We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.
Nominated for Songwriter of the Year at this year’s CMAOntario Awards and already dubbed an Artist on the Rise by Pure Country Radio, Genevieve Fisher is racking up buzz within the country music scene. While she’s hard at work on a concept album due out later this year, Genevieve has gifted fans with “Now We’re Talking,” a heartwarming country bop about falling in love with a boy from the bar and building a life together—a story that meets Genevieve exactly where she is in life right now.
To celebrate the one-month anniversary of the song’s release, Love at First Listen connected with Genevieve to get the inside scoop on recording “Now We’re Talking” in a closet, balancing mom duties with songwriting sessions, and what to expect from her next.
Let’s talk about “Now We’re Talking.” As it heads out to Canadian country radio, tell us how you landed upon this song and what it means to you.
My producer Jason Massey was one of the co-writers on the song along with Steven Lee Olsen, MacKenzie Porter, and Lydia Vaughan. Back in the summer, I had reached out to him asking if he had any potential songs that would be a good fit for a radio single. He sent me this one, and I fell in love with it right away. The first thing I asked was, “But is it up for grabs?” Sometimes you get a song sent to you, but it might be on hold or whatever. So, he reached out to MacKenzie and was like, “Hey, do you have any intentions of recording this one?” She went back to her people, chatted with them, and she said, “No, it’s up for grabs.” So, I was very happy to get my hands on the song. I actually met my husband in a bar called Cowboys and we’ve been together ever since, so the lyrics of the song really hit home for me.
I read that you and Steven Lee Olsen have collaborated before, so this song must have been extra special.
On one of my first writing trips down to Nashville, I actually co-wrote with him and Jason Blaine. So, that was — my gosh — back in 2011 or maybe even earlier. He’s just a phenomenal guy and songwriter, and he’s hilarious as well.
What we all love about music is that because it’s so universal, something you didn’t necessarily write can still resonate with you. How would you relate that to “Now We’re Talking,” and are you hoping this song is going to manifest future collaborations with that great country bunch?
The last verse of the song talks about having two kids, a couple acres or two… My husband and I recently built a house out in the country, so you’re right that certain songs you don’t write can feel like they are your song because of just how much you can relate. I would love to collab with MacKenzie Porter in the future. And with Steven, I haven’t written with him for a while, but it would be great to get back in a room together for sure.
“Now We’re Talking” was produced in Nashville, but you recorded your vocals at home in your closet! How do you make the space cozy and conducive to getting clean vocal cuts?
I started recording vocals at home when COVID hit, which was a whole new ballgame for me. I’m not a techy person at all, but I get cozied up in my closet and I’ll throw blankets and towels down to dampen the sound a bit more, though the clothes help as well. It’s just a good spot, but hopefully down the road, I’ll build a little home studio and have it as my writing and vocal space.
You’re officially in your “mom era” but I know you still have a lot of music left in you. How are you embracing and balancing being a mom with everything around being an artist?
I think it’s just finding that happy medium. This is a time in my life that I’ll never get back, so I want to make sure I’m super present for my sons, but music is still such a part of me. I do a lot of my writing now from home, which makes it a bit easier to work on music. I also really want to show other independent female artists that you can absolutely still have a baby and be successful. Some days are harder than others. Some days my brain is like, what is happening?
Are you able to sneak “Now We’re Talking” or one of your other singles into a car playlist or have it on around the house? How do your sons react?
I laugh because I’m like, [my son] Cal should know the words to that song even though he was like three months old when I sang it. But [my other son] Harrison’s kind of funny. He’s three and he hasn’t quite grasped my voice yet. So, he’ll hear a song and be like, “Mama, is this your song?” I’m like, “No. We’ve got to work on this, bud. You’ve got to be able to decipher my voice from someone else’s!” But it is cute.
Not only is it resonating with all ages, but “Now We’re Talking” is such an upbeat and fun love song that’s practically begging to be performed live! What do you have in store musically for the rest of the year?
My first show of the summer is actually Canada Day in Grand Bend, Ontario, and I’m super pumped about that. They expect thousands of people, so that’ll be a ton of fun. I have more shows later in the summer that I haven’t announced yet and hope to add more as I ease back into this. It’ll be fun to bring the boys to the shows as well.
