Nix Ironstone Turns Friendship Betrayal Into a Fierce Rock Anthem on “Sincerely, Me”

Canadian alternative rock artist Nix Ironstone confronts the emotional fallout of a broken friendship with her latest single, “Sincerely, Me." Combining gritty guitars, commanding vocals, and darkly humorous lyricism, the former country artist delivers a sarcastic farewell to someone who transformed a once-meaningful friendship into an exhausting exercise in blame and manipulation.

Co-written with Chris Dimas and Taylor Perkins of JUNO-nominated rock band Bleeker, who also handled production, “Sincerely, Me” approaches friendship heartbreak from an unusually entertaining perspective. Rather than pleading for reconciliation or dwelling exclusively on disappointment, Nix Ironstone frames the song as a sympathy card addressed to someone unfortunate enough to have lost her friendship.

The concept is wonderfully petty, but there’s considerable emotional substance beneath its sarcastic presentation. Expressions of goodwill become thinly veiled dismissals, exposing the frustration of being misrepresented by someone who refuses to acknowledge their own responsibility.

What makes “Sincerely, Me” particularly effective is its recognition that friendship breakups deserve the same emotional consideration as romantic separations. Losing someone who once occupied an important place in your life can be devastating, especially when the relationship ends without accountability or meaningful closure.

The accompanying cinematic music video, which premiered through Live in Limbo in September, extends the song’s theatrical premise and has surpassed 179,000 YouTube views.

Previously performing as Nicole Rayy, Nix Ironstone accumulated more than five million streams, received ten CMAOntario Award nominations, and won 2024 Music Video of the Year before embracing alternative rock.

With previous singles “Dead To Me” and “Nervous” establishing her new direction, “Sincerely, Me” further demonstrates the confidence behind this artistic reinvention. It’s a sharp, unapologetic reminder that sometimes the healthiest response to betrayal is recognizing exactly what the other person has lost.

“Sincerely, Me” takes the emotional fallout of a friendship breakup and presents it as a sarcastic sympathy card. What inspired you to approach such a personal experience with dark humor, and did writing the song change how you viewed the friendship?

I've always loved a little dark humor, and I think sometimes the best way to deal with something painful is to find a way to laugh about it. Friendship breakups can hurt just as much as romantic ones, but we don't really talk about them in the same way. I had gone through a friendship breakup that left me feeling really hurt and frustrated, especially because I felt like I had given so much to that friendship and never really got the closure or accountability I deserved.

I actually came into the writing session with the idea of turning the whole experience into a sarcastic sympathy card. Instead of being the one mourning the loss of the friendship, I wanted to flip the narrative and offer my condolences to the person who lost me.

Writing the song was definitely therapeutic. It helped me shift my perspective from wondering what I could have done differently to recognizing that I had been a good friend. I think sometimes we spend so much time questioning ourselves when a relationship ends that we forget to acknowledge what we brought to it. This song was my way of reminding myself that I know my worth, and there's nothing wrong with thinking, "You know what? You should be sorry you lost me!"

You worked with Chris Dimas and Taylor Perkins of Bleeker on both the songwriting and production. How did that collaboration influence the song's heavier alternative rock direction, and what did they bring to the creative process that helped elevate your original vision?

Working with Chris and Taylor has been such an amazing experience! When we got together to write "Sincerely, Me," I already had the concept in mind, but they really helped bring it to life in a way that felt true to the sound I was trying to create with Nix Ironstone.

One of the things I love most about working with them is that they really understand the direction I want to take my music. They bring so much creativity and energy to the writing process, and I feel like we really clicked from the beginning. It's always exciting to work with people who understand your vision but also bring their own ideas to the table and push you creatively.

I love that the lyrics have this sarcastic, almost playful quality to them, while the production is heavy and powerful. That contrast is what makes the song so much fun to me. It's angry, it's emotional, but it's also something you can scream along to and feel empowered by. I think we have really great creative chemistry together, which is why I've continued working with them on more music!

After more than a decade performing as Nicole Rayy, you've made a significant transition from country music into alternative rock. Was there a defining moment when you realized this new artistic identity was the direction you needed to pursue, and what has been the most liberating part of that transformation?

I don't think there was one specific defining moment. It was more of a feeling that had been building for a long time. I'm incredibly grateful for everything my country music career gave me, but I've always had a love for rock music, especially the darker, more emotional side of it. Over time, I started feeling a little creatively stuck, like I was becoming limited by the expectations of country music, and there was another side of myself that I wasn't getting to express.

Starting the Nix Ironstone project really reignited my passion for making music. I suddenly felt inspired again, excited to get into the studio, write new songs, and explore sounds and ideas that I hadn't felt I could before. It reminded me why I fell in love with making music in the first place.

The most liberating part has been giving myself permission to explore that side of who I am without worrying about fitting into a particular box. It was scary to walk away from something I'd spent so many years building, but I think sometimes you have to be willing to take a risk to find out what you're really capable of. And looking back now, I'm so glad I took that leap!

The music video for “Sincerely, Me” brings the song's sarcastic concept into a dark, cinematic setting and has already surpassed 179,000 views. How involved were you in developing the visual treatment, and what details were particularly important in translating the song's message to the screen?

I'm a very visual person, so music videos have always been one of my favorite parts of being an artist! I love being involved in the creative process and finding ways to bring the stories behind my songs to life.

For "Sincerely, Me," I worked with AJ Astle and Jake Sauve from Roadhouse Productions to create something that felt dark, cinematic, and a little twisted, while still having that tongue-in-cheek humor that runs throughout the song. One of my favorite parts of the video is that we actually incorporated real-life items and little details from the friendship that inspired the song. There's something incredibly satisfying about literally burning away pieces of the past, and I love that those moments also serve as little Easter eggs hidden throughout the video.

It made the whole experience feel that much more personal, almost like getting to close that chapter of my life in a really creative way.

Beyond your recording career, you've created opportunities for women and non-binary artists through HarmoniaFest and the Harmonia Songwriter Series. How has building that community influenced your perspective on the music industry, and what can listeners expect from your debut Nix Ironstone album in 2027?

Creating HarmoniaFest and the Harmonia Songwriter Series has honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. I started HarmoniaFest back in 2020 because I wanted to create more opportunities for women in music, and this year we celebrated our seventh festival! It's been amazing watching that community grow and seeing so many talented artists support and lift each other up.

I've always been a big believer that if someone isn't going to give you an opportunity, you have to create it yourself. There is so much incredible talent out there, and sometimes all people need is a platform and someone willing to believe in them. I've always been passionate about supporting other women in the industry, and that's something I plan to continue doing no matter where my own music takes me.

As for the album, I'm SO excited about what we've been creating! I've been back in the studio with Chris and Taylor from Bleeker, working on what will become my debut album as Nix Ironstone. I honestly think I'm going to surprise a lot of people, especially those who knew me from my country music days, because this is unlike anything I've ever done before. You can definitely expect a heavier sound, along with plenty more stories about female empowerment, knowing your worth, and choosing yourself. And don't be surprised if a few more exes meet their musical demise along the way!