Cult Nation
| Cult Nation | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Cult Nation Holding Inc. |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Jason Brando |
| Status | Active |
| Distributor(s) | Sony Music Canada |
| Genre | Pop, R&B, various |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Location | 160 Saint-Viateur East, Mile End, Montreal, Quebec |
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Cult Nation is a Canadian independent record label, talent management agency, and creative production house based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 2015 by producer and songwriter Jason Brando, the company operates as a "creative ecosystem" combining artist development, internal recording facilities, and high-end visual production.[1]
The label is home to artists including Charlotte Cardin, Lubalin, Alicia Moffet, Chiara Savasta, Dominique Way, HALO, Malko, and theo feels.[2] In partnership with Sony Music Canada, the label's artists have achieved international recognition, with Charlotte Cardin becoming the first Canadian artist to top the Canadian Billboard chart since Céline Dion in 2016.[3]
History
Founding and early years (2015–2020)
Cult Nation was founded in 2015 by Jason Brando, a Canadian record producer who established the label with the mission to build an international platform for Quebec-based talent.[4] The label operates out of a studio facility at 160 Saint-Viateur East in Montreal's Mile End district, which serves as a creative hub for producers, songwriters, and filmmakers.[2]
Brando serves as Founder and Creative Director, leading high-level career strategy and collaborative writing and production with a global circle of songwriters and producers. Laurie Chouinard joined as head of artist management and business affairs, handling what she calls "the full operational ecosystem": tour planning, deal negotiations, release rollouts, and brand partnerships.[1]
Sony Music partnership and international expansion (2021–present)
In 2021, Cult Nation entered a strategic distribution partnership with Sony Music Canada, enabling its boutique roster to reach global markets while maintaining creative independence.[5] This partnership coincided with the release of Charlotte Cardin's debut album Phoenix, which achieved platinum certification in Canada and swept the Juno Awards of 2022 with four wins including Album of the Year.[6]
In 2025, Brando and Chouinard were named to the Billboard Canada Power Players list in the Labels & Label Groups category for their impact on the music industry.[1]
Artists
Charlotte Cardin
The trajectory of Charlotte Cardin serves as the template for Cult Nation's artist development strategy. Her career at the label is often divided into three distinct creative eras:
The Phoenix Era (2021–2022)
Following years of development at the Cult Nation studio, Cardin released her debut album Phoenix in April 2021.[5] The album achieved platinum certification in Canada and held the #1 spot on the Canadian albums chart for two weeks, making Cardin the first Canadian artist to reach the top of the Canadian Billboard chart since Céline Dion in 2016.[7] The album swept the Juno Awards of 2022, winning four trophies including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, and Single of the Year for "Meaningless."[6] The album was also nominated for the Polaris Music Prize in 2022.[3]
The 99 Nights Era (2023–2024)
Cardin's sophomore album 99 Nights was released in August 2023 and was characterized by a "global first" marketing approach.[6] This era saw Cardin achieve international visibility with a billboard in Times Square, a dedicated Apple Music 1 radio show, a COLORS Studio performance, and a debut at No. 9 on Spotify's Global Debut Chart.[8] The album won Juno Awards for Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year in 2024.[8]
The Bold Era (2025–present)
In late 2024, following a sold-out show at the Zénith Paris and a performance on the French television show Star Academy, Cardin released the single "Feel Good," which became a viral phenomenon. As of summer 2025, it remains the most-played francophone song on French radio, with close to 80 million streams in France alone and nearly 100 million worldwide.[8]
In September 2025, Cardin released the French-language single "Tant pis pour elle," described as "a fantasy of perfectly executed revenge" and a statement of raw boldness intended to define a new artistic era.[9] In March 2025, Cardin was named Billboard's Global Woman of the Year, following her recognition as Billboard Canada's inaugural Woman of the Year in 2024.[10]
Lubalin
Lubalin is a Montreal-based singer, musician, and video producer who signed to Cult Nation.[11]
Viral success