From what you’ve written for your next project so far, what is the vibe shaping up to be, especially compared to what fans have heard from you before?
Some of the songs are a bit slower and more emotional. I feel like in the past, I’ve been so focused on releasing fast, fun, upbeat, party drinking songs, whereas right now I’m just rolling with this time of my life. One of the songs that I wrote with my good friend Shantaia is about my son Harrison and we wrote that a few years ago, but it hasn’t been released yet anywhere. Another one of the songs is like Chris Stapleton and that very soulful vibe, and that’s more of a love song. I feel like when people listen to this album, it truly will be what I’m hoping, which is to have the different parts of my life have different sounds as well.
We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.
There’s simply no mistaking that Teigen Gayse has the “it” factor. The bubbly country singer-songwriter who hails from a small town in British Columbia recently made the move to Nashville, the city where country dreams come true. Within the first week, she cooked up a “banger” in the studio with Jenna Walker from The Reklaws (her words, not ours!) and debuted her brand new single, “Better Mistake,” at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row bar. While she’s now calling Nashville home, she’ll be bouncing from city to city all summer long, playing the Collingwood Summer Country Kickoff, Dauphin’s Countryfest in Manitoba, and many more festivals and shows soon to be announced.
Dive into our interview with Teigen as she reveals the single phrase that inspired “Better Mistake,” her on-stage persona, and what you can expect from her upcoming CMAOntario Awards hosting gig.
Welcome to Love at First Listen! We’re celebrating the release of your heartfelt new single “Better Mistake.” Can you tell us about how this song came to be and how you decided it had single potential?
“Better Mistake” was one of the first songs that I wrote when I came to Nashville two years ago. I wrote it with David Thompson and Phil Barton. I just had the title and I brought it into a couple of different rooms. When I brought it into this room [with David and Phil], they really liked the title and we ended up writing the song. Sometimes you go in and you’re experiencing something and you need to get it out—you need to write it. But this one, we were like, “Okay, how do we make a story out of this?” The song is about you falling for somebody [or] hitting it off with somebody that you never would have expected to hit it off with and it ended up working out in the long run. It’s a love song!
How often do you go into the studio with just a spark of an idea versus having a song mostly or fully fleshed out?
Let me tell you! I went through a breakup recently and I’m just feeling all of the feels. So, when I go into rooms right now, it’s like my diary. I’m like, “I’m feeling this today. Can we write this?” That has been lots of fun because I don’t really do that. Usually, I just kind of go in and ask the room, “What do we all want to write?” But lately I’ve been going in and I’m like, “I need to write this. These are all my feelings, and I need to let them out.”
You just moved to Nashville, so I am sure it feels full circle to be releasing “Better Mistake” considering you wrote it on your first trip there. What are you most excited for now that you will be living in Nashville full time?
It’s such a driven city. Everyone is here. Everyone is hungry. Everyone is just eager to succeed and work and get stuff done. And everyone down here is just so good at writing. I played my first Whiskey Jam [at Whiskey Row] on my single release night, which was really exciting because that’s something that I’ve been wanting to play since my first time coming to Nashville. It’s just nice to be down here with so many people that are chasing the same dream and you can all relate with each other. You kind of wake up and you live and breathe music, which is what I always wanted to do.
You’re already checking off some of your Nashville bucket list items. Was Whiskey Jam your first time performing “Better Mistake” for a crowd?
It was my first time performing it for a crowd and my first time playing in Nashville. I wish you could have been there because it was so much fun. It was such a pinch me moment.
People may know you as the songstress behind hit songs like “Sleeping With Her,” your highest charting radio single to date, and “If You Show Me Yours,” which you co-wrote with Chad Kroeger of Nickelback. Where do you think “Better Mistake” fits in your discography? Do you hope it shows fans another side of you or sets the stage for an upcoming EP or album…?
“If You Show Me Yours” was like a love ballad, and then “Sleeping With Her” was an upbeat song but also a breakup song. It was cool to me that it was a sad song, but you would never know because it was just so upbeat and fun. “Better Mistake” sits in the middle. It’s a love song but it’s got a good push to it. So, I like trying to change it up on each single and give the world something a little bit different.
