Canadian duo’s latest finds them honing their distinctive blend of hard-edged country rock and r&b
Canada’s dynamic Americana duo Orchard Sky is kicking off 2025 on a blazing note with their new single “Good Intentions.” Powered by the soulful vocals of Krystle Dos Santos and the tasty slide guitar of Mitch Smith, “Good Intentions” blurs the lines between country-rock and R&B, an approach Orchard Sky has been honing over the past several years that has established their reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting new bands.
“Good Intentions” marks the start of another new chapter for Orchard Sky, as Dos Santos and Smith’s creative partnership continues to evolve.
Smith says,
“‘Good Intentions’ is a fun little song we’ve been playing and building live the last couple of years. When I went back to do some overdubs, I had the idea of doubling the main lick with slide, and once we did that I really felt like we captured the right energy. I love Krystle’s vocal energy on this one. Also loved writing the lyrics with my fellow co-writers, it’s all tongue-in-cheek but very fun.”
Dually based in Vancouver and Edmonton, Orchard Sky first hit the national scene in 2022 with “Canadian Party Song,” which was immediately picked up by Rogers SportsNet and played during that year’s NHL playoff broadcasts. It was followed by several more heart-pumping singles, later compiled on their 2023 debut EP Orchard Sky, that included “Flashbang,” “Honest” and “Rollin’ 7s.”
Orchard Sky’s journey to this point has been marked by a few major twists, but since Smith teamed with Dos Santos early in 2022, everything has fallen into place. What Krystle brought to the band was not only her stunning voice but also a creative energy that she’d previously displayed as a solo artist and stage performer. Along with earning two Western Canadian Music Awards, she has appeared in productions of Dreamgirls, The Chelsea Hotel: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen, and her own cabaret-style musical, Hey Viola!, a tribute to Canadian Civil Rights heroine Viola Desmond.
Krystle says,
“I joined Orchard Sky when Mitch approached me asking if I knew any singers who might be interested. He and I had written songs for a few years at that point and I knew I liked his style. I thought it would be a great opportunity to sing and be in a band that played a style of music that I didn’t get to perform very often. I also felt that it was a very cool opportunity as a Black female, to create representation in an area of the music industry that we are usually not seen. It feels good to get back to the Alberta roots I grew up in and sing this catchy and fun music.”
“Good Intentions” is the opening salvo in what has all the makings of a breakout year for Orchard Sky. Having already proven their abilities as both songwriters and performers at home, Smith and Dos Santos are now more than ready to take on the world. For Orchard Sky, the sky continues to be the limit.