ÜBERFREUDE
ÜBERFREUDE
An 80s influenced cinematic soundscape.

‘Craig Ritchie’ Meuser is/is not Überfreude.

Überfreude is the cinematic synth-brainchild of Canadian producer and songwriter Craig Ritchie Meuser—music where nostalgia, nuance, and neon-lit melancholy dance on the edge of light and shadow.

The 2021 concept album Dark Side of the Sun—inspired by Meuser’s own short story—explores obsession, nostalgia, betrayal, and inevitability. Across 15 tracks, and with the contributions of 13 exceptional musicians including Jeff Beadle, Jakub Zapotoczny, and Ryan Seeley, the record moves from expansive and ethereal to punchy and playful, evoking the joyful melancholy of 1980s Western culture.

Born and raised in the Niagara Region, Meuser’s earliest musical spark came from his grandfather’s organ playing. Classical piano training and a formative trip to France soon gave way to synthesizers, and by his teens, he was playing New Order, Depeche Mode, and Chalk Circle covers in skate-punk clubs. His debut album No Such Thing (1992) marked the beginning of a prolific career that has included Spiral Fascination, Full Fathom Four, The Smoothies, and The Marantz Project—sharing stages with Canadian icons like Blue Rodeo, SASS Jordan, The Tragically HIP, Platinum Blonde, 54-40, Spirit of the West, and Honeymoon Suite.

In 2023, Full Fathom Four returned with the singles Girl from the Ocean and The Horizon, co-written with Ryan Seeley and produced by Joe Lapinski. Over time, Seeley has become a key creative force within Meuser’s musical world, evolving into a permanent main collaborative partner. Überfreude is now a songwriting team with Meuser and Seeley at its core, solidifying a dynamic that has reshaped the project’s creative direction.

Beyond the stage, Meuser has composed for theatre and television, including the award-winning series Canada In The Rough.

Now, in the summer of 2025, Überfreude is set to release Old Joy—a new single recorded with Seeley, Jeff Luciani, Brandon McPherson, Christian Demaria, and Joe Lapinski—continuing a tradition of collaboration at the heart of the project.

Überfreude isn’t just music—it’s memory, contradiction, and catharsis, wrapped in analog warmth and 80s synths.

This fall, alongside the release of the new single Old Joy, Überfreude will be reintroducing its full discography.