You’re co-hosting this year’s CMAOntario Awards on June 2 in Mississauga. How are you preparing to be part of such a big night in Canadian country music in that capacity?
I just want to make people feel welcome and feel good about themselves, so I was really excited when they asked me to host. It meant a lot that they asked an artist from B.C. to come up and be part of the CMAO [Awards]. I’ve always wanted to host and thought it would be really cool. I hope I do a good job!
While you haven’t technically been announced as a CMAO Awards performer, can we expect a performance of “Better Mistake” snuck in there?
I can’t say anything right now, but… you never know! [WRITER’S NOTE: Infer from that what you will!]
You recently made your UK debut performing at C2C Festival in London. How was the fan and crowd reception compared to what you’ve seen in Canada and Nashville?
They are such big country music lovers over there. It felt so good to come offstage and have a big line of people wanting my autograph and wanting pictures, and it was just the most cool experience ever. I’m so grateful that I got to go and I’m manifesting going back next year to play on the main stage. We’re putting it out to the world!
For people who haven’t seen you yet and might be seeing you for the first time this summer, what impression do you hope to leave on each crowd?
I just want people to feel good. I want them to feel like they can relate to my music. That’s my biggest goal. And hopefully they leave feeling like, damn, I’m really glad we got to see her and found a new artist. Honestly, how I am right now, my personality, is how I am on stage. I’m kind of all over the place and crazy and fun and funny, and I just hope I can keep doing that on stage and make people feel welcome, related to, and relatable.
Can you tease any other projects you have in the works?
I’m down here writing, writing, writing. So, keep your eyes and ears peeled for new music and possibly an album in the near future. Grind and grind, baby!
We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.
Singer-songwriter Kristin Carter has been blossoming her whole life. Starting young and honing her skills as a choir singer, she first caught the attention of country listeners with her Top 20 Canadian radio single “Karma” and back-to-back semi-finalist nods in SiriusXM’s Top of the Country competition. Moving into the world of contemporary pop last year, Kristin teased a new era with “I’m Still Here” and “Euphoria,” which became the lead singles from her newly released debut album, ‘Full Bloom.’ The 12-track album, which was released on Friday (Apr. 5), is deeply introspective and simply stunning, covering universal themes like the ups and downs of love, self-doubt, female empowerment, and personal resilience.
The seeds have been planted, and with ‘Full Bloom’ out in the world, it’s time to sit in the garden and take it all in. Love at First Listen caught up with Kristin during album release week to chat all things ‘Full Bloom,’ attending circus school for a music video, and where this journey is taking her next.
For readers who are just about to love you at first listen, can you take us through the different seeds and stages of your musical journey that led to this ‘full bloom’?
I’ve been really excited to get these songs out to people. It’s been a labour of love for quite a while. For people who don’t know me, I was born and raised just outside of Vancouver, BC. Choir is where I learned how to sing, and I credit a lot of my choir teachers for instilling in me a real love for vocalization and really choir in general. That’s also where my musical heart lives because I felt so uplifted by people in that community and it felt really exciting and safe. So, anyone out there who wants to learn how to sing, join a choir—it’s a great way to do it.
Through the years, I started writing and performing more as a solo artist. Putting it all together and emulating different songs together that I felt were great expressions of my personal experiences over the last few years, we arrived at the album. So, I envisioned the songs like seeds that I’ve planted over the years, and now they’re finally bursting through to the surface.
You co-produced and co-wrote ‘Full Bloom’ and have described each flower, or song, as reflecting individual moments within the human experience. Which songs resonate with you most?
I really connect with “I’m Still Here” because it’s grounded in my choir background. There are no instrumentals and it’s just built off of a bunch of different layers of vocalization. I also had a really big hand in the recording process, which was new and exciting for me. So, in addition to the theme of the lyrics and the way that it sounds, it was such a joyful process for me to build it, and we made a really cool music video where I was made to look like a special effects statue. I got to connect with people in Vancouver in the film scene, and it was really exciting to be part of that community. I was really amazed at all the talent that’s out there. Like, knowing how to turn someone into a statue? I could never. I also really love “Lazy Sunday.” That’s the one that I go back through and play over and over for myself.
