Calgary alt-country singer/songwriter, Justine Giles, was recently named YYC Music Awards Solo Artist of the Year
Calgary, Alberta singer/songwriter Justine Giles releases her long-awaited EP Another Chance, five heartfelt and beautifully constructed songs that encapsulate the past four years of her creative journey while affirming her place within the global Americana scene.
In late 2019, Justine packed up and moved from Toronto to Calgary, carrying big plans along with her guitar. Of course, within a few months, those plans had to be put on hold, but it didn’t stop Justine from building a foundation of new musical ideas, along with new connections to bring them to life.
Recorded at Calgary’s Evergreen Sound with producer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Troyer, Another Chance boasts arrangements that span cinematic lushness to poignant intimacy, all to complement Justine’s deeply affecting voice and lyrics. The song titles themselves almost say it all—“Save Myself,” “A New Adventure,” “Before It’s Too Late,” and of course the title track, presented in both full-band and acoustic renditions.
Justine cites Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Tenille Townes as artists who have inspired her most recently, adding to the messages of female empowerment that have always been present in her work. Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, Justine self-released her debut album Shine in 2014, and within a few years was named the Northern Ontario regional winner of CBC’s annual Searchlight competition. Moving to Toronto, she participated in Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) program, while performing often in the city, and being featured on CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show.
Once in Calgary, she quickly became a prominent member of that city’s music community, performing at many events and partnering with the National Music Centre to create programs for young people. She was also recently named Solo Artist of the Year at the 2024 YYC Music Awards.
“These past several years have really been about me getting out of my own way and learning how to let my guard down, both when I’m writing and performing on stage,” she says. “Making this EP was a little scary, but I always take that as a good sign because it tells me I’m growing. I want things to cut deep and my music has always been about authentically expressing my deepest feelings.”