If anyone remembers Esthero (and chances are you’re a Torontonian if you do), it’s from the last time she did anything of real significance—1998, the year she released Breath From Another. Back then, the young Toronto singer (and sister of J. Englishman, another Canadian artist of minor repute) was backed by beats and production courtesy of Martin McKinney, known to one and all simply as Doc. The duo put together an album that feels like a heady Toronto summer night, mashing together hip hop, soul and trip-hop and finishing it off with a voice that recalls Bjork and Alanis Morissette at the same time.

Arguably it’s all very 1998, and arguably it’s not that interesting from a historical standpoint. The album gained some cultish attention divided between the urban and alternative crowds, but little mainstream success (aside from video plays for “That Girl” on MuchMusic). Shortly after they finished touring, Doc and Esthero parted ways—Doc continuing his producer duties, most notably for up-and-coming Toronto singer Graph Nobel, and Esthero working with a number of other collaborators, including Ian Pooley, the Black Eyed Peas and Danny Saber. For all of that, however, neither one seemed able to replicate the mildly successful formula of Breath From Another, all but assuring each one the status of “producer” or “singer,” but not quite the fuller recognition of “band” or “artist.” At least, not until seven years later.