You have videos coming for both “Euphoria” and “Lazy Sunday.” What can you share about the visual treatments you gave both of those songs, and when should fans expect to see them?
The idea for “Euphoria” is two dueling versions of yourself. So, I have a non-confident version of myself going into a club, and then there’s a confident version of myself who’s all in neon and really dressed kind of amazing and all these things. It’s like Parent Trap in a club because I had a body double that we switched in and out and she was really fun to work with. It has a lot of special effects involved because there’s this neon light that burns through the whole thing, which represents confidence. That’s being worked on by the amazing team that we have, and I’m really excited to release it in the next few weeks. It’s definitely different visuals than I’ve normally done.
I’m also really looking forward to “Lazy Sunday” because I’ve currently been going to some training lessons on how to do acrobatic flying. The theme of that one is we’re going to a studio, and then the studio walls kind of melt away and then I kind of float up into the air. We’re filming it out at my fiancé’s family farm, and we’ll have these rigs that will fly me across the fields and potentially over water and things like that. It always blows my mind that when you participate in the arts and you’re in an artistic community, all these random opportunities pick up. I never thought I would be going to circus school in my life, but I’m excited to show this to everyone.
Were there any artists or albums you had on repeat as you made ‘Full Bloom’?
That’s a great question. I grew up with ABBA’s compilation album ‘Gold’ and they’ve been having such an amazing resurgence on social media and TikTok, so I really delved back into those songs. They’re so fun and upbeat and exciting, and I was really using that as a musical reference to try and pinpoint some of the sounds I wanted for my album. I listened to Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ as well to really get in touch with a lot of the lyrical side of the album. I think the writers for those albums are incredibly talented and they have a way of portraying emotion through music.
As people start to “walk through the garden” with you, what message do you ultimately want fans new and old to take away from their ‘Full Bloom’ listening experience?
There’s such a diversity of experiences in life. Even though everything isn’t an amazingly positive experience all the time, you need the good and you need the bad in order to round out a full life. Musically, if you just had an album of positive energy, that could be super fun. But to put it back in the context of a garden, if you had just one type of flower in your garden, it wouldn’t be super interesting. All the other different ones in there maybe individually aren’t the ones you focus on, but things in the collective create that beautiful space because of all those different things. So, for me, that would be what I want people to walk away with—a gratitude for all their different experiences in life, and just reflecting on their own experience in that way and finding the beauty.
Now that you’ve “fully bloomed,” where do you hope this journey takes you next?
The biggest joy is when people listen to the music and write in to me about what it meant to them. So, where I hope it would take me next is to other places and different people that I haven’t had the chance to connect with. I got a message just a couple of days ago from someone in Austria, and they said, “I really like your stuff.” I wrote back and then I was like, I didn’t know my music could ever even reach there! I think it’s a great time that we’re living in right now with social media because you can essentially broadcast kind of anywhere, which is sometimes an intimidating thing but really exciting I think overall.
The album title inspires thoughts of flowers and sunshine and spring and summer, which of course leads us right into summer concert and festival season! Do you have any plans to take ‘Full Bloom’ on the road?
I really hope so! I’m super open to any of those opportunities as they come up, and I’m definitely looking for them, but no official dates in the calendar right now. I would love to travel around and have people in the room as I sing and share some of the thoughts behind the music. I would encourage people to follow my social media pages as things pop up.
We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.
When emerging Canadian country talent Dayna Reid pulled up her latest Spotify Artist Wrapped statistics, she discovered that more than 129,000 people had streamed her work in her first full year with music out in the world—no small feat. The success of her debut EP ‘Back to the Trailer’ inspired this Artist to Watch to come into 2024 with a gripping new single, “This House,” and its emotionally charged music video, out today (Jan. 26). As for what’s on the horizon, Dayna is gearing up to share more music, more live shows, and much more of the authenticity and vulnerability listeners have come to love.
In her first interview for the new single, Dayna gave us the inside scoop on “This House,” her country girl gang, and how she continues to turn her biggest dreams, including an upcoming album release, into reality.
Welcome to Love at First Listen! When you reflect on 2023, what was the biggest pinch-me moment, and what musical goals have you set for yourself in 2024 to go above and beyond what you accomplished in the last 12 months?
