Formerly a nationally ranked sprint hurdler, Kelsi Mayne has seamlessly transitioned into one of Canada’s fastest-rising independent country artists. Hailing from Windsor, Ontario, Mayne grew up with country music playing throughout her childhood home—thanks to her dad, who always had it on. That early exposure sparked a deep love for the genre that stayed with her, even as she pursued a more traditional career path.

While attending nursing school, music felt like a distant dream. To make ends meet, Mayne worked as a server at a local restaurant—one that just so happened to be looking for live entertainment. She stepped up, got the gig, and performed there regularly for the next few years, all while finishing her degree.

After countless performances and encouragement from fans telling her to take the leap, she decided to do just that.

Mayne moved to Toronto, where she met an artist manager who saw her potential and encouraged her to pick up an instrument and start writing songs. At 21, she began learning guitar—and with it, discovered a passion for songwriting she never knew she had.

With over 3 million streams, a growing list of accolades, and performances alongside industry heavyweights, she’s quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with. A three-time CMAOntario award nominee, SiriusXM Top of the Country finalist, and 2024 International Songwriting Competition winner, Mayne is only just getting started.

Recently praised by 519 Magazine as “hands-down one of the best up-and-comers in Canada today,” Mayne captivates audiences with her infectious melodies, electric stage presence, and genre-blending sound. She’s graced some of Canada’s biggest stages—from Boots and Hearts, Calgary Stampede, and Cavendish Beach Music Festival to national TV and major stadiums—and has toured with country stars like Meghan Patrick and Russell Dickerson.

Her latest single, “Someone Who Knows,” was born from one of the most difficult chapters in her life. After a decade-long relationship and an upcoming wedding both came to a sudden end, Mayne wrote the song mid-flight on her way to the Canadian Country Music Awards. She recorded it the very next day.

“I feel like the world was testing my strength last year,” Mayne shared.

The lyrics poured out of her in what she describes as “word vomit”—raw, emotional, and completely unfiltered.

“The response to the song has been so overwhelming and warm,” she said. “It sucks that so many people have gone through the same thing, but i’m glad the song helps put those feelings into words. That’s why I wrote it.”

This release marked a turning point in her songwriting process, where she no longer was overthinking the process. She said this time was different—everything just flowed. The experience taught her to trust her gut and go with what feels natural.

Be sure to check out “Someone Who Knows” and stay tuned for more from rising country artist Kelsi Mayne!

Introduced to music at the age of three through early violin lessons, Karly Kryski’s musical journey began at just 3 years old. Over the years, that passion expanded to include piano, saxophone, and eventually guitar — sparked by a growing love for country music at age 12. Songwriting soon followed, offering a creative outlet to blend personal storytelling with musical expression. Most recently, drum lessons opened the door to a collaboration with the production duo The Renaissance, helping transform a longtime dream into the reality of releasing original music.

Deeply influenced by the powerful voices of early 2000s country, key inspirations include iconic artists such as Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Shania Twain. Their authentic songwriting, commanding presence, and ability to connect with audiences continue to shape her artistic identity. Today, she finds further inspiration in trailblazing women like Lainey Wilson — artists who bring fresh energy to the genre while remaining true to its roots. The focus remains on creating music that is heartfelt, relatable, and boldly original — reflecting a commitment to pushing boundaries without losing the essence of country storytelling.

With her debut single released in September, “Highways & Heartaches” the goal was to tell a universally relatable story while offering a unique and refreshing twist.

Kryski’s new single “Stampede Heart” is a raw, emotionally charged country track that explores the pain of loving someone who never stays. Inspired by a real, recurring relationship marked by heartbreak, the song fuses traditional country storytelling with a modern edge. Featuring catchy hooks, vulnerable lyrics, and a hard-hitting chorus, it stands as a breakup anthem with grit and authenticity.

Make sure to follow her on Instagram to updated on upcoming releases @karlykryski!

Alberta-born country artist Taylor-Rae is making waves with her standout vocals and magnetic personality. Her breakout single “Are You Still Up” has topped 1.5 million streams and continues to climb, earning spots on major Spotify and Amazon playlists. Her summer follow-up, “I Can’t,” gained over 100,000 streams in its first month and secured her a spot on the cover of Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Country playlist.

Now, Taylor-Rae is turning heads with her brand-new EP, Heaven Right Now — a four-track collection that’s both deeply personal and confidently bold. The project has been in the works since April of last year, with singles released along the way, building anticipation for the full release.

All songs were co-written by Taylor-Rae herself. “It has been a cool experience diving into saying exactly what I want to say,” she said.

