‘Such a healing moment’
Singer Alexander Stewart recalls his rendition of Hallelujah at Danforth tribute
Eighteen-year-old singer Alexander Stewart has played for big crowds and pulled in millions of views on his YouTube videos, but performing a rendition of Hallelujah for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a public tribute was something special.
Stewart delivered a poignant rendition of Leonard Cohen’s classic on Friday to honour the victims of the Danforth shooting that shocked the Greektown community where he grew up. The prime minister quietly sang along while standing beside him.
“It was such a healing moment and a beautiful thing for the community to come together like that,” Stewart said of the experience, which marked the opening of the area’s Taste of the Danforth Festival.
The young singer had already sung Hallelujah at the Danforth candlelight vigil last month. His performance led organizers to ask him to return for the annual street festival, and he was also invited to open Billy Talent’s benefit concert for the victims on Saturday.
It’s a sombre point to Stewart’s burgeoning music career, which he has built from his parents’ home in the Danforth neighbourhood, where his father also owns a recording studio. Both his parents worked at the Canadian Press several decades ago.
Stewart began posting covers of popular songs on YouTube about three years ago. When the videos started to take off, he began to consider his aspirations more seriously.
His version of Camila Cabello’s Havana is the most popular, racking up nearly six million views since last October. The figures attracted interest from the music industry, with the help of his father’s connections.
Stewart released his debut single Enamorado this year. The upbeat summer track was produced by Grammy winner Dave Aude, best known for crafting hits such as Selena Gomez’s Kill Em With Kindness and remixes of songs from Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
Stewart was in Nashville recording new songs when his father called to tell him about the shooting on the Danforth. It left the singer stunned.
“My jaw dropped to the floor,” he said. “I was texting all my friends to make sure they were OK.”
Stewart said he was troubled when he learned that both people who died were so young. Victim Reese Fallon, 18, would have gone to university in the fall like many of her friends.
“It’s shocking and shows how fragile life really is,” Stewart said. “And how quickly things can change.”
Paying tribute to the victims was never a question for Stewart. After being asked to perform at the vigil last month, he delayed plans to leave the city for other commitments.
But he admitted the second performance, standing next to the prime minister, was a bit more “nerve-racking” at first.
Stewart said his jitters faded when he launched into the song and gazed upon the sea of people. The neighbourhood he knew his entire life was united in this moment.
“I was looking out onto everybody in the audience and I knew like half of the people there,” he said. “We were all singing together.”