Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, New Music Friday

Love at First Listen with Devin Cooper

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Devin Cooper Interview Love at First Listen 2024

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.

Country artist Devin Cooper and his fans might know better than anyone right now that ‘good things take time.’ Since releasing his debut ‘Good Things’ EP in 2022, Devin has been hard at work writing and recording new music, perfecting his sound, playing shows, growing his audience, and living and enjoying life on the side (the musical inspiration has to come from somewhere!). His fans, meanwhile, have ate up a successful string of standalone singles, including this year’s “She’s My Religion” and “Wanted Man.”

Devin is now expanding his ‘Good Things’ sonic universe with ‘Good Things: Deluxe Edition,’ which features those standalone singles and two brand-new tracks — “Leave It To Chance” and “Dying To Be Seen.” Like the EP, the full album also includes live acoustic recordings that elevate each song’s raw emotions and country-rock vocals to a whole new level.

Join in the ‘Good Things: Deluxe Edition’ release day celebrations and read our new chat with Devin where he spills the tea on the “little lessons” he’s learned throughout life, the ideal album listening experience, and your next chance to see him live.

You recently played several summer festivals including NXNE, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, and Calgary Stampede. How else has 2024 been treating you?

This year has been chaotic in the best way possible. It’s been a lot of running around literally all over the country, like you said, and there’s been a ton of shows, a lot of fun, and getting ready for this album to come out.

Why did you decide to continue the ‘Good Things’ era versus releasing an entirely new album or EP?

As I started writing new songs that were supposed to be set for my sophomore record, I realized that I hadn’t really said everything I wanted to say on that first EP. The new stories were still a continuation of this ‘Good Things’ story. I wanted to put everything together to finish the story before I moved on to the next thing.

You released “Underdog” at the end of 2022, “The Other Guy” and “What You Don’t Know” in 2023, and “She’s My Religion” and “Wanted Man” this year. How has the response been to those songs, and did any of that feedback impact the way you went into finishing this album?

I feel very fortunate to have a lot of great support from the local Alberta radio stations, as well as from all the fans showing up to all the shows. It’s cool to see this growing a little bit at a time and see more people coming on board with that steady trajectory that you always want to have. I was able to look again at the whole story and the whole picture that was unfolding with these songs and how they all kind of integrated and work together, and how they really were a part of that ‘good things take time’ story. It’s basically all the little lessons that I’ve learned at this point in my life.

Were any of these new songs ready or in progress when you were putting together the initial EP? How long has this full-length, double-album concept been in your back pocket?

I’d always wanted to do a double album, but I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a continuation of the ‘Good Things’ project at first. I wrote “Dying To Be Seen” back in early 2019 – actually the same weekend writing retreat that we wrote “Wanted Man.” I’d been trying to figure out the best place to put it because I felt like it wasn’t necessarily a single but it was a really great song to wrap up an album. As we were going through all of the context of what we’d had in this record and the lessons I had touched on throughout the album, that song in particular was one that I went back on and was like, I think we have to add this one. I’m excited for it to come out and for everybody to hear it.

You recorded the live acoustic tracks in Calgary with 40 of your biggest supporters in the studio. Why was it important for you to include those on the initial EP and then again on the full album, and did you approach the acoustic recordings any differently than the studio recordings?

It was an experience that I had never done before. We were in the studio where we recorded all of the full band stuff, except we were just set up in a row with 40 seats in front of us. Everyone in the room had their own set of headphones so they could listen to the producers talk to us from the control room. We did two takes of every song, so the first take, the whole audience was completely quiet, and then the second take, we had them clap at the end. It was cool to see the excitement on their faces and watch them be able to listen to the producers tell us what to adjust for the next take. They really got to see behind the scenes of how songs are recorded and how they come to life.

There is always so much magic in those intimate shows where fans want to record every song, but in this case they wouldn’t have to do that. It’s right here on the album for them.