The title track, “Heaven Right Now,” is a special one. Co-written with Canadian country legend Carolyn Dawn Johnson — and featuring her vocals — the collaboration came together naturally after the two met at a songwriter’s round. A longtime fan of Johnson, Taylor-Rae felt she was the perfect writing partner for this song, and the creative chemistry was instant.

“We asked ourselves, what would it look like to tune out the outside noise and simply build the life you want?” Taylor-Rae explains. The result is a song that not only captures her voice as a writer but also helps establish her own lane as an artist.

While Taylor-Rae has always drawn from past musical influences, Heaven Right Now is the first time she’s truly created without second-guessing what people expect to hear.

“This EP feels like the most authentic take on who I am,” she says.

The response from fans has been exciting. The songs mix honesty with a bit of tongue-in-cheek charm, offering a glimpse into Taylor-Rae’s personality — unfiltered and unapologetically real.

Looking ahead, Taylor-Rae’s focus is on hitting the road and sharing these songs live. “The goal is to get on tour and play these songs in front of as many people as possible,” she says.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out the Heaven Right Now EP — and keep your eye on everything Taylor-Rae.

Country singer-songwriter Mitch Zorn hails from Nakusp, BC, where music was more than a pastime—it was a way of life. Raised in a musical family, he picked up a guitar at eight and was performing in a country/blues band with his dad not long after. With a household full of singers—his mom, grandma, and aunts—Zorn’s path to music felt almost inevitable.

By twelve, he was writing songs and after high school, Zorn balanced his passion for music with a career as an electrician, working in the oilfields of Canada and Texas while carving out time for writing trips to Nashville.

Over the years, Zorn has developed a sound that blends his wide-ranging influences—country, rock, hip hop, and blues—into something unmistakably his. His songs tell real stories, drawn from lived experiences and everyday emotions, making them instantly relatable.

As a finalist in the SiriusXM Top of the Country contest, Zorn gained well-deserved national attention. He recently released his self-titled debut EP, a five-track collection that’s been years in the making. Some songs were written as far back as eight years ago, others more recently. The project showcases Zorn’s versatility, featuring everything from R&B, country-rock and traditional country staples.

Zorn wrote every track himself showcasing his storytelling roots. One of his personal favourites, “Back To You,” stands out for its unique composition and emotional depth.

Fan response has been unbelievable. At his debut shows in Toronto, Zorn experienced the crowds singing his songs back to him, which he will never forget.

Now, Zorn is chasing momentum. He’s focused on releasing more singles and hitting the road as much as possible—“touring until there’s no touring left.”

Make sure to check out his new EP and head to his website to see all upcoming tour dates.

Passion and persistence, combined with raw talent and high expectations, have long been the driving forces behind Canadian country group Petric. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the band has racked up more than 15 million global streams, 12 charting singles and three top 20 hits. Their most recent album, Flashbacks, has alone drawn over three million streams and opened the doors to multiple international markets—most notably with their single “Flirtin” climbing as high as #23 on the Australian country radio charts.

After announcing a break in the fall to focus on family, the band is back together to share their new music and ideas with their fans! They were drawn back together by ideas for new music and were excited to pursue them. 

Their new single, “Still Love You,” was actually recorded about two years ago, but now feels like the right time to release it. The track showcases a bold, edgier side of Petric—one that fans haven’t quite heard before.

“The song captures everything that Petric is and I’m so excited for this song,” said Tom Petric.

The band is feeling reenergized and confident about their direction—both in the studio and on stage. A major goal going forward is to embrace a more natural, organic sound. They want their fans to hear live music that matches the authenticity of the studio recordings, just like it was in the beginning stages.

Petric will take the stage at the iconic Burton Cummings Theatre on Saturday, October 25, joined by a stellar lineup of local talent including Catie St. Germain, Leanne Pearson, Sean Taylor and Ross Roteliuk.

“The Burt is such a magical and iconic venue in Canada and we wanted to give ourselves something really exciting to look forward to and that was a show at the Burt,” said Jason Petric.

The show will include a mix of their hits and some new music! Get your tickets to see them live at the Burt on October 25 at Ticketmaster.ca.

Petric is excited for whats to come so make sure you stay tuned and don’t miss anything from the trio!

Country duo The Martin Boys — made up of brothers Macauley and Micah Martin — have been making music together since they were just 6 and 9 years old, singing in church with their mom. From those early days to performing on one of the biggest stages in the country on Canada’s Got Talent, the brothers are now turning heads in the Canadian country music scene.

They recently came in as runners-up on Canada’s Got Talent, and what really set them apart was choosing to perform only original songs throughout the competition.

“We are trying to make it as artists more than just singers so we picked the most upbeat, classic country sounding songs of ours,” they said.

