Canadian rock singer-songwriter Justin Faulknor unveils his latest single and video, ‘Girl Like You’ — a vibrant, tongue-in-cheek ode to classic rock storytelling and creative independence. The track serves as the lead single from his full-length album, ‘Far From Home,’ both out now.
A lifelong student of melody and lyricism, Faulknor wrote, produced, and performed ‘Girl Like You’ with a sound steeped in sixties and seventies influences — nodding to the timeless grooves of The Beatles and Bob Dylan while infusing his own modern-day wit and warmth.
“’Girl Like You’ started as a little bass riff I always kicked around,” says Faulknor. “One day, I decided to see how far the riff could take me, and it quickly morphed into a playful ditty with a soulful sixties kind of groove.” That spontaneous spark became the heartbeat of a song that feels both vintage and vividly alive.
Recorded with session players Federico Cremoli on bass and lead guitar and Sammy Dumanauw on drums, the single balances tight musicianship with a laid-back charm. The result is a track that captures Faulknor’s ability to blend introspection and humor, hallmarks of his evolving songwriting voice.
The creative energy extended to the video — a full-scale puppet production conceived, directed, and built by Faulknor himself. Inspired by his lifelong admiration for Jim Henson, the video follows two handmade characters through a whimsical, romantic storyline that could have played on The Muppet Show in its golden era.
“I doodled this Muppety female character one day and thought, what if she was the girl in ‘Girl Like You’?” he recalls. “I ended up storyboarding the whole thing, designing puppets, building sets, sewing costumes, and even learning some puppeteering. It became a huge labor of love.”
Drawing on his background in film and television production from Sheridan College, Faulknor edited and produced the video independently — a true one-man show in both vision and execution. “It was a lot of pressure and a whole lot of work,” he admits. “But my love and admiration for Jim Henson and his team helped me see it through.”
The result is a warm, nostalgic visual love letter to the artistry and joy that defined Henson’s creations. Both the song and video radiate the sincerity of a musician who believes deeply in craft, humor, and heart — the very pillars of great rock songwriting.
“Girl Like You” fits seamlessly within the broader tapestry of ‘Far From Home,’ an album written during the isolation of the pandemic. “There’s a playfulness, tongue-in-cheek feel to many of these songs, but also a touch of darkness at times,” Faulknor says. “It’s about feeling adrift, but still hearing that soft, distant voice of hope.”
Listen on Spotify here:
Through its melodic guitar hooks, evocative lyrics, and imaginative storytelling, ‘Girl Like You’ captures Justin Faulknor at his most free and inventive — a rock craftsman reimagining nostalgia with contemporary heart.