The essence of Jonathan Roy is best described by the title of his 2017 major-label debut: Mr. Optimist Blues. Throughout his catalogue, the Québécois singer/songwriter is driven by a desire to inspire and uplift without shying away from chronicling the disappointments and hardships of life. Born in 1989 in Pointe-Claire, Roy was destined for stardom at a young age—though not in music. As the son of legendary Montreal Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy, a teenaged Jonathan was groomed to join the family business, and played junior-league hockey for the Quebec Remparts. Ultimately, he was less interested in becoming the next Patrick Roy than the Canadian Ed Sheeran, but his family connections still came in handy: After the elder Roy introduced his son to his old pal Corey Hart, the Quebec pop icon went on to executive produce Mr. Optimist Blues and release the album through his Warner-affiliated Siena imprint. While that album introduced a playfully melodic folk-rock artist with a feel for island rhythms, 2021’s My Lullaby takes a more dramatic approach, with the stirring lead single “Keeping Me Alive” suggesting a coffeehouse answer to Imagine Dragons.