Their finale performance featured a brand-new song, “Burn the Boats”, which they wrote just for the occasion — inspired by Shania Twain, who encouraged them to quit their day jobs and go all-in on music. They’ve taken that advice to heart.

Now, with momentum behind them, The Martin Boys are diving full-time into their music career and are excited for what’s ahead.

Canada’s Got Talent showed them that there is a want in Canada for what they do with their country music and gave them the confidence to go all-in.

On May 13, they released their new Burn the Boats EP, featuring five tracks — including the song they wrote for the show’s finale. Originally planned as a four-song release, they held off so they could add “Burn the Boats” to the mix.

“We love making music so so getting to come out with an EP was a really cool experience for us,”

Up next, the duo has a busy schedule of shows around New Brunswick and across the country — including a dream performance at The Calgary Stampede.

Check out all their upcoming performances at https://themartinboys.com/shows.

London-born and US-raised, Katy Hurt weaves together the sounds of Country, Americana, and Southern Rock, drawing inspiration from icons like Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow. Since her 2016 debut, she’s earned critical acclaim and performed at major festivals, including C2C at The O2 and the Isle of Wight Festival. After spending time in Canada, she released chart-topping singles like “Sounds Good in a Bar” and “Wish I Could Give You Up,” produced by Juno Award winner Murray Pulver.

Now, Hurt is gearing up to release her long-awaited debut album, Gimme A Break, out May 23. While she’s previously released EPs, this marks her first full-length record—and it’s a deeply personal one. She’s always aimed to infuse her projects with a sense of who she is, crafting music that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re having a good day or a hard one, she hopes this album will have a song that speaks to you.

Hurt co-wrote every track on Gimme A Break, staying true to the storytelling roots she’s developed since she began writing songs at thirteen. Finding collaborators like Gab Zsapka, Murray Pulver, and Rhianna Rae Saj was a turning point—musicians who brought fresh perspectives and made the creative process not only inspiring but genuinely fun.

In 2020, Hurt traveled to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to work with Pulver. They spent two weeks diving into her catalogue, revisiting everything she had ever written, and recording the album in a raw, live setting—with all the musicians playing together in the same room. That organic approach brought a vibrant energy to the record, captured in just two weeks.

The album’s latest single, “Before the Ice Melts,” is what Hurt calls her “red flag song”—about knowing someone isn’t good for you, yet feeling drawn back again and again by a magnetic, hard-to-resist connection.

Though Gimme A Break is just about to launch, Katy’s new releases are far from over. She has a catalogue of new songs already waiting to be released and is eager to take this music on the road!

Stay up to date with new releases and tour dates from Katy Hurt at https://www.katyhurt.com/.

Brandi Vezina is making waves with her bold storytelling and unapologetic grit. A proud Métis artist from Manitoba, Vezina’s music blends heartfelt narratives, modern country influences and emotional depth. 

2024 has been a milestone year for Vezina, with standout performances at BreakOut West and Country Music Week, as well as earning a spot in the Women in Music Canada Entrepreneur Accelerator. She was also honoured as the 2024 recipient of the Vince Fontaine Legacy Award. 

Her latest release, “Thinkin’ Bout You”, co-written with Styles Haury and Buddy Elliot, reveals Vezina’s softer side and proves her versatility as a songwriter. The goal was to write something nice and sweet about missing someone, showing a different side of her.

Her newest single “Country Glam” comes out on Friday, March 28, just in time for the first leg of the Grit & Glamour Tour kicking off in Fort Francis on April 4. 

“The song is for all of the dreamers, rebels and people who don’t want to sit in a box that people want them to,” she said. “It’s about going for what you want and not letting other people’s expectations tell you what you are supposed to be.”

She started writing the songs for the EP in the fall of 2022. There is a song that means the most to her and is going to show her roots/Americana side. She wrote it with a local Winnipeg artist, Scott Nolan. They wrote the song about Vezina’s hometown, Pine Falls, and how their mill closed in 2009. The song looks at it being 16 years later, what has happened to the town, how heartbreaking it is when the main industry leaves and what it does to the town and the people.

“I mean it from my bones, it’s a hard one to sing because I wrote it about my uncle who passed away and he loved Pine Falls and passed in their hospital. It’s been very therapeutic because I wrote it for him and his friends,” she said.

The Grit & Glamour Tour starts off with three dates in April and will continue in the fall after the release of the EP. The shows are curated so they are intimate, acoustic and meant to showcase her storytelling capabilities. Vezina will also host an album release party in Winnipeg!

So many exciting moving parts for Brandi Vezina and make sure you are on board for all of them!