My name is Sherif and I am the musician presenting as THE NORTHERN TUNDRA. I am from the greater Montreal area and make heavy instrumental music- mostly metal, with elements of electronic and ambiant music. 

I have been playing guitar and composing music for my entire life until now- it was the very reason I even learned to play the instrument.

In 2012, I released my first album with my band at the time, called Unbeing. we followed up with two other albums over the following years. Every release was met with praise for the quality and complexity of the composition. 

While our compositions were gathering praise, there were two issues with the project.

1. The compositions were (in my opinion) overly complicated. It was impossible to market, and borderline masturbatory. 

2. The mental toll of the composition, along with the management of the band was taking a severe toll on me. In full transparency, I had a mental breakdown by 2018 which lead me to stop what I was doing and rethink why I was composing in the first place.

After taking a break for a few months, my calling came to me while I was driving. I started to compose music for the same reason I listened to music; I wanted to hear something I liked. I realized that the music I enjoyed the most was simpler, instrumental and gave my thoughts room to breathe. 

Simplicity and mood were what drove my passion and as such, these would become my highest priority when composing.

I'm passionate about music, all music. I'm particularly fascinated by film and video games' music. I'm excited to share with you what I'll create and hope you'll be part of the journey- I always love a good recommendation. 

Join the fray.

"Taking cues from acts like Gojira, The Algorithm, Northlane and Meshuggah, THE NORTHERN TUNDRA’s sound is a powerful fusion of the brutal and the beautiful; equal parts pummelling riffage and hypnotic serenity. Launched in 2021 with the debut single “SOLSTICE,” the project immediately made an impression with its experimentation and immersive qualities. Rather than simply stack riffs for impact, THE NORTHERN TUNDRA constructs compositions that build, unfold and morph like weather systems."

-TJ Connelly, for plasticmag.co.uk