alt R&B meets singer-songwriter -- fueled by Chinese barbecue and bubble tea
alt R&B meets singer-songwriter -- fueled by Chinese barbecue and bubble tea
Toronto, ON — LUCKY VARIETY, the eclectic musical collaboration from Toronto-based Juno Award-winning producer TLO (TSOL, Shad) and singer-songwriter Estyr, will release their self-titled album on February 27, 2026, across all major streaming platforms. Their work has been featured on Apple Music’s “New in Alternative” editorial playlist and Spotify’s “Fresh Finds Canada”.
The Asian-Canadian songwriting duo blends neo-soul, alt-R&B, and electronic production, incorporating lush synths, slouchy drum-and-bass grooves, and dreamy textures alongside intimate singer-songwriter sensibilities. The album’s songs explore how to love within our limits, reconcile with anxiety, and build healing connections.
“This album represents the shared ground between our genres and life stories,” says LUCKY VARIETY. “It’s a space we’ve carved out for ourselves, and the process of creating this project felt like uncharted territory.”
“TLO has had such a huge impact in the Canadian rap and hip hop scene. It was a glorious adventure to see how my indie alternative voice could dance with his beatmaking and production. I’ve never made a project like this,” says Estyr.
“I was excited to pair Estyr’s songwriting and vocals with beat driven, sparse and soulful production. And we discovered a unique intersection between our sonic worlds along the journey” says TLO.
LUCKY VARIETY brings together artists from distinct musical and cultural backgrounds: Terence “TLO” Lo, a Filipino-Singaporean Canadian producer and award-winning turntablist, and Esther “Estyr” Phua, a Finnish-Singaporean Canadian singer-songwriter and member of Tiger Balme. Their differences and unique contributions–mood-driven production and heartfelt lyricism–form the foundation of the project’s dynamic, genre-fluid sound.
The album reflects the culmination of years of experimentation beginning with remote collaboration during the pandemic, and later taking shape in a leaky Chinatown basement studio.