game Grand Theft Auto V, a soundtrack for the CBC series The Outlaw Ocean,[3] and digital art installations for artist Mitchell Chan.[5]

Career

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Edkins worked in record store in Ottowa while performing with various bands.[6] After meeting Hayden Menzies, they relocated to Toronto.[7]

Metz

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Edkins co-founded Metz in the late 2007s, signing to Sub Pop for their self-titled debut album in 2012.[8] The record received critical acclaim and was named Best New Music by Pitchfork.[9] It was also shortlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.[7] The 2015 album, II, was longlisted for the Polaris Prize while their third album, Strange Peace (2017), earned a nomination for the Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year at the 2018 Juno Awards.[10] In 2024, METZ's studio album Up on Gravity Hill won the Libera Award for Best Heavy Record.[11] In 2024 the band announced an indefinite hiatus.[1][12]

During this time, he also formed the band Lids with Brian Borcherdt and Doug MacGregor and released two singles.[7][13]

Weird Nightmare

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In 2022, Edkins launched his solo project Weird Nightmare, releasing a self-titled debut album on Sub Pop.[1] The album received positive reviews from critics. BrooklynVegan included it in its "Indie Basement: Best Albums & Songs of May 2022.[14] The album features contributions by Chad VanGaalen, Alica Bognanno, Graham Walsh and Loel Campbell.[15] Edkins formed a live band for selected live dates that included Jesse Laderoute, Jim MacAlpine and Michael Catano.[15][16]

In 2024 he collabrated with Julianna Riolino and appeared on her album Echo in Dust,[17][18] while co-producing Cosmic Kitten during the recording of their self-titled debut-album.[19] [20]

In May 2026, Edkins released a second album Hoopla under the same moniker.[21][3] Co-produced by Jim Eno,[22] it features Julianna Riolino, Loel Campbell and Roddy Kuester.[23][24][25]

Discography

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Albums

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as Weird Nightmare

  • Weird Nightmare (Sub Pop, 2022)
  • Hoopla (2026)

In addition to this work, Edkins has contributed to a variety of multimedia projects.

Video games

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  • Grand Theft Auto V – original music for the in-game soundtrack, including METZ's track "Wet Blanket".[7][26]

Podcasts

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  • CBC – The Outlaw Ocean (Season 2) – original score[3]

Art collaborations

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  • Mitchell Chan – Boys of Summer[27]
  • Mitchell Chan – Overture Series[28]
  • Mitchell F. Chan - Insert Coin(s)[29]

Film

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  • Don't Fall In Love With Yourself – music department (documentary on musician Justin Pearson)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Carter, February 6, 2026 (2026-02-06). "METZ' Alex Edkins confirms next Weird Nightmare album 'Hoopla'". DIY. Retrieved 2026-05-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (2025-04-10). "Noble Rot - "Hang On"". stereogum.com. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  3. ^ a b c d Breihan, Tom (2026-02-03). "METZ's Alex Edkins Announces New Weird Nightmare Album". stereogum.com. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  4. ^ Thompson, Luke Y. (2024-09-09). "Jon Nix and Justin Pearson talk about DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF, a documentary on Pearson's life and the San Diego Punk scene". Films Gone Wild. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  5. ^ "The Art of the Game". www.rightclicksave.com. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  6. ^ Jefferies, Neil (2026-04-27). "Alex Edkins Dreams Up New Melodies As Weird Nightmare". RANGE. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  7. ^ a b c d Lindsay, Cam (2015-04-22). "METZ's Only Sin Is That Their Music Is 'Shit Full Of Passion'". VICE. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  8. ^ "Five Questions With Alex Edkins (Weird Nightmare, METZ)". Magnet Magazine. 2026-05-05. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  9. ^ "METZ – Review". Pitchfork. October 9, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  10. ^ "2018 Juno Awards Nominees". Juno Awards. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "2025 Libera Awards Winners". A2IM. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  12. ^ Michael, Jordan; ClashMusic (2025-01-31). "Affirmation Of Life: Alex Edkins Talks Hiatus Of Sub Pop Icons, METZ | Features". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  13. ^ "Stepping Stone Party #1 - Alex Edkins of METZ • Punk Rock Theory". Punk Rock Theory. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  14. ^ Pearis, Bill. "Indie Basement: Best Albums & Songs of May 2022". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  15. ^ a b Orr, Sean (2022-05-18). "Inside Alex Edkin's Weird Nightmare". RANGE. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  16. ^ "Interview: Weird Nightmare Project Mastermind Alex Edkins Talks Debut Solo LP". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  17. ^ "Julianna Riolino - Echo In The Dust Deluxe Edition". Killbeat Music. 2026-02-25. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  18. ^ "Julianna Riolino on the Art of Letting Go". RANGE. 2025-10-20. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  19. ^ Evans, Helen (2025-08-25). "COSMIC KITTEN's new single 'Hole in my Soul' is an emotional excavation of one's own darkness". She Makes Music. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  20. ^ "US alternative/punk/post-grunge quartet Cosmic Kitten escapes the pressure of holding back on new single »Blender«!". Doomed Nation. 2025-07-25. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  21. ^ Murray, Robin (2026-05-04). "Weird Nightmare's New Album 'Hoopla' Is A Crunching Power Pop Delight". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  22. ^ Stanley, Christ (May 4, 2026). "Weird Nightmare - Hoopla review". www.kexp.org. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  23. ^ Carter, Daisy (2026-02-06). "METZ' Alex Edkins confirms next Weird Nightmare album 'Hoopla'". DIY. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  24. ^ "Weird Nightmare, the Power Pop Band From Alex Edkins of METZ, Shares Official Video for "Forever Elsewhere"". Sub Pop Records. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  25. ^ Brownstein, Charles (2026-05-01). "Weird Nightmare has been crate digging". Northern Transmissions. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  26. ^ Quietus, The (2015-04-30). "Translate Properly: An Interview With METZ". The Quietus. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  27. ^ Che Wei Peh, Clara (January 22, 2025). "Life as Game: The Boys of Summer and Its Mirroring World". www.leapleapleap.com. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  28. ^ "Overture #155 by Mitchell F. Chan | Verse". verse.works. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
  29. ^ "Insert Coin(s) | 6 - 10 May 2025 - Overview". Nguyen Wahed. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
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https://www.weirdnightmare.net/

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