Rising artist, producer, and award-winning songwriter Chris LaRocca returns with his most introspective work yet — the EP ‘dog years’ — out now via Red Bull Records/Wonderchild.
Leading the project is the funk-infused single “preaching to the choir”, a soul-baring anthem for overthinkers in love. Built around pulsing indie-folk production, the track captures the anxious thoughts and tender vulnerability of being seen — and truly known — in a relationship.
“It’s said that being in a relationship is like looking into a mirror, and that’s the concept behind ‘preaching to the choir’,” shares LaRocca. “It’s an ode to anxiety and what it must feel like to be intimately close with someone like myself. The lyrics are a rambling train of thought — every quirk, every insecurity. Writing this song marked a turning point, and it now stands as a time capsule of who I was at that moment.”
Though known for his work with global stars Bryson Tiller, Kali Uchis, and Russ, LaRocca’s roots dig deep into the sounds of 70s folk and Americana. ‘dog years’ feels both spontaneous and intentional — an homage to an iconic musical era while carving out his own lane of what he affectionately calls “Canadiana” music.
Across its seven tracks, the EP chronicles an emotional calendar year — a period of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery captured in real time. The project includes five previously released singles — “ladybug,” “laundry day,” “slow dance in the diner,” “normal guy,” and “last pair of boots in town” — along with two brand-new songs:
- “fed up!!” — an echo-drenched reflection on regret and disillusionment, guided by plaintive guitars and raw honesty.
- “dog years” — the title track that embodies the EP’s core message: time moves strangely when we’re growing. Days feel long, years fly by, and healing is never linear.
“I started this project on January 1st, 2024, and finished it that November,” LaRocca reveals. “Every meaningful thing that happened within that time — love, loss, growth — I put into a song. By the end, I realized how much can happen in a single year. It really felt like I was living in dog years — growing and changing several years’ worth in one.”
‘dog years’ was crafted in collaboration with a stellar lineup of musicians and producers, including Daniel Lanois (Bob Dylan, Neil Young), Alex “Ace G” Erenwein (Drake, Daniel Caesar), “Dirty” Dave Marcus (Blxst, Rico Nasty, Offset), and Herag Sanbalian (Alessia Cara, Nelly Furtado).
With ‘dog years’, Chris LaRocca offers a 360-degree exploration of sound and emotion — a blend of nostalgia and innovation that celebrates growth, imperfection, and resilience. It’s music that feels like pain and healing at once — reflective, patient, and deeply human.
dog years’ Tracklisting
1. ladybug
2. laundry day
3. slow dance in the diner
4. preaching to the choir
5. normal guy
6. fed up!!
7. dog years
8. last pair of boots in town