That was really cool. No one was allowed to bring any of their cell phones, but we had disposable cameras that we put under a few different seats for people to take pictures throughout the night. We were able to develop those and get some really cool photos from the night through the audience’s perspective of what they were seeing. And yeah, it’s really cool because no one had to film it, no one had to record it. We did all that for them. So, we could give that copy to everybody who attended that night and then release it to the world.

You’ve already shared your excitement on Instagram that this album is your first vinyl release. As an artist who is also a music lover, what does that mean to you, and can you share some of the vinyl releases you’ve loved at first listen over the years?

Vinyl is something I’ve always wanted to do, and with this deluxe edition project, it was something I knew we had to do. Just taking it over the top and having it made right here in Calgary was really cool as well. So, getting that first vinyl and being able to open it and really see it in my hands was an unbelievable experience. Growing up, I listened to a lot of my parents’ records, which were like old Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and then big hair metal and hard rock bands like AC/DC and Judas Priest and Mötley Crüe. It’s cool to be able to add this to the collection amongst all those names that I listened to.

The vinyl is split into a side A and side B, plus sides C and D for the respective acoustic recordings. When you were putting the final track list together, was that a consideration at all?

Absolutely. When I first put the track listing together, it was a collaborative effort between me and my producers, and we kind of went back and forth and built this story as one complete story. It was interesting when I then got the vinyl and was able to actually listen to side A and then stop and flip it over and listen to side B. It is almost two separate stories the way that they’ve been split up, and it’s cool because that actually wasn’t even an intentional thought. It gives it another perspective because if you’re listening digitally, you’re going to listen to all 11 in order, but with the vinyl, you have that break you can’t really avoid.

I feel like we now have to go back and listen to the album again! So, what ultimately is the message that you hope to leave fans with once they get to the end of these 11, or technically 22, tracks (including the live acoustic recordings!)?

It’s basically just that good things take time and enjoy the process because we only get to do this once. I know for me, a lot of the growth and learning that I did was learning to enjoy the moment and enjoy what’s happening right in front of me, rather than looking at the destination of where I’m trying to go. We can get so caught up in trying to get to where we’re going, sometimes we forget about the things that are happening around us in the middle of it.

If someone is just discovering you for the first time, what three songs would you recommend they play to get the best representation of Devin Cooper the artist?

Man, that’s a tough question. I would say… the title track “Good Things,” “Underdog,” and if I have to pick only one more, I think “Dying To Be Seen.” It has a little more of the Southern rock, swampy edge to it and pays tribute to some of the stuff I listened to growing up.

How do you plan to celebrate the release of the ‘Good Things: Deluxe Edition,’ and should fans be on the lookout for any new tour dates so they can further join in the festivities?

We had a very small, exclusive listening party with a bunch of my closest fans and supporters and some family. As the record comes out, we’re also going to be announcing a bunch of shows that will be happening throughout September, October, and November. People can stay tuned for lots of exciting stuff coming.

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Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music

Love at First Listen with JESSIA

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JESSIA Interview Love at First Listen 2024

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.

Throughout the pandemic, many people struggled to find new outlets of creative expression. Jessika Harling, who you may know best as Canadian singer-songwriter JESSIA, turned to music—and the rest was history. Releasing her first single “Tell Me” in April 2020 and the viral self-love smash “I’m Not Pretty” (134M+ streams to date!) a few months later, JESSIA quickly built a reputation for catchy pop headbangers with lyrics that read like they’re ripped from every listener’s diary. If she’s not on your playlist yet, there’s plenty more where those hits came from—starting now.

Earlier this summer, JESSIA shared the news that she is now an independent artist. Luckily, she has thousands of day one fans willing and ready to support her and her brand new body of work, ‘Okay With Every Part’—a title that resonates deeper now more than ever. In this edition of Love at First Listen, JESSIA takes us behind the scenes on finding herself again after being dropped from her first major label, planning her first-ever headlining tour, and why you might spot her holding a camcorder at your next concert.

