Canadian singer-songwriters Henry Lees and Joanna Butler have released “That Last Goodbye,” an emotionally driven collaboration inspired by profound personal loss. Produced by Ontario musician Allister Bradley, the single explores grief, remembrance and the difficult process of finding hope after losing loved ones.
The song has also received international recognition, earning a semi-finalist distinction in the Folk / Singer-Songwriter category of the 2025 International Songwriting Competition.
A Personal Tragedy Inspires a Musical Collaboration
For Lees, the song emerged from an exceptionally difficult period marked by the deaths of three sisters within less than a year.
Between late 2022 and mid-2023, his sisters Lawna, Laura and Linda died from forms of dementia, including early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and Primary Progressive Aphasia. All three were aged 70 or younger.
Lees had previously lost his youngest sister, Lila, to cancer in 2009, while his parents died in 2003 and 2011.
“This is something I thought I would never have the courage to write about,” says Lees. “I thought it would be too painful and close to the bone but thanks to two wonderfully supportive and insightful collaborators, the time finally felt right to go there. I’m so grateful we did.”
The accumulated losses eventually prompted Lees to explore songwriting as a means of expressing emotions that had remained difficult to articulate.
SongStudio Workshop Brings Two Songwriters Together
Approximately two years after his sisters’ deaths, Lees participated in a SongStudio songwriting workshop, where he collaborated with Nova Scotia songwriter Joanna Butler for the first time.
Despite having no previous working relationship, the two artists discovered a shared understanding of bereavement.
“We didn’t know each other, yet we both understood the pain of losing someone,” Butler explains. “You could feel the wave of emotions in that virtual room, and our challenge was to capture them in a song.”
Butler’s songwriting experience includes collaborations with Canadian musicians Meaghan Smith, Dave Gunning, Terra Spencer and Bruce Guthro.
Their partnership became the foundation for “That Last Goodbye,” which examines the uncertainty and emotional isolation that frequently accompany bereavement.
Allister Bradley Shapes the Song’s Emotional Sound
Ontario songwriter and producer Allister Bradley became involved after hearing the composition during the SongStudio workshop, which he helped manage.
Bradley initially developed a piano-based demonstration recording before agreeing to produce the final version.
The finished recording features Bradley’s piano arrangements, Lees’ lead vocals and Butler’s harmonies, creating a restrained musical setting that emphasizes the lyrics.
“I very much approached the instruments as a hidden opportunity to tell as much story as the lyrics,” he explains. “I aimed to capture the song’s turmoil – the swirling confusion, the longing, the inescapable weight and the loneliness – in the instrumental track itself.”
The production emphasizes the emotional progression of grief rather than relying on elaborate instrumentation.
International Songwriting Recognition Adds to Lees’ Achievements
The song’s selection as a semi-finalist in the 2025 International Songwriting Competition represents Lees’ 12th honour from international music competitions since 2021.
“That kind of thumbs up from your peers is so validating and thrilling to receive,” notes Lees. “It underscores that it was a good thing to create from this very personal place.”
The recognition follows Lees’ earlier singles “Into Your Orbit” and “Smoke,” which have collectively generated more than 10,000 streams.
Both recordings have appeared on Spotify’s Daylist and Mixes playlists and received airplay from college and community radio stations across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and South America.
They also earned recognition from the International Songwriting Competition and Unsigned Only Music Awards.
Artists Hope Song Encourages Conversations About Loss
Beyond its musical achievements, Lees and Butler hope the release will resonate with listeners experiencing grief and encourage conversations about emotional well-being.
“I hope listeners feel an emotional release, knowing that others wrestle with the same feelings after losing someone,” says Butler. “There’s something so freeing about hearing someone express what you haven’t been able to say.”
Lees also hopes the song will honour his sisters while providing reassurance to others navigating similar circumstances.
“In honour of my sisters, I really hope ‘That Last Goodbye’ can connect with as many listeners as possible who may be going through seemingly insurmountable loss,” offers Lees. “It’s not a magic potion but music can definitely help us feel less alone.”
“That Last Goodbye” is available through digital music platforms. The artists are also directing attention toward dementia research and Alzheimer’s awareness, connecting the release’s personal origins with a broader public health issue affecting Canadian families.
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