Canadian independent artist and songwriter Tilsen shares “Train To Vienna,” a bittersweet and emotionally charged alt-pop single inspired by the true story of ending a relationship aboard a train bound for Vienna. Pairing intimate autobiographical storytelling with an arrangement that steadily expands into something bigger and more cathartic, the track captures the difficult realization that loving someone doesn’t always mean a relationship is healthy enough to survive.

The setting is as literal as it sounds. While travelling by train to Vienna with her then-boyfriend, Tilsen reached a breaking point after realizing his insecurity had begun consuming too much of their relationship. Though she still cared deeply for him, she knew staying together was no longer right for either of them.

“The song captures that moment of knowing you have to leave someone even when you still care about them, and trusting that eventually, you’ll both be better off,” Tilsen explains.

What can you share with readers about your new project?

My new single, “Train to Vienna,” is about the moment you realize that staying in a relationship is costing you more than leaving it would. It was inspired by a real breakup that happened while I was travelling by train. The relationship had become emotionally draining, and I knew I needed to choose myself, even though walking away was hurtful.

At its heart, the song is about trusting yourself enough to leave something that no longer feels right, and discovering how much bigger your life can become afterward.

How does this release compare with your other projects you had in the past?

I think “Train to Vienna” feels more honest and self-assured than some of my earlier work. I’ve always written from personal experience, but in the past I sometimes approached heartbreak from the perspective of wanting to be understood or hoping someone would come back.

This song comes from a different place. It isn’t really about blaming anyone or wishing the relationship had ended differently. It’s about recognizing that two people can care about each other and still not be right for one another. There’s sadness in the song, but there’s also clarity and freedom.

What about this single makes you most proud?

I’m proud that it captures a complicated emotional experience without turning either person into the villain. Leaving was painful for both of us, but it was still the right decision.

One of my favourite lyrics is, “I did the old me proud.” That line holds so much of the song’s meaning for me. It’s about becoming the person your younger self needed, the person brave enough to make a difficult decision and trust where it might lead.

Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

I wanted the song to make people feel less alone when they’re facing a decision they already know, deep down, they need to make. We often wait for a situation to become undeniably terrible before we give ourselves permission to leave, but something doesn’t have to be catastrophic to be wrong for you.

If the song helps someone trust their instincts, begin again or stop asking everyone else for permission, then it has accomplished what I hoped it would.

What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

Music helps me understand my own experiences. Sometimes I don’t fully know what I think or feel until I begin writing about it. I’m fascinated by those emotionally complicated moments that don’t fit neatly into one category – when you can love someone and leave them, grieve something and still know it needed to end, or break someone’s heart (maybe even your own) while making the right decision.

What keeps me going is connection. When someone tells me that a lyric helped them name something they couldn’t express themselves, it reminds me why I make music.

If you could collaborate with anyone—dead or alive, famous or unknown—who would it be and why?

I would love to collaborate with Taylor Swift. I really admire her ability to turn incredibly specific experiences into songs that millions of people can recognize themselves in. She pays attention to the tiny details – the setting, the dialogue and the emotional shift that changes everything. As a songwriter, I would love to experience that storytelling process with her and see where our perspectives might meet.

What was the last song you listened to? 

I just listened to Sophia by Nerina Pallot. Had a fan recommend her and it’s so beautiful. 

Favorite all-time bands/artists?

Some of my all-time favourite artists are Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, Regina Spektor, BRDGS and Taylor Swift. I’m especially drawn to artists who combine strong melodies with vivid, emotionally honest storytelling, the kind of music that feels intimate while still leaving space for the listener’s own story.

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

The best place to stay connected with me is on Instagram and TikTok where I share new music, performances and the stories behind my songs. You can search Tilsen on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms to hear “Train to Vienna” and the rest of my music. Following me on those platforms will allow them to share new music with you too!

I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off?

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen and for giving independent artists a place to tell the stories behind their music.

If you’re standing at the edge of a difficult decision, I hope “Train to Vienna” reminds you that staying has risks too. You don’t need everyone to understand your next chapter before you begin it, and changing your mind might be how you find your way. 

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While its title sounds like the setup for a film, its cinematic quality comes directly from real life. Turning the experience into a song allowed Tilsen to return to that pivotal moment with the distance necessary to see both sides of it, finding compassion and perspective within a decision that had initially been incredibly painful.

That complexity is central to Tilsen’s approach to songwriting. Rather than reducing relationships to heroes and villains, she gravitates toward the complicated psychology behind the ways people love, hurt, need, and ultimately leave one another. “I’m rarely interested in making someone completely the villain or myself completely the victim,” she says. “Even in painful stories, I’m usually looking for some kind of understanding, growth or humanity.”

For “Train To Vienna,” that process was particularly collaborative. Tilsen wrote the song alongside Bryn McCutcheon and Kirstyn Johnson as well as Jules/444BOY, a close friend she met abroad who had been with her immediately before the fateful train ride and knew what was about to happen. Their proximity to the story helped transform an intensely personal memory into something larger and more universal.

Since releasing her first music in 2019, Tilsen has amassed more than 20 million Spotify streams and earned repeated editorial support from major streaming platforms, including placements on Spotify playlists such as New Music Friday, Contemporary Blend, Tropical House, and Sad Beats. She has also opened for artists including BANNERS, Shawn Hook, Scott Helman, and Ryan Marshall.

Beyond her own releases, Tilsen is signed to SNGL Music Publishing (Grayson Music Group) and has written for artists including BANNERS, Delaney Jane, BRDGS, Madalen Duke, Nova May, and Molly Moore. Her songwriting has also appeared across film and television, including Magnum P.I., Virgin River, and CBC’s coverage of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.