You’ve always been very open and vulnerable through your music and you’re continuing that tradition with ‘Okay With Every Part.’ What has all the support meant to you, and how do you relate that title to your journey as an independent artist over the last year?

The response has been absolutely incredible. Everybody’s showing up. Even going into the comment section on [the original] post, I’m like, stop, I’m going to cry. It took a lot to come out and really say it because it happened a year ago, but I felt like I needed to process it on my own and wasn’t ready to go completely public with it. And I didn’t want any anger or anything like that to come out—I’m very thankful that it wasn’t one of those horror story breakups that you hear about. ‘Okay With Every Part’ is about being able to come out of the storm and talk about it and be like, this happened, [but] I got through it. I’m able to look back and be like, I’m okay with every single part of it. I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be this happy and I wouldn’t be creating this music had I not gone through that.

Each of the six songs represent a pivotal point in your life. When did you officially start the EP and when did you know it was done?

I mean, I was putting out singles all of last year trying to figure out my sound. It was when “Care About Me” came out that I was like, okay, this is definitely what I want to say and this is my sound. That was the changing point where I was like, we’re going to start working on a project and not just throw singles out to the wind. Now, we’re so locked in on the sound and I’m writing like crazy, and I feel more inspired than I’ve ever felt.

You’ve written about feeling like you lost your identity as an artist after getting dropped. How did you navigate finding yourself again?

I think that I just needed to overcome the shame and the guilt of being dropped. It’s like being dumped but realizing that you can get up and still go and the only thing that’s going to stop you from releasing music is yourself. I refuse to stop releasing music. I refuse to shut down. I did kind of shut down in not really touring as much and not being as public facing, but I think therapy, friends, family, and writing all of this really got me through. I think that this is just in my blood, so it’s like nothing is ever going to stop me.

You also said there was a point that you thought lost your dream—meanwhile, this is only the beginning! You just announced eight shows in the U.S. and Canada this October. Where are you in the planning stages?

I’m actually wanting to go live and have the fans choose the setlist. It’s a weird balance where I want to play my old stuff that everybody knows, but I also am so, so excited about the new stuff that I’ve just released and that I’m continuing to release. So, I’m just finding the perfect balance of that. But if you have any favourites, let me know. I’ll add them to the queue.

How long can we make the show?

Oh, it’ll just be like a three-hour performance.

Bring on JESSIA: The Eras Tour! You’ve played festivals like Austin City Limits and opened for Maroon 5 and Dean Lewis, but this is your first official headlining tour. How are you approaching it differently?

It’s crazy the amount of control that I have because as an opener, you’re in, you’re out, and you kind of do what you’re told. Now, I’ve really gone into the energy, the vibe, and what I want people to leave my show feeling. I’m also thinking about what special moments I can make for other artists to be able to come to my show and be like, oh, this was really cool. I think the show that’s freaking me out the most is probably my LA show because so many artists are there. I want to be like, here, look what we can do.

You’ve used social media throughout your career, developing a strong community that’s lasted through the years. Have you started thinking of ways to build a social strategy around the tour, such as daily vlogs on the road?

I would love that. I’m wanting to buy a little camcorder because I find it really interesting that I’m able to talk to cameras other than my phone a lot more. Like, as soon as I pull out my phone, I feel like an instant influencer. But having a camcorder in my hand, it’s like I’m making a home video. I can be myself and be less pristine. I feel like everything just needs to be perfect, and I try really hard to fight that.

You’ve had a lot of pinch-me moments, from winning Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2022 JUNO Awards to having your song play on a season of summer’s “it” show Love Island. What was the first pinch-me moment you had where you felt you had truly made it, and what’s next on your bucket list?

