From Wit to Melody: Jon Stancer’s Are We Not Here For Fun?

Alt-rock songwriter Jon Stancer returns with his bold new project Are We Not Here For Fun?, released via Weeeee! Records. Known for pairing wit with depth, Stancer once again delivers music that challenges as much as it entertains.

The title track, shared as a single, sets the tone with sharp irony. It takes aim at our growing numbness to chaos, cruelty, and tragedy. “It’s a bit of facetious commentary on how we’ve numbed somewhat to shocking and shitty behaviour, to bad actors, to crimes and atrocities, to devastating events,” Stancer explains. His words cut to the heart of a culture that turns pain into entertainment.

The video adds a playful twist. Stancer pays tribute to the 1970s cult TV show The Hilarious House of Frightenstein by recreating the Wolfman’s musical segment. It’s nostalgic and humorous, yet it mirrors the album’s bigger theme: how spectacle shapes what we see and feel. “I watched that freaky show as a small kid,” he recalls. “I thought it’d be amusing to attempt some sort of send-up.”

On the production side, Stancer co-worked with Jean Martin (D.D. Jackson, Jesse Zubot) to craft a sound both dynamic and layered. The album features Joshua Van Tassel on drums (Great Lake Swimmers, Rose Cousins, Donovan Woods) and Grammy-nominated Drew Jurecka on strings (Metric, Alvvays). The result is music that moves with both raw energy and emotional elegance.

Across the record, Stancer blends personal restlessness with sharp cultural observation. His lyrics carry bite, yet his melodies remain rich and inviting. It’s an album that makes you think, but it never loses its sense of fun.

With Are We Not Here For Fun?, Stancer proves himself not only as a songwriter but as a commentator on the times. The songs offer critique, humor, and heart in equal measure. And with live shows in the works, these ideas will soon take on even greater life on stage.

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