Joe Lapinski Releases Urgent New Wave Rock Single, "Hurt A Bird"
With his new single, “Hurt A Bird,” St. Catharines-based artist Joe Lapinski delivers a fierce and poignant anthem against intolerance. Rooted in New Wave Rock with a touch of punk spirit, the track channels Lapinski’s anger toward the adult bullying of transgender and non-binary youth. Lapinski offers a solution: through love and kindness, you too can truly be free as a bird.
Co-produced with Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Gord Downie’s Country of Miracles), the song’s tight, punchy arrangement emerged through a collaborative effort to refine Lapinski’s initial, lengthier version. Inspired by late ’70s and early ‘80s New Wave icons, “Hurt A Bird” features Elvis Costello-style synths and XTC-inspired basslines, creating a track that is both catchy and emotionally charged.
Listen to “Hurt A Bird” HERE. Watch the official video HERE.
I wrote this song on a day when some so-called ‘adults’ were protesting against transgender and non-binary students being allowed to use their chosen pronouns and bathrooms. It made me furious—these kids already have a hard enough time navigating their identities. To have adults from their own community dehumanizing them is just cruel.
Co-producing this track with Dave Clark was a transformative experience. He pushed me to cut the fat and shape the song into a concise, powerful statement. The result is a sharp, no-nonsense New Wave rock song that hits hard and fast. – Joe Lapinski
Have you ever tried to free a bird?
It's easier than you’ve heard
Open heart, open hand, then you’ll understand
How to be an ampersand
A veteran of the Canadian music scene, Joe Lapinski is a songwriter, performer, producer, and sound designer. Alongside his solo work, he collaborates with acts such as Minuscule and The Woodshed Orchestra. He also runs WOW! Recording Studio & Creative Music Space in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Joe Lapinski’s upcoming album, New Day (due June 2025), co-produced with Dave Clark, explores themes of personal identity, community, love, trauma, and family. “Hurt A Bird” serves as the lead single, offering a gripping introduction to the album’s bold and heartfelt sound.
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