Good question. Playing Lollapalooza [in Chicago] was absolutely incredible. It was my first show because I blew up in a pandemic, and for that being my first show right out of it, I was like, what is going on? So, that was definitely a pinch-me moment of stepping on stage and also hearing all of my tracks for the first time and just the show actually happening. It was crazy that a show that size was the first time we were working out all the kinks! Next up, I think there’s going to be moments all through this first headlining tour that are going to be pinch-me moments of people showing up for me and not just showing up for the next person.

A lot of these songs, especially “He’s A 10,” will be on repeat for the rest of the summer. What are some of the summer songs you’ve loved at first listen this year?

It’s a ‘brat’ Girl Summer, 100%. That Charli XCX record has been on repeat. Also, Sabrina Carpenter—her whole trajectory and the way that she’s navigated her career is absolutely incredible. August 23 cannot come fast enough!

On the theme of being ‘Okay With Every Part,’ what advice would you have either for a young you or a new artist wanting to follow in your footsteps given everything you’ve learned about the industry to date?

Less is more. I think that when you first step on the scene and you see a whole bunch of people you know, you want to have those relationships. But I would say that your team can just be a small, mighty little team. The more cooks in the kitchen, the more things can get diluted and you lose sight of yourself. Trust your gut, trust what you want to sound like, and only really listen to the people who truly have your best intentions in mind.

Also, with social media, I still have to remind myself of this, but you may post a video and want it to go viral and it doesn’t, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad song or a bad piece of content. It’s crazy that it is lowkey your job to fight against a computer and its algorithms. Remind yourself that if you think it’s a good song, somebody else is probably going to think it’s a good song too.

Aside from tour planning, do you have anything else in the works for your fans?

The music video for “Happy Without You” is here and I am so stoked for it, and then I’m shooting content as we speak for the next single. It’s crazy how it’s like, drop this, on to the next, here we go. But get ready—we’re back!

Where can fans, day one and new, connect with you online?

@jessiamusic. I respond to my Instagram DMs way more than I respond to my TikTok DMs, but if you want to actually send me a message, it’s me behind everything.

I can vouch for that because you responded to my message and helped me set this up, so thanks!

You see—customer testimonial right here.

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Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, New Music Friday

Love at First Listen with Shantaia

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Shantaia Interview Love at First Listen 2024

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.

If you know Canadian country singer Shantaia from her 2020 debut single “I Wish You Would” or her 2023 album ‘Exes and Friends,’ make room on your playlist for Shantaia 2.0. Her recently-released summer smash—and guaranteed love at first listen track—“What I Wouldn’t Do” blends the best of her familiar country twang, catchy melodies, and cool girl vibe with a sultry yet soulful new aura. There’s only one thing to wonder: What we wouldn’t do for more like this!

In the thick of festival season, Shantaia has stayed hard at work on a sophomore project, tentatively scheduled for early 2025. But when we recently chatted with her, she teased that fans won’t have to wait that long for a taste of what she’s been cooking up. Read below to see what else Shantaia had to share about her whirlwind rise, the move that changed her life, and the things she actually wouldn’t do for love.

Welcome to Love at First Listen! How are you feeling about all the buzz “What I Wouldn’t Do” has received to date, and for those who haven’t heard the song, what is it about?

It’s a new sound for me, so I think that there was this shock factor in a good way. It’s been really cool to see people react to it. I wrote the song from a perspective of desperate love — something that you just can’t get enough of, and you would do anything for this person. I think people can relate to it in two different ways. It can be somebody who’s maybe not that good for you and it’s that toxic love, or it can be just true, deep, desperate love for somebody you’ve been with for a long time.

This is your first release in over a year, and I understand you really wanted to take the time to figure out exactly what you wanted to say and how. What pushed you to take new risks with your lyrics and sound?