I went from working to support kids with special needs full time to hearing my song on the radio. I was actually with one of the girls that I support while I heard it for the first time, so that was a total full circle moment. We pulled over and we were jamming out together. I feel like I have my foot in the door now, so this is the year to kick up a level and share the rest of my album because it’s been done for a while. I am really excited to be able to get to Nashville, write and release a lot more music that I’m proud of, and connect with more people within the industry and listeners as well. I think that’s one of my favourite parts of this industry—meeting so many amazing people.
You say your new single “This House” is “for anyone who has a dream or a vision of what their life could be like but may not know how to make that dream their reality.” How do you relate that message to your own journey as an artist?
There’s a point in a lot of people’s lives where they have this vision for themselves of what they want to pursue, or they know that they want their life to look a certain way, but they don’t know how to make that happen. And I think through writing and releasing the song, it genuinely helped me get to where I’m at right now.
While I was writing this song, I was in a very different mindset than I am right now. It was actually the first song that I ever wrote with my co-writers, Beverley Mahood and Mac Shepherd, so it’s pretty crazy to see how much things have changed since and how much it’s really helped me believe that it’s not [about] running away from your problems, but instead running towards what’s best for you this time instead. I never really understood that growing up until it came to the point in my life where I realized doing what’s best for you isn’t selfish and it’s going to get you to where you [achieve] your own happiness.
Dayna Reid posing with her billboard for “This House” in Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square. (Courtesy of Dayna Reid/Instagram)
The music video for “This House” is just as stunning as the song. How much of a role did you play in crafting how the song would come to life on screen?
While I was out in Vancouver for the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition, my team got me together with a really amazing director, Stephano Barberis. He is one of those people that you meet and you know they’re special. I wanted this feeling of being in this house or space of mind and finally unlocking those doors, and not even really unlocking the doors but unlocking your potential in a way too. Where we shot the video, that house was over 150 years old or something, surrounded by mountains, and it’s only specifically for video shoots and TV scenes. So, you went in there and you could just feel an energy shift. I was like, okay, this is definitely the place to do this video.
In a sea of new country artists, how would you describe your musical aesthetic to someone first discovering you?
I grew up listening to all kinds of music. My dad was the rocker, so I have the classic rock influence in that sense. But my whole family on my mom’s side is very into older country, like ‘80s, ‘90s, and even a little bit early 2000s. So, I really want to get that into my music because that’s where I feel like my lane is as well.
Speaking of music that country audiences are clearly loving at first listen, your debut EP ‘Back to the Trailer’ featured your Top 40 single “She’s Me” and fan favourite “The Way You Lie.” How would you compare the sound of that EP with what fans can expect to hear this year?
I think that all the songs play a part on the album—like everything has its own feel to it. “She’s Me” was the song that I wanted to put out to help empower people. “The Way You Lie” was for all those girls out there that had been lied to once or twice and they’re done with it. And then a song like “This House,” that’s another song that is very personal in a way too. I want to be able to share that side of me [with] people as well because I think being authentic and real and being able to talk about things like that with others is a whole other level of this industry.
That music also earned you great critical acclaim, including titles like iHeartRadio’s Future Star and touring opportunities with Tim Hicks and Hunter Brothers. Do you have any dream gigs for 2024 that we can help you manifest?!
I know that I’m doing a few festivals in the summer, but any opportunity is a good opportunity, especially being an up-and-coming artist. Touring with the Hunter Brothers was amazing because they are just salt of the earth kind of people and I always went to Tim Hicks’ concerts with my girlfriends growing up, so to be able to perform with them more too would be awesome.
This interview series is all about showcasing new and emerging artists. Can you shout out any of your country pals who we should have our eyes and ears on this year?
Hailey Benedict and Teigen Gayse—those are my girls! They’re honestly the sweetest and so talented. I was in the Top of the Country competition with them and that’s how I got a little bit closer with each of them. They’re killing it out there, and I love being able to support other women.
What else can fans look forward to throughout the year?
It’s funny—the first album that I wrote had a lot of stories about me growing up in a very small farming community in Elmvale, Ontario, which is close to Wasaga Beach. It was a lot about my life experiences at that time, whereas the new music coming up is about this next chapter of my life too. So, I’m hoping that people who are listening can go on that journey with me.