In December 2020, Lubalin's "Internet Drama" series—which turned mundane online arguments from Facebook and Marketplace Ads into stylized musical theater—went viral on TikTok, attracting over 5 million followers and more than 200 million views.[12] The first two videos, featuring disputes over home rentals and a broccoli casserole recipe, earned attention from celebrities including Patton Oswalt and Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords.[13]
The series led to appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where Lubalin performed "Internet Drama, Part 4" alongside Jimmy Fallon and Alison Brie, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.[14][15]
Music career
Beyond his comedy work, Lubalin has become a key creative collaborator within Cult Nation. He worked as a producer on Charlotte Cardin's 99 Nights, receiving dual Juno Award nominations alongside Jason Brando for Songwriter of the Year and Producer of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024.[16] In late 2024, Lubalin released his debut album haha, no worries, which blends catchy pop with drum & bass, indie, and alt-rock influences.[17]
Alicia Moffet
In 2025, singer Alicia Moffet joined Cult Nation as part of a new chapter in her career. Her album No, I'm Not Crying, released in May 2025, was created in collaboration with producers and songwriters Jason Brando, Sam Avant, and Harper Gordon.[18]
denim
denim (stylized in lowercase) is a creative production company that operates in partnership with Cult Nation, specializing in music videos, commercial campaigns, and cultural content. Founded in Toronto in early 2024, denim expanded to Montreal in March 2025.[19][20]
Leadership
The company is led by Managing Director and Executive Producer Christian Tyler, who previously served as Executive Producer at Colossale.[19] The Montreal office is led by Executive Producers Mathieu Leduc and Alexandre Auray (Alex Auray), longtime collaborators with deep industry roots who oversee major productions for the label's flagship artists and commercial clients.[20]
Notable work
denim has been involved in projects with Drake, including music videos for "First Person Shooter," "You Broke My Heart," "Scary Hours III," and "Nokia."[19][21] The company has also produced music videos for Cult Nation artists including Charlotte Cardin's "Tant pis pour elle."[22]
Represented directors
The denim roster includes several acclaimed directors:[19]
Directors with notable recognition:
- Jodeb (Jonathan Desbiens) – Juno Award-nominated Canadian filmmaker from Shawinigan, Quebec, known for music videos for Skrillex, Imagine Dragons, Zedd, London Grammar, Jack White, Halsey, and A$AP Rocky. He joined the production company Prettybird in 2016 and received a Juno nomination for Video of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2017.[23][24]
- Vincent René-Lortie – Canadian director who graduated from Montreal's Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. His 2022 short film Invincible won the Prix Iris for Best Live Action Short Film at the 25th Quebec Cinema Awards and was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[25][26]
- Norman Wong – Canadian photographer and music video director who began his career as a photographer for Broken Social Scene and Arts & Crafts Productions. He shot the cover for Drake's 2018 album Scorpion and received a Juno Award nomination for Video of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022 for Charlotte Cardin's "Meaningless."[27]
Other notable directors:
- Theo Skudra – Frequent collaborator with Drake, known for directing "Toosie Slide," "What's Next," "Nokia," and numerous other Drake videos. He began working with Drake in 2011 as a digital image technician and became the artist's in-house photographer and director.[28]
- BRTHR (Alex Lee and Kyle Wightman) – Directing duo who met as film students at New York's School of Visual Arts. Known for their neon-soaked aesthetic and work with The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Lana Del Rey, Grimes, Selena Gomez, and Charli XCX.[29]
- Martin C Pariseau, Iris Kim, Aidan Cullen, MAMA, Pensacola, Nik Arthur, Sergi Castella, Benjamin Nicolas, Paul Sam Johnston, Xavier Tera, Ariel Fisher, Alex Acy, Jack Driscoll, Caraz, Soleil, Parker Schmidt, Jeremy Comte, Sebaztian, Émile Lavoie, Lucy Sandler, Glenn Michael, Nick Jasenovec[19]
Awards and accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Félix Awards | Anglophone Album of the Year (Phoenix) | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2022 | Juno Awards | Artist of the Year | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2022 | Juno Awards | Album of the Year (Phoenix) | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2022 | Juno Awards | Pop Album of the Year (Phoenix) | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2022 | Juno Awards | Single of the Year ("Meaningless") | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2022 | Polaris Music Prize | Polaris Prize | Charlotte Cardin (Phoenix) | Nominated |