I released a full album last February, so after dropping that project and trickling the last single off of it to radio, I asked myself, sonically and musically, am I saying what I want to? I think lyrically, I’ve always been a true songwriter and saying what I want to say in the moment. But I was sort of questioning like, is my sound authentic? Is this really who I am, or am I confining myself inside a box? I’ve been in Nashville for four years now, and there’s a lot of people in this town who aren’t afraid to challenge themselves, which is really inspiring. So, why should I be afraid to also push those boundaries and put out the music that I want to make, not what other people expect from me?

How has your sound ultimately evolved over time, and are there any specific songs or artists that have helped craft it?

If you listen to my previous stuff, it’s a lot more in that pop country vein, but I grew up on so many different kinds of music. For years, I’ve had so many mentors and fellow artists and producers tell me I have such a soulful voice and that I should utilize that more. I kind of shrugged it off like, oh, nobody wants to hear that. I’ve always been a huge Chris Stapleton and Maren Morris fan, and they really fuse the soulful blues and R&B genres into country. Country music now veers in all these different paths so that it’s acceptable to cross those lines a little bit. If you’ve listened to “What I Wouldn’t Do,” it’s a lot more in that bluesy, groovy, kind of vibey pocket you wouldn’t typically hear on the radio.

You describe your artistic aesthetic as a combination of Daisy Jones fashion, Teddy Swims swag, and Chris Stapleton country soul. How do those three influences shape the way you bring your music and energy to life on stage?

I love makeup and sunglasses and jewelry and all the things, so branding and marketing are really fun for me to figure out whether the fashion is making sense with the sound. I feel like now more than ever, I’ve been able to really play with some ‘70s inspiration. I’ve always been a bell bottom girl, and sunglasses have been an obsession of mine since I was 15 buying random sunglasses that I thought were cool all over the country. So, I think being able to play with fashion on the performance side of things is really fun to then connect it to the music.

This song is about addicting, all-encompassing love and doing things you normally wouldn’t do when you are in a relationship. In reality, is there anything you truly wouldn’t do for love? What are your non-negotiables?

It’s funny you bring this up because on release night, my friends and I were at the bar celebrating the release of the song and we started this TikTok of ‘what I actually wouldn’t do for somebody.’ A bunch of my friends were like, share a toothbrush with that person, or share my last chicken nugget. I don’t even think I ended up doing one, but there’s a lot — like I actually would never share a toothbrush. That grosses me out so much. I would not get a tattoo. I love my fiancé Kenan, but we will never get matching tattoos because that scares the heck out of me. I mean, I love tattoos. I have a couple tattoos. But I just feel like you’re cursing the relationship a little. There’s just something with putting it inked on your body where I know it’s removable, but it’s also expensive. It’s unnecessary!

@shantaia.music I feel like there are some confessions in here… some were unexpected hahaha! What I Wouldnt Do is OUT NOW!! #friends #reddoor #confessions #whatiwouldntdo #newmusic #friendchallenge @Andrew Scholz @Teigen Gayse @Keenan Sjodin @Brandy Neelly @bergerboo @Dylan Gerard @Alee @Jordan Honsinger @Baker Grissom @Mallory Johnson ♬ What I Wouldn’t Do – Shantaia

You won the Boots & Hearts 2024 Emerging Artists Showcase and, more recently, the SCMA Award for Country Album of the Year. How validating is that industry praise, coupled with the unwavering love and support of your fans?

I feel like as artists, we are so busy grinding, and I know I don’t think about the awards when I’m in the thick of writing the songs. It’s just when it comes around and you’re like, oh yeah, I guess I’m eligible for this, and then it comes to final ballot and you win the award. It’s really cool to see the support from all your friends and even artists across the country that notice and say how well deserved it is.

I also feel like Canadian country music is so special. The last time I flew into Nashville, my friend Teigen Gayse picked me up from the airport and we went straight to a bar here in Nashville to watch the final Oilers game with a ton of Canadians and we had so much fun. I think we trauma bond a little bit because it’s hard to move to Nashville and there’s a lot of hoops to jump through. We really latch onto each other like, how did you do this, and how did you apply for that visa? It’s all these questions where I think that you can feel really alone unless you have your fellow Canadians to help you through it. We definitely don’t just run into each other – we make a point of sticking together.