We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules, and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.
A new year = new music = new artists to obsess over, one song at a time. As you start making your first playlists of the new year, we’re confident you will fall in love at first listen with these 24 artists to watch in 2024—from Canadian groups to breakout solo acts, country rockers, and several familiar faces with a lot to say (and sing about).
New West
If you weren’t one of Toronto-based artist collective New West’s 56.6 million listeners in 2023, this is your sign to start streaming them in 2024. There’s plenty of material to work with—the group released their debut album ‘Based On A True Story…‘ in October and kicked off the year with a new version of album closer “Those Eyes” featuring Zeph. Catch New West opening for fellow Canuck Charlotte Cardin in Ottawa (Feb. 6) and Laval, QC (Feb. 8-10) on her 99 Nights Tour, and stay tuned for the big plans they have in the works for the year ahead.
Brooklyn-born, Montreal-raised artist Zeina officially has the co-sign from Canadian hitmaker Shawn Desman thanks to her catchy new song “Hooked,” which calls back to his 2002 smash single “Shook.” And the praise isn’t just coming from one famous face—the song also skyrocketed to No. 1 on the iTunes R&B/Soul chart upon its release. Zeina is set to expand her audience through live shows to be announced in the coming months. If you’re not “hooked” yet, you will be this year!
Drake Milligan
When Love at First Listenchatted with Drake Milligan in December, we didn’t know the new music he teased was coming out so soon. You can now stream the first single off his new EP ‘Jukebox Songs,’ “Don’t Leave Me Loving You.” If that has you craving more, you won’t have to wait long to hear the full EP on Feb. 16—and there’s bound to be a new song or two on the setlist when Drake opens for Cody Johnson on tour across the U.S. this spring, so start memorizing those lyrics!
You know and love Bailee Madison from her on-screen roles in shows like Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin and Good Witch. Starting the year freshly signed to Jonas Group Entertainment’s Red Van Records (yes, that Jonas family), get ready to have some “fun” as you jam out to her debut single, “Kinda Fun,” co-written with her musical boyfriend Blake Richardson. Take it from Bailee that this is only the beginning because, as she writes, “The only solution is self evolution.”
Kalsey Kulyk
Poetic country songstress Kalsey Kulyk has a lot to celebrate. Since Love at First Listen first spoke with her, her single “Love Me Like an Outlaw” has risen to the Top 20 on Canadian country radio, making her the only solo, independent female artist at the top of the charts. As Kalsey told us in December, she’s still set to release an album next month, with more radio singles and music videos to follow. “It’s going to have more of my sound and more of the songs that I’ve wanted to record for a long time,” she shared. We’re so ready!
Alexander Stewart
After a breakout year in 2023 with his single “i wish you cheated” and a TV performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Canadian singer Alexander Stewart is riding his next wave of success following the release of his ‘if you only knew’ EP. Having just been named as one of Spotify’s Pop Rising Artists to Watch in 2024, expect more music, more live shows, and more opportunities to say, “I knew him when…!” (If you followed him during his teenage Press Play days, you’re a definite OG.)
Meg Smith
Also tapped as a Spotify Pop Rising Artist to Watch, Meg Smith is the self-proclaimed “Hannah Montana of Bushwick.” She may write songs about not knowing what you’re doing, but she knows exactly what she’s doing when it comes to releasing infectious pop hits. Meg ended 2023 with billboards for her single “guitar center” in Los Angeles and New York’s Times Square and is starting 2024 with an attention-grabbing new single, “jesus christ in a mini skirt,” that’s just begging to be screamed along to in a GA pit.
MacKenzie Porter
Canadian country queen MacKenzie Porter recently thanked her fans for rocking her world in 2023. In 2024, she’s guaranteed to be rocking all of our playlists with the 19 songs featured on her upcoming new album. And having a new record lined up for release, you know what’s next—tour time! Start preparing for the experience by streaming her latest single, “Bet You Break My Heart.” Fingers crossed that fans stateside will be able to check out a headlining show after MacKenzie’s highly successful Canadian run last fall!
When Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour rolls into a city near you later this year, arrive early to have your ears blessed by Chappell Roan, who will be opening the show in select cities. Selling out clubs and small theatres last year, expect the self-proclaimed Midwest princess to follow in the footsteps of Olivia’s previous tour opener Holly Humberstone and move up the ranks faster than you can get through her already-expansive discography. Chappell’s set to be a festival favourite this summer, with scheduled performances at Hangout, Hinterland, Bonnaroo, and Governors Ball, and we’ll be at every set possible.
Reneé Rapp
After celebrating the box office success of the Mean Girls musical adaptation, in which she steals the show as Regina George, Reneé Rapp will take her debut album ‘Snow Angel’ on the road to Europe and several North American festivals, including Boston Calling, Governors Ball, and Hangout. Reneé’s not just winning audiences over with her powerhouse pop vocals—she is also as real as it gets when it comes to being her bubbly self on social media and IRL. Whether it’s a media interview or paparazzi spotting, her viral moments simply leave us no choice but to stan.
Rêve
After releasing her debut album ‘Saturn Return’—a slice of pop perfection—in 2023, Canada’s very own Rêve is ready to embark on her Saturn ReTOUR this March with cross-country tour dates supported by fellow Canadian pop icon Ralph. We need Rêve to have her moment stateside and have a good feeling 2024 may be her time to shine. Be sure to watch the just-released short film set to album track “Release Me,” which tells the story of “somehow finding glimmers that remind you of who you are between the speakers.”
One of this summer’s hottest tickets is set to be Tate McRae’s Think Later tour, and while little was known about its announced opener Presley Regier, we’re now fully hyped. Following the October 2023 release of his debut EP ‘RUN,’ his first single of the year, “Typical,” is on its way to take over all of our On Repeat playlists. Grab a ticket to the tour now and be sure to keep Presley on this year’s release radar!
Owen Riegling
Love at First Listen first met rising country star Owen Riegling when he supported former FGL singer Tyler Hubbard on a string of Canadian tour dates last year. Expect to see this up-and-comer rise to new heights—and hopefully much-deserved headliner status—this year following the release of “a lot” of new music, which Owen teased when he celebrated being named a Spotify Hot Country Artist to Watch. First, he’ll drop his first single of 2024, “Home Less,” on Jan. 19 and join country heavyweight Chase Rise on the road across Canada, starting Feb. 13 in Vancouver before travelling east towards closing night in Montreal on Feb. 29. Don’t miss out!
Lydia Sutherland
Emerging country-pop artist Lydia Sutherland has been on our radar for quite some time, but 2024 is looking like a bucket list year for this Nashville-based artist. Since signing with Universal Music Canada in 2022, singles like “best friend” and “look like your exes” have showcased her beautiful lyrics and melodies. To kick off another year of music, she’s joining forces with fellow country talent Alli Walker for every country girl’s next anthem, “Girls at the Bar,” out this Friday (Jan. 19). Don’t just look out for her behind the microphone—she’s also the mastermind behind some of our favourite songs by artists like Ben Chase and fellow 2024 Artist to Watch Owen Riegling.
Olivia Lunny
If you’re craving a new pop “it” girl to stan who has an endless selection of repeat-worthy tracks, look no further than Canadian pop songstress Olivia Lunny. Since we interviewed Olivia in 2022, her latest single, “Fix This” featuring Bryce Vine, has been climbing the charts, thanks in part to overseas exposure from opening for Ellie Goulding and Loreen. She’ll be growing her international fanbase once again this year with exciting festival appearances, including The Great Escape in Brighton, UK, and other projects in the works. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this homegrown talent!
Jayde
Like fellow 2024 artist to watch Olivia Lunny, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Jayde launched into stardom after appearing on season two of CTV’s talent competition show The Launch. Following a string of singles in 2023, Jayde is showing no signs of slowing down in 2024, having just been added as support for Preston Pablo’s Toronto show at the Axis Club on Feb. 8. Plus, we have to assume all of the studio selfies on her Instagram feed are leading up to something big.
