Photo credit: Shannon Johnson
Words by: Cyclone Wehner
“How do you take a beloved classic and make it your own?” This is the question the mysterious new dream pop band VERTTIGO, hailing from Edmonton, Canada, answers with their captivating cover of Mazzy Star’s psychedelic “Fade Into You.” Mercurial frontwoman Karímah describes the track—reimagined in The Cure’s gothic style—as “a pastiche,” adding, “our version feels like a song that already exists.”
But VERTTIGO—featuring Karímah alongside Ryan Rathjen (bass, backing vocals), Edward Lebleu (guitar), Lauren Alston (synths), and Kurtis Schultz (drums)—cannot be mistaken for a mere nostalgia act. “I always felt like I’m a retro-futuristic artist,” Karímah tells CONE over Zoom, as Rathjen nods in agreement. “It’s about taking what resonates with you emotionally, tapping into that sense of nostalgia, but never from a place of trying to emulate a specific sound.”
Both Karímah and Rathjen have long been active in the Edmonton music scene. Karímah is a singer, songwriter, musician, and actor, who jokes about “working in the arts and trying to just make things happen.” Rathjen also has a diverse background in music as a graphic designer, DJ, and radio host. Currently, he is the executive director of the Purple City Music Festival.
Karímah learned piano as a child, later picking up the guitar and penning her own songs. As a teenager, she performed in coffee shops and open-mic venues “when I was not yet of legal drinking age,” she admits. She eventually fronted bands, notably co-founding Noisy Colours.
In 2017, Karímah was a contestant on La Voix, the French-Canadian version of The Voice, where she personalized other artists’ songs. “The art of interpretation is so important. It’s something that people don’t necessarily talk about,” she observes. “For me, the essence of communicating the message in a song—whether in a recording or live—is about this holistic process of connecting to the lyrics and connecting to your own experiences.”
After La Voix, Karímah traveled to Memphis as part of Two Blue with guitarist Robert Walsh. Since she was 16, Karímah has always wanted to be known as a “powerhouse vocalist that people would want to experiment with.” She hoped her voice would take her around the world, but she affirms that Edmonton will always be home.
Edmonton: A Hidden Musical Gem
To fully understand VERTTIGO’s background, it’s essential to grasp the essence of Edmonton’s music scene. The capital of Alberta and Canada’s fifth-largest city, Edmonton isn’t mentioned as often as cultural hotspots like Toronto or Montreal. But it boasts a dynamic underground scene. “Edmonton is known for a lot of creativity—like raw talent, raw creativity. So, there’s always something new and exciting going on here,” Karímah says.
She notes that this hub can be “a challenging ecosystem.” “The energy here feels like a community. It feels very warm and accepting. There’s a lot of diversity, money, and interest being put into different types of art,” the lead vocalist explains. “But, at the same time, we are still kind of the ‘underdog town.’ People call it the ‘little big city’ or ‘the newest city.'”
Rathjen describes Edmonton as “an incubator,” producing cult favorites like Purity Ring and Mac DeMarco, even if those artists have since moved on. The northernmost Canadian city’s “remote” location fosters independence and provides space for innovation. “I find that really creative things happen here because there’s not really any rules,” Rathjen tells CONE. “There’s a limited amount of artists in the scene, which creates some very unique crossover things happening.”
VERTTIGO embodies this vibrant scene, with the five-piece forming in 2022. “The band formed out of various friendships throughout the Edmonton music scene over the years,” Rathjen says. He was familiar with Karímah as a venue booker and had invited the singer to perform solo at the Purple City Festival. “We were working on the music and one of her good friends, one of her besties, Lauren, our synth player, had suggested she join what we were doing. So it was kind of like we all were in each other’s orbits—and then we united.”
The band has maintained a grassroots approach, collaborating with independent labels like Vancouver’s emerging darkwave label, Verboden Records.
Reimagining a Classic
Building on the vibrant, collaborative spirit of Edmonton’s music scene, VERTTIGO takes on Mazzy Star’s cherished 1993 shoegaze classic “Fade Into You,” which has been widely synced, covered, and remixed. “I just rewatched [2010’s musical] Burlesque with Christina Aguilera and Cher the other day as a treat to myself—’cause I love a little camp movie—and it’s in that movie even,” Karímah quips.
It was Rathjen’s idea for VERTTIGO to transform “Fade Into You” into a darkwave anthem. “I heard the music and thought, ‘Hey, this could have a double-time feel. It’d be cool if it was driving a fast version of this, but the vocals would be the same tempo.’ The place that Karímah took the vocals to though, that’s a whole different thing.”
The band laid down the instrumental before Karímah entered the studio. “It’s fun to sing in that relaxed way and take on a cover, because I’m not trying to emulate anyone else when I do a cover. I definitely want to give it something authentic. So the pressure’s off,” she says. As a result, the recording process was quick, Rathjen recalls. “We try not to overthink things in the band; we just do it.”
VERTTIGO released their rendition of “Fade Into You” as an exclusive seven-inch single via Dum Dum Records. The reception has surprised them. “People generally love it,” Rathjen enthuses. Karímah adds, “It’s really cool that people appreciate it because, of course, we know it’s a little dangerous to do a cover. But you have to go for it.” “Fade Into You” is also a hit in their live performances.
In June, VERTTIGO released their debut EP, also titled Fade Into You, featuring the stunning first single “Autumn,” which has an accompanying video directed by Morgan Gold. The EP serves as a teaser for their upcoming album, tomorrow is gone, set to be released in November. The album will include another evocative track, the Beach House-inspired “Lightbearer,” which is already a staple on Spotify playlists.
Rathjen reveals that the forthcoming album’s title is existential, with lyrics reflecting the personal experiences of the band members, “including a divorce.” He notes, “There’s some pretty deep themes of love and loss, death and rebirth. All that shines through in the lyrics. Generally, the band is into the darker side of the human condition.” Karímah emphasizes the importance of the group’s candid conversations. “It’s going to be a very intimate album and, in some ways, very vulnerable.”
What’s Next
Ultimately, VERTTIGO’s sonic aesthetic is a hybrid of goth, dream pop, shoegaze, and possibly trip-hop—sounds that could only exist today. Yet the band is unsure where they fit. “We’re pretty heavily influenced by the ’80s goth and New Wave scene. And then, obviously dream pop and shoegaze from the ’90s,” Rathjen reflects. “We like the darker, vibier, dreamier kind of sounds. So, yeah, [we’re] obviously influenced by stuff in the past. But I feel like we’re creating a new lane for ourselves.”
It might seem that VERTTIGO are the successors to the often-overlooked Canadian New Wavers Martha and the Muffins. However, the band finds it amusing when critics draw such parallels. A glowing review of their show at the Sled Island Music and Arts Festival in Calgary described Karímah’s voice as “containing echoes of Roy Orbison-style wallow with a touch of Ian Curtis’ haunting baritone.” Others have made more random comparisons. “Somebody recently told us that [our music] reminded them a lot of Annie Lennox,” Rathjen shares. Karímah laughs, “I’ve been compared to so many people over the years that I haven’t even heard of!”
As VERTTIGO prepares to release new music, they seek to connect with national audiences. They embody a thriving creative community that shapes both the band and the Canadian music scene. Their ambitious touring plans reflect their desire to break new ground, with a hint of humor, Karímah quips, “Even if we’re closer to L.A. than Montreal, we’re ready to take on the road!”