You talked there about the journey of moving to Nashville. Is there one piece of advice that you would offer to young musicians looking to make that jump themselves?

I think every single artist should experience Nashville in a way that actually embodies moving here. Like, I think it’s one thing to come here and write songs and see Nashville in all its glory for a week, but I think there’s so much progress and so many connections that you can make in this town that can just be life changing. The only way you can do that is if you’re here feet on the ground and actually living here.

I spent a lot of years coming to Nashville back and forth, but I feel like those connections didn’t fully turn into friendships or opportunities until I moved here. It’s like people didn’t fully take me seriously, and I’ve had a lot of producers and songwriters admit that to me. They said, yeah, we always wait and see if you actually make the leap. So, I think you can let Nashville intimidate you by all the talent that is here, or you can let it inspire you and light a fire. I think that if you go in with that mindset, you’re going to be golden, you’re going to get a publishing deal, or you’re going to start writing with people who are number one hit songwriters. I could go on for days about this. I think that me moving to Nashville was one of the best decisions.

For what you’ve written since “What I Wouldn’t Do,” would you say the music shares a similar sound or are you still evolving the vibe over time?

I think I’ve definitely found the creative confidence. I even co-produced “What I Wouldn’t Do” and I think it has let where my brain naturally goes just evolve and be at its best capacity. Expressing myself with this sound is coming really easily. It’s definitely a little edgy and there’s also some poppy stuff. I’m really excited to just start sneak peeking some more of it and hope everybody loves it as much as I do.

“What I Wouldn’t Do” will be on all our summer playlists. Do you have any early predictions for your personal song of the summer?

Honestly, as much as I want to fight it, the Post Malone / Morgan Wallen song “I Had Some Help.” I think that’s just everybody’s song this summer. Especially with Morgan’s bar opening in Nashville, it’s on constant rotation there and in everybody’s vehicles driving down the street. I really like Post Malone. I think he’s unique and not afraid to cross the boundaries. I’m also obsessed with Sabrina Carpenter. She is putting out some really cool stuff.

Do you have any live shows booked that fans should mark on their calendars?

I’m a little bit all over. I was just in Saskatchewan for the Living Skies Music Festival in Humboldt. It was their first year and we played with James Barker Band, Jason McCoy, and a few other great Canadian artists. I also played a show in Toronto at Junction Underground with Tae Lewis, who was a Top Nine finalist on The Voice and has Dan + Shay in his back pocket. I’ve been friends with Tae for years and seeing his journey has been really sweet. I’m heading to Cold Lake, Alberta for a show with Blackjack Billy at Full Throttle Music Festival on July 19, and then we do Boots and Hearts. When I talk about my summer, it’s like it’s come and gone already because it’s just going to be so busy, but I’m really excited to be out playing shows and playing some of the new music. A little birdie told me there might be a pre-kickoff party in Toronto for Boots and Hearts!

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Love at First Listen, Music, Music Monday

Love at First Listen: 24 Artists to Watch in 2024

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Artists to Watch in 2024 - Alexander Stewart, Chappell Roan, New West, Bailee Madison, Olivia Lunny, Drake Milligan, Dayna Reid, Kalsey Kulyk

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).

  1. 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.

  1. Zeina

@zeinamates

#duet with @Shawn Desman thank you shawn 🫶🏽 #2000smusic #sample #rnb

♬ Hooked – Zeina

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!

  1. Drake Milligan

When Love at First Listen chatted 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!

  1. Bailee Madison

@baileemadison

Out at midnight ✨ #kindafun #newmusic

♬ Kinda Fun – Bailee Madison

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.”

  1. 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!

  1. 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.)

