Toronto-based pop project City Builders (Grace Turner) returns with her debut EP, Healing Revenge, featuring the fun and flirty lead single, “Heartthrob.” Built over two years of writing and collaboration, the EP moves between emotional catharsis and cheeky fun, exploring the complex territory of heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery.
Recorded over 10 months with collaborators AL-P (Death From Above 1971, MSTRKRFT), Zach Zanardo (Ruby Waters, MONOWHALES) and Jacky Levare (Walk Off The Earth, Siibii), the process proved transformative. “I got dumped on the last day of recording,” Grace recalls. “It was somehow poetic; the end of the record and the end of a partnership. The songs I’d written about heartbreak became comforting and took on new meaning.”
At the forefront of the release is “Heartthrob,” a pop song inspired by the larger-than-life persona of a musician Grace was dating. “No matter how mundane our lives were, watching him do what he loved on stage made every shortcoming feel worth it,” she explains. The track came together quickly, with verses written in just 10 minutes. “This is one of those songs that I feel like every lyric and melody is so satisfying and was somehow so simple to write.”
Healing Revenge is both a debut statement and a personal reflection. “These songs have taught me that there is no ‘correct’ way to process emotion,” Grace says. “Life is full of surprises, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to problems that arise. Healing the parts of me that would otherwise turn into resentment or spite has been a huge lesson while writing this EP.”
City Builders is the creative vehicle of Toronto artist Grace Turner. Launched in early 2022 as a collaborative project, the project became Turner’s solo endeavour in January 2025 following a romantic and creative breakup, revealing a new depth to her songwriting. With a combination of melodramatic alt-pop anthems, and heartfelt ballads, City Builders’ music resonates with listeners seeking emotional release, validation, and a sense of community.
Grace’s influences range from Lana Del Rey, Labrinth, Woodkid, and Britney Spears to M.I.A. and MGMT, and her fanbase (known as The Citizens) are drawn in by her distinctive voice, emotional duality, and playful diva persona. Notable projects like the Group Scream event have garnered media attention and high engagement from her growing community.
Healing Revenge positions City Builders as a confident, alternative pop artist, bridging dramatics and catharsis with a style that is unmistakably her own.
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