| 2024 | Juno Awards | Album of the Year (99 Nights) | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2024 | Juno Awards | Pop Album of the Year (99 Nights) | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2024 | Juno Awards | Songwriter of the Year | Jason Brando & Lubalin | Nominated |
| 2024 | Juno Awards | Producer of the Year | Jason Brando & Lubalin | Nominated |
| 2024 | Billboard Canada Women in Music | Woman of the Year | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2025 | Billboard Women in Music | Global Woman of the Year | Charlotte Cardin | Won |
| 2025 | Billboard Canada | Power Players (Labels & Label Groups) | Jason Brando & Laurie Chouinard | Won |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Billboard Canada Manager To Watch: Jason Brando, Laurie Chouinard". Billboard Canada. June 11, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Contact – Cult Nation". Cult Nation. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Charlotte Cardin is Billboard Canada's Woman of the Year 2024". Billboard Canada. September 9, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ Cédric Bélanger (May 13, 2021). "Sur les traces des plus grands" (in français). Le Journal de Québec. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Charlotte Cardin Seeks Revenge With "Sad Girl"; Phoenix Arrives April 23rd Via Cult Nation". Sony Music Canada. 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Charlotte Cardin Announces Sophomore Album '99 Nights' Out Aug 25". Sony Music Canada. June 9, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Charlotte Cardin". Vida Festival. November 24, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Charlotte Cardin – Cult Nation". Cult Nation. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Charlotte Cardin Kicks Off A New Era With Tant Pis Pour Elle". Sony Music Canada. September 5, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Charlotte Cardin Accepts Global Woman of the Year Award at Billboard Women in Music 2025". Billboard Canada. March 31, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ Luc Boulanger (May 24, 2022). "Un nouvel album de Lubalin" (in français). La Presse. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ Michael Major. "Lubalin Shares New Single 'Never Gonna' Ahead of the Release of His New EP". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Make way, sea shanties; TikTok's ingenious 'Internet Drama' has come for your socials". Yahoo Entertainment. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ Kory Grow (February 3, 2021). "How Lubalin Turns 'Random Internet Drama' Into TikTok Gold". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ Brendan Kelly (January 28, 2021). "Montrealer Lubalin's comic music videos turn him into a TikTok star". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Here are all the 2024 Juno nominees". CBC Music. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Montreal singer-songwriter Lubalin beat imposter syndrome with a persona and a big suit". Cult MTL. December 24, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Alicia Moffet Unveils Choke – A Powerful Anthem of Clarity and Emotional Release; The Artist Embraces A New Era in Her Career by Joining Cult Nation". Sony Music Canada. April 4, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 "Creative Production Company Denim Officially Launches". Little Black Book. February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Denim expands to Montreal". Shots. March 10, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Drake: Nokia (Music Video 2025)". IMDb. March 31, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Charlotte Cardin Released Video For "Tant Pis Pour Elle"". Sony Music Canada. October 29, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Un autre réalisateur québécois fait sa marque" (in français). Le Journal de Montréal. February 19, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Jodeb Biography". Prettybird. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Quebec short film 'Invincible' nominated at the Oscars". CityNews. January 23, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ Michael Major (October 6, 2023). "INVINCIBLE Short Film Shares A Heartwrenching Tale Based On True Events". Broadway World. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ Chris Dart (May 9, 2022). "For over 15 years, the director and photographer Norman Wong has shown us what Toronto music looks like". CBC Arts. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "How Theo Skudra Became Drake's Go-To Visual Artist". Complex. May 28, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
- ↑ "BRTHR Interview With Greatest". GOAT. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
External links
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