  1. 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.

  1. 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!

  1. Chappell Roan

@chappellroan

oh my god this was so fun ʕ·ᴥ·ʔ

♬ Red Wine Supernova – Chappell Roan

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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.”

  1. Presley Regier

@presleyregier

my microwave told me he alr pre-saved 😍 #singer #singersongwriter #newmusic #originalsound #fyp #viral

♬ original sound – presley regier

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!

  1. 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!

  1. 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.

  1. 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!

  1. 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.

  1. Sinéad Harnett

@sineadharnett

‘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 ✨

♬ original sound – Sinéad Harnett

“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!

  1. 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.

  1. 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!

  1. 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!

  1. Megan Moroney

@megmoroney

new one called “no caller ID” #songwriter

♬ No Caller ID – Megan Moroney

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).

  1. 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.

  1. Dayna Reid

@daynareidmusic

“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

♬ original sound – Dayna Reid

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.

  1. 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!

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Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music

Love at First Listen with Kalsey Kulyk

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Kalsey Kulyk Interview Love at First Listen 2023

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.

With her refreshing brand of poetic country, Canadian songstress Kalsey Kulyk is making her mark on country music and showing no signs of stopping. With past experience working with industry heavyweights including Lainey Wilson and opening for country jammers like the Hunter Brothers, Kalsey’s latest release, “Love Me Like an Outlaw,” is enjoying great success in the top 30 at Canadian country radio and continues to rise. Having also trended on Shazam and Stingray and being selected as One to Watch by Rogers, the song’s success is setting the stage for an exciting next year for the emerging star. But first, she’s joining America’s Got Talent fan favourite Drake Milligan on the road for three Western Canadian dates, blessing Saskatoon Dec. 6, Edmonton Dec. 7, and Calgary Dec. 8 with a can’t-miss night of music.

In this edition of Love at First Listen, Kalsey shares the story behind the single that was five years in the making, the surprise cameo in her latest music video, and how to win free merch if you’re seeing her open for Drake later this week.

You had “Love Me Like an Outlaw” in the vault for nearly five years before you released it this summer. What made you decide this was the right time to share it with the world?

When I wrote that song back in Nashville in 2018, I just loved it so much. It made my heart so happy when I walked out of the writing room. I love a lot of the songs that I’ve written, but that one just felt special. The team that I was working with at the time didn’t really respond to that song, but I held on to it.

When we decided that we were going to release a record, we recorded two songs and then had more songs to pick for the next batch and I was like, man, I hadn’t even put this song in the first batch and I’ve loved this song forever. So, I just put it in the list and didn’t really say anything. My producer and my radio tracker came back and they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, we love this song. We have to record this one.’ And I was like, yes! We put it out and it got a really good response from listeners, so my radio tracker was like, ‘Let’s just put it out to radio.’ It’s honestly doing way better than I thought it was going to and I’m just so grateful. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut.

How does it feel to have a song this meaningful be your first top 30 at Canadian country radio?

It makes me a little emotional thinking about it because I’ve wanted to record this song for such a long time. And I’m an independent artist, which makes it really hard to do well on radio. Also, I’m a mom, and for some reason, in the music industry, there’s this stigma around moms that they can’t be successful and their music career’s over after they’ve had a baby. But actually, mine is doing way better than it ever did after having my son. They say that babies bring blessings. So, I guess my son brought a really big blessing to my life, but also to my career as well.

How was your experience making the “Love Me Like an Outlaw” music video? Are there any interesting behind-the-scenes secrets you can share?

My whole outfit is a random collection of outrageous things I’ve got along the way, and some are stolen from my mom’s closet. (Sorry, mom!) But filming it was amazing. My cousins had a neighbour that had this gorgeous ranch and 30 some horses. The horses were coming up around me and it was just so cool. It was also like, ‘Oh, weird that this girl’s singing to us!’ It’s funny to see the horses react. And my husband is the cowboy in the cabin. We always try, whenever we’re in each other’s music videos, to hide our face so people don’t think our partner is in it with us. So, it was a labour of love, but we had a lot of fun doing it and we’re really happy with how the video turned out.

