Rich Aucoin

Since making his debut in 2007, Canadian indie rock musician Rich Aucoin has forged an ambitious career. Following the release of his debut EP Personal Publication, the Halifax native embarked on a cross-Canada tour on his bicycle, raising money for the Childhood Cancer Canada charity and supporting his album. After completing the journey, he immediately went on tour with Nova Scotian indie supergroup the Hylozoists, who were founded by his older brother Paul Aucoin. The sudden lack of physical exercise on the Hylozoists tour caused him to develop an iron deficiency and once he recovered, he launched another solo tour, this time running partial marathons between shows and raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society. During these various tours, Aucoin collaborated with a variety of friends and musicians around the country, recording his first full-length album 2011's We're All Dying to Live. Broad in scope, Aucoin's first grand indie pop statement included over 500 guest musicians and drew comparisons to the Flaming Lips, Daft Punk, and Arcade Fire. His live shows developed into a wild spectacle of symphonic pop and multi-sensory effects, including the unfurling of a giant parachute over the audience. Aucoin's second album, Ephemeral, released in 2014, was inspired by the children's novella The Little Prince.