Good Grief is a Toronto-based songwriting duo, consisting of powerhouse singer-songwriters Bryn McCutcheon and Kirstyn Johnson. After serendipitously being paired together at a writing camp hosted by Dreamhouse Studios, Good Grief was quickly formed. Their collaboration is founded on a shared belief: that creating space for their collaborators to access and express their defining truths is crucial in crafting impactful projects.

This writing duo has worked both locally and internationally with artists & producers such as Ari Hicks, Banx & Ranx, Blaise Moore, Chin Injeti, Daneliya, Dean Lewis, Delaney Jane, Dragonette, Fefe Dobson, Katherine Li, Lili-Ann De Francesco, Mackenzie Arromba, MKLA, Nelly Furtado, Nicolina, Rêve, Ryland James, Saint Harrison, Shawn Desman, Sofia Camara, Strings from Paris, T-Minus, Tyler Shaw, Zolita, and many more.

Their songwriting credits include "Tongue," written with Rêve for Saturn Return, which won Juno Pop Album of the Year in 2024. Additionally, "You Found Me"—written by Good Grief and performed by Bryn—was nominated for a Canadian Screen Music Award in 2024. The two also vocal produced Sofia Camara’s feature on "With You" by Dean Lewis. 

A core focus for Good Grief is building a community of creatives that can grow together. In a recent collaboration with Pine Island Studios and Secret Door Recording, Good Grief hosted their first-ever destination writing and wellness retreat in October 2023 on Stoney Lake. The focus of this experience was to inspire creatives to execute at the highest level by allowing them to first turn inwards. Each day consisted of a curated schedule of meditation, yoga, meals, and studio time with optional on-site physical therapy, massage, and psychotherapy (provided by Toronto Community Massage and Wellness) should the creative choose to sign up. The camp was an overwhelming success for all ten artists who participated. The next retreat is now planned for fall of 2025.

The passion that Bryn and Kirstyn share for expressing artists’ stories is as vibrant outside the studio as it is inside. The duo hosts an annual songwriters’ showcase, Good Grief Presents: The Inner Circle, with Volumes 1 & 2 (hosted at the Dark Underground) selling out well in advance. The showcase provides an intimate look at the songwriting process, featuring live performances, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and one-night-only song arrangements. Past performers have included Juno award-winning pop star Rêve, TikTok sensation Sofia Camara, and viral dark-pop artist Ari Hicks, among others.

In an exciting collaboration between Good Grief and the Massey Hall team, Good Grief moved the annual showcase into TD Music Hall (an allied music centre located inside Massey Hall) for Vol. 3 of Good Grief Presents. The showcase was featured artists Delaney Jane, Ryland James, and Nicolina to a packed TD Music Hall.

With an unwavering commitment to authenticity and artistic excellence, Good Grief continues to carve out a space for deep, meaningful songwriting that resonates on a global scale.