You’re about to join Drake Milligan, our new friend at Love at First Listen, for a string of Canadian shows. Can you preview your set for concertgoers?

We’re going to be doing a 30-minute set playing some songs that we’ve already released — obviously “Love Me Like an Outlaw” and “Ain’t Enough Whiskey” — and then some [familiar] covers. I’m bringing my banjo and dobro player with me and then my guitar player. So, it’s going to be acoustic but it’s still going to be fun and high energy. We’re really excited. We’re also going to give out some free merch. So, anybody who’s reading this, make sure to get out in front so you get a free T-shirt or something.

You recently posted a video on TikTok of you hearing your song on the radio in Saskatchewan, your home province. I feel like as an artist, every time that happens, it must be a ‘pinch me’ moment!

It really is. Sometimes I am extremely excited. Other times, I get super emotional, get a frog in my throat, and can’t talk because we work our whole lives. I’ve been singing since I was three years old too, and to hear that people are liking the song enough to play it on radio stations and that a lot of other people are going to hear that song is really part of the dream come true.

@kalseykulyk

Im not crying, you are! 🥹😭❤️🙏🏼 #countrymusic #country #music #countrygirl #countryboy @CISN Country 103.9

♬ original sound – Kalsey Kulyk

Like the name of this interview series suggests, we’re all about new music that we can love at first listen. Can you share some of the artists you’ve loved at first listen recently?

One artist that I really like that everybody’s really liking right now is Bailey Zimmerman. I think he’s got such a cool thing. His voice is just so different. And, obviously, I’m going to give a shout out to my husband, Eric Ethridge. He’s got new music on the way. I’m a big fan of him. I’m also a fan of Lainey Wilson because we used to write together in Nashville, and she released a song that we wrote together called “Dreamcatcher.” So, I would say those artists are super inspiring and paving their own path.

You have been open in sharing your journey with cancer and recently celebrated 15 years cancer free. You’ve also said that ringing the bell at the hospital is the moment you decided to commit 100 percent to music. Having been able to chase your dream and see the success you’ve had to date is an incredible gift, so what advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps and start chasing their dream?

I think the first step is just believing in yourself because that’s really the biggest part that you have to do. This music industry is full of highs and lows and people telling you a million no’s. The biggest piece of advice that somebody gave me was that you’ve got to work, work more, and then work some more because you’re the only one that’s going to be working for yourself. I write two or three songs a day. Really know who you are as an artist, figure that out, find your sound, and just be who you are because nobody else can be that.

When you look back on 2023, what were your career highs and how do you hope to replicate or even challenge yourself to top those in 2024?

The top 30 is definitely one of the top, if not the top, and then playing Cavendish Beach Music Festival and getting to open up for Chris Stapleton was a really cool moment. Playing a festival in Spain with my husband was another one. That was cool because I got to do what I love with the person that I love.

Next year is going to be an even busier and more exciting year because we’re releasing a record in February and it’s going to have more of my sound and more of the songs that I’ve wanted to record for a long time. Obviously, we’re going to take some songs to radio, do some more video shoots, and it’d be good to top the success that we’ve had this year, but I’m honestly just trying to soak in all of the good news. It’s still pretty new, and I’m not sure that it’s hit me yet.

Is there any message you want to send to your fans who helped bring “Love Me Like an Outlaw” to the top 30 at country radio, or people who may be attending an upcoming show and seeing you for the first time?

The biggest thing is just a huge thank you to the people that have been supporting me and have called radio stations over the years when I haven’t even asked them to do that. It really means the world, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the shares on social media, for the likes and comments… You really don’t know how much it means to an artist, and the love is sent right back.

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