Rooted in the prairies, told from the soul
There’s something quietly powerful about the way Moira Chicilo tells a story. The Saskatchewan-born indie folk singer-songwriter has built her sound around honesty—songs that feel lived-in, shaped by the people, places, and moments that stay with you long after they pass.
Her latest release, Bred in My Bones, captures that spirit in its purest form. Recorded live in a single afternoon at Blue Door Recording in Regina, the EP is stripped back and deeply personal, pairing Moira’s soulful delivery with the haunting textures of pedal steel from David Bushko. Across four previously unreleased tracks, she moves through themes of longing, home, and loss with a quiet confidence that never overreaches—just tells the truth.
We caught up with Moira to talk about the stories behind Bred in My Bones, the experience of recording live, and how her prairie roots continue to shape her music.
First of care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Moira Chicilo and I’m a indie folk singer songwriter living in Vancouver but born and raised in a farming community in Saskatchewan.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
It was recorded in an afternoon at Blue Door Recording in Regina last summer. I chose these songs as they give a sense of my connection to the land and people of the prairies. The songs are casual, melancholic and enhanced by some beautiful haunting swells courtesy pedal steel guitarist, Dave Bushko. I’m also really pleased this live EP includes not only folk songs but strays into blues and country.
Walk us through your creative progress when creating music.
I am an early riser — I love the quiet perfection of the morning, and that’s when I typically start to write and strum. I usually begin by waiting for a thought or idea to “drop” and do some sensory writing around it. Then I get the leash out and go walking with my dog, and that’s when someone might hear me trying out a melody. It’s safe to say I get looks.
Now that the music is out, what does the ‘road ahead’ look like?
Beyond tours and videos, what’s one ‘bucket list’ goal you hope to achieve with this release? How about I’m watching a tv show shot in Canada and suddenly I hear a Bred in the Bones single playing. To have my music paired with Canadian landscape would be a blow-my-mind moment.
Every artist has a ‘lightbulb moment’ where things just clicked. Looking back, what’s the one performance or milestone that made you realize, ‘Okay, this is what I was meant to do’?
It was at a Nashville songwriting retreat where I was surrounded by some of the best musicians, singers, songwriters I’ve ever met. Intimidating at first but collaborating and creating with them was such an incredible experience, and it validated that I was doing the right thing.
We love championing Canadian talent. If you were curated a ‘Must-Listen’ playlist of emerging artists right now, who is the first person you’d add?
I’m loving FONTINE, such authentic, vivid lyrics.
There’s nothing like the energy of a live room. Where can fans catch you on stage next, and for someone seeing you for the first time, what should they expect from a [Band Name] live experience?” An audience can expect me to be telling the stories within the songs and to bring energy, humour and unapologetic emotion to the evening.