Mia Kelly performs July 13 at RBC Ottawa Bluesfest
OTTAWA, July At 12, 2022 – At just 19, Gatineau singer-songwriter Mia Kelly has taken the Canadian music scene by storm with her compelling stage presence and powerful vocals. In advance of her first album release later this summer, Mia is releasing her brand new single, “Kitchissippi”, a stripped-down song about finding comfort in the Ottawa River during difficult times. “Kitchissippi” will be available on all streaming platforms on Friday, July 15, 2022.
Hailing from Gatineau, QC the exceptionally talented Folk/Roots artist blends both English and French songs in her music. Her effortlessly expansive voice, which she has honed since the age of ten, has been praised by Ottawa Life Magazine as being a “living, palpable force of nature”.
A born performer who shines on stage, Mia has captivated audiences at numerous music festivals across Canada, including the Summerfolk Festival and Blue Skies Festival, and will be performing at RBC Ottawa’s Bluesfest.
Described as emotionally mature and refreshingly honest, Mia’s sophisticated songwriting showcases her remarkable ability to unravel complicated themes and feelings. Garnering over 200,000 streams on Spotify, her thought-provoking music has been acknowledged by the SOCAN Foundation along with international music competitions.
Mia’s work has also been featured in national outlets, including Châtelaine, CTV Morning Live, and CBC Ottawa Morning. After the release of her first EP “Cardboard Box” in 2019, Mia was named one of Ottawa Citizen’s top ten local artists to watch.
Collaborating with producer Jim Bryson (Kathleen Edwards, The Tragically Hip) and mastered by Grammy-nominated Phillip Shaw Bova (Lido Pimienta, Bahamas), Mia is set to release her debut album “Garden Through The War” this summer. Featuring Olivier Fairfield (Leif Vollebekk, Andy Shauf) on drums in company with Mia herself on guitar and piano, “Garden Through The War” boldly delves into themes of resilience and growth amidst adversity.
Kelly writes and performs in both French and English. Blending folk music with strong influences of blues, pop and americana, she is making her mark in the Canadian folk music scene at the age of 19. “Her powerful vocals transcend her young years and she has an impressive natural confidence that is rarely seen. Mia is without a doubt one of Ottawa’s most promising emerging artists.” – Kelly Symes, RBC Ottawa Bluesfest
Backed by her performance on guitar or piano and accompanied by foot percussion , Kelly’s foot-stomping sing-a-longs are anchored by her powerful voice that emanates with raw emotion. Her infectious energy captivates you as she shares her heartfelt stories & banter.
Stylistically inspired by artists such as Shakey Graves, Matt Holubowski and Adrienne Lenker, Kelly turns to the leadership of women such as Allison Russell and Irish Mythen – “Women who have fought for spaces in the music industry, who have overcome hurdles that I do not face, who make the music industry fairer and more inclusive place…those are the people who truly inspire me.”
Kelly released her first EP “Cardboard Box” in 2019. In August 2022, she will release her first album “Garden Through the War”. Produced and mixed at Fixed Hinge Studio by Ottawa’s Jim Bryson (Susan Ungerleider, The Weakerthans) and mastered by Grammy-nominated Phillip Shaw Bova, the record demonstrates maturity in Kelly’s songwriting. Exploring themes of resilience and growth that follow hardship, the album has already received recognition by the SOCAN foundation.
Mia has had the privilege of playing many incredible folk stages throughout Canada and the United States including Summerfolk Festival, Festival des Montgolfières de Gatineau, Blue Skies Festival and Club Passim. In 2019, Kelly was selected to participate in the Folk Music Ontario youth development program and in 2020, was named by the Ottawa Citizen as one of the city’s top artists to watch.
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