‘BOUNDARIES’ the new album 🔜🧡 there’s a younger version of us yearning to feel we’re enough, aching to be loved and needing to be understood. I truly believe that the only way out of your trauma is to go all the way through it. hope you love the trailer – I missed you x #indie#rnb#trauma#healing#therapy#fyp#album#comingsoon ✨
“Thai-rish” singer Sinéad Harnett is no stranger to this blog, but 2024 may finally be her year to breakthrough to the mainstream and get the flowers she deserves. She already has something to “say,” which she’ll reveal on her forthcoming single “Say Something,” out Jan. 26. The new release also serves as our first taste of her upcoming album ‘Boundaries.’ As Sinéad wrote on Instagram, “This next chapter of my music feels like the most significant [and] I am overwhelmed with the deepest gratitude that I get to share it with you so soon.” We have so much gratitude for you, Sinéad!
Teddy Swims
American artist Teddy Swims had nothing short of a wild ride to fame last year, largely catapulted by his incredible single “Lose Control” and Maren Morris collaboration, “Some Things I’ll Never Know.” Despite the immense success, we somehow don’t think he’s even close to reaching his peak. Teddy’s BBC Radio 1 cover of Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” is his latest viral moment and a respectful nod to how he got his start—posting covers on YouTube before signing with Warner Records and releasing his debut album in September 2023. With scheduled tour dates in the U.S. and Europe fast approaching, don’t miss out on some of his last smaller venue shows before he fills the big rooms.
Riley Green
Country artist Riley Green is far from a newcomer, but we’re ready for him to hit the big stages that he deserves in 2024. Brush up on his 2023 album ‘Ain’t My Last Rodeo’ and fan favourites like the unreleased “I Couldn’t Fit That On A Sign” now because Riley gets back on the road in February and already has dates scheduled in amphitheatres and arenas all the way through to October. There’s no valid excuse to skip a show near you!
Tyla
Music fans and critics alike have been watering the seed Tyla planted with her mega-viral 2023 single, “Water,” for months. Now, entering 2024, she has a debut self-titled album dropping March 1, international tour dates kicking off March 21, and that’s just what she’s revealed to us so far. We’re tuned all the way in for everything else she has in store!
Take it from Megan Moroney: It’s about to be a huge year for the emo cowgirls. If you’re a fan of artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Carrie Underwood, and Lainey Wilson, you’ll be all over Megan’s nostalgic and all-too-relatable songwriting. (The girls that get it, get it!) Hear her magic in action on her 2023 debut album ‘Lucky,’ and again on her next single “No Caller ID,” out this Friday (Jan. 19).
Nate Smith
Amid his ongoing World on Fire Tour, rapidly rising country rocker Nate Smith made his morning show debut with the TODAY Show and is now on track to have the No. 1 song on Billboard Country Airplay for a sixth straight week. That would put the angsty heartbreak song in the record books as just the seventh single to spend six or more weeks on top of the chart in the last decade—no big deal. Building on that momentum, Nate features on Canadian DJ Frank Walker’s latest single, “Missing You,” and we can’t wait to see what festival gets the live debut! He’s also teasing a new solo single, “Bulletproof,” proving there’s a ton for fans to be excited about in 2024.
“You can call me a fool, say I’m selfish But these four damn walls are leaving me helpless It’s killing me (killing me) The ghost in the closet, is gonna be lonely Written in the stars girl you gotta be happy Happy So don’t think that I don’t care It’s a great big world out there” ‘This House’ is out tonight at midnight 💜🎶🪞 #ThisHouse#DaynaReid#newmusic#comingsoon#CountryMusic#unreleasedmusic#unreleased#itsjustasong#fyp
While some artists throw release parties, Canadian singer-songwriter Dayna Reid celebrated release day for her emotional new single “This House” with a billboard in Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square courtesy of her new friends at Amazon Music Canada. We’re obsessed with the song and can’t wait to further introduce you to this rising country star in our next Love at First Listen feature coming next Friday (Jan. 26)—the same day the song’s stunning music video will further welcome fans into Dayna’s world.
Hailey Benedict
When we say you don’t know what SiriusXM Top of the Country 2023 winner Hailey Benedict has in store for 2024, we mean it literally, but also in the sense that you should buckle up and get ready now. Consider this a formal PSA—and, in the meantime, keep streaming her single “Damn You July” because it’s too good not to!
