MorMor’s Seth Nyquist came out of nowhere. Practically coalescing on to the main stage of indie pop in 2018 with the release of his single, “Heaven’s Only Wishful,” which racked up millions of views within days. A song that was a representation of everything around him, Nyquist channeled the energy of Toronto into a song about how the city made him feel.

Although the popularity of the song came from a string of lucky coincidences by getting into the right hands and being passed around via word of mouth across Toronto; Nyquist’s talent is entirely his own proving the cream always rises. One way or another, MorMor was going to gain notoriety.

In the last year life has quickly changed for Nyquist. He released his first EP Heaven’s Only Wishful shortly after the release of the titular single and has received acclaim from fans and critics alike. “It’s been special and surreal. I’ve definitely been on more planes,” Nyquist laughs. “It’s just been really surreal.”

His latest single, “Outside,” is yet to be released, but is a powerful demonstration of the kind of artist MorMor is becoming, with more complex and nuanced arrangements. His songs have always been personal by demonstrating a different practice that represented his emotional state, but “Outside” takes on a more relatable subject by tackling mental health.

“I was trying to talk about the anxiety of going outside and dealing with depression. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily anymore personal than my other songs but I think this one is definitely special to me. I think at first it was subconscious. I think maybe now I’m more expressive, but it goes way back. When I was a kid I would hum melodies when I was nervous and I would drum on my desk. My teachers would always get mad and tell me to stop banging on the desk. Something in that energy calms me. I’m kind of defining that inner child in my music.”

Nyquist grew up in Toronto where he still resides and has been playing music since before he could remember. Although his music can be an expression of his city he doesn’t necessarily feel like he needs to express love to his city rather than just explain the experience of it. His songs are not love letters, but more an explorer’s notes on a journey through the diverse and fast paced environment. His methods of pulling inspiration are unique; instead of looking to other musicians he looks to artists of other disciplines and how they expressed themselves through their individual crafts.

“I’m sort of inspired by what I’m feeling or what’s around me, what a day feels like and I like to interpret those feelings. I wouldn’t say I’m like Basquiat but there was so much information in his paintings and feelings expressed through the way he painted and what his collages represented compared to his actual paintings. The way I like to do things is to not think about it too much and let the feelings come and let the music come from that. I just let happen as it happens. In ‘Heaven’s Only Wishful’ the entire end of that song is freestyled. All the little inflections and everything I didn’t even think about, I just let it happen naturally.”

MorMor is stand out because he acts on instinct. Allowing the music to flow from him the way a paintbrush moves across a canvas and building on improvisation to create a natural and honest sound, MorMor has crafted a sonic identity unlike anyone else. It might prove difficult not to disappear into the wash of an era where Canadian talent is erupting from the East Coast and taking over the mainstream, but MorMor is proving that completely being oneself is the best way to go.