Karly Kryski Shares Playful Country Anthem “Happy Hour After You”
Vancouver country artist Karly Kryski as she shares her upcoming single “Happy Hour After You,” out June 5 on all streaming platforms.
“Happy Hour After You” is a fun, cheeky breakup anthem about finally getting to the other side of heartbreak and realizing life actually got better after the relationship ended. Built around carefree girls-night-out energy, the track is confident and made for loud sing-alongs and live show moments.
Written by Kryski and Chris Biano, and produced by Jared Manierka (Carly Rae Jepsen, Molly Annelle), the single continues Karly’s streak of high-energy country releases rooted in honest storytelling and catchy hooks.
Karly has been steadily building momentum within the Canadian country scene, with her latest single “Rolling Dice” added to SiriusXM’s Top of the Country Radio and previous release “Rhinestones & Rust” nearing 400,000 Spotify streams. Earlier this spring, she made her Nashville debut at Whiskey Jam and is also set to perform at Cloverdale Rodeo and Nashville Takeover in Burlington this year.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Absolutely! My name is Karly Kryski, and I’m a country singer-songwriter born and raised in Vancouver, BC. I grew up in a big hockey family and was introduced to country music at a young age through my dad, who always had it playing around the house. I fell in love with the storytelling and authenticity of the genre right away, and it eventually inspired me to start writing songs of my own.
I’m also a multi-instrumentalist and have spent years learning guitar, drums, and saxophone, which has given me a deeper appreciation for music from all angles. Over the last few years, I’ve been focused on building my career as an independent artist, writing songs inspired by real-life experiences and creating music that people can connect with. Whether I’m performing in my hometown of Vancouver or making trips to Nashville to write and collaborate, I’m always looking for ways to grow as an artist and share my music with new listeners. It’s been an exciting journey so far, and I feel like I’m just getting started.
“Happy Hour After You” has such a fun and confident energy. What inspired the song, and was there a specific moment or experience behind it?
“Happy Hour After You” was inspired by that moment when you finally come out the other side of a breakup and realize you’re actually doing just fine. I think a lot of us have been guilty of spending way too much time hung up on the wrong person, and this song is really about shifting your focus back to yourself and the people who have been there all along.
It was definitely inspired by my own experiences, as well as stories from friends who were going through similar situations. We wanted to capture that feeling of getting your confidence back, going out with your girlfriends, and realizing life can be a whole lot more fun and peaceful when you’re no longer wasting energy on someone who isn’t meant for you. At its core, it’s a celebration of friendship, independence, and choosing to enjoy the chapter you’re in instead of looking back.
You co-wrote the single with Chris Biano. What was the writing session like, and how quickly did the concept come together?
I co-wrote the song with Chris Biano, who’s based in Nashville, and at the time we were writing over a series of Zoom sessions since I was in Vancouver. The concept actually came together really quickly because I had a pretty clear vision from the start of the energy I wanted the song to capture. I knew I wanted it to feel fun, confident, and carefree, with that girls-night-out kind of spirit. Once we landed on the idea, everything flowed naturally. We had a great creative chemistry, and the song came together faster than most. It was one of those writes where everyone was on the same page right from the beginning.
The phrase “Happy Hour After You” is instantly catchy. Did you know right away it had the potential to become a sing-along anthem?
I definitely had a feeling there was something special about it right away. It’s one of those phrases that instantly paints a picture and feels relatable, even before you hear the rest of the song. As soon as we landed on the title, I could already imagine people singing it back at a live show. You never really know how a song is going to connect once it’s out in the world, but from the beginning it felt like the kind of hook that would stick with people. We wanted it to be fun, memorable, and easy to sing along to, and I think that’s a big part of what makes country music so powerful in a live setting.
You’ve been building serious momentum lately with “Rolling Dice” and “Rhinestones & Rust.” How does it feel seeing fans continue to connect with your music in such a big way?
It’s honestly incredibly rewarding. As a songwriter, you spend so much time writing about your own experiences and hoping that somehow they resonate with other people. Seeing fans connect with the music, stream the songs, come out to shows, and send messages about how a lyric relates to something in their own life never gets old.
I think what’s been most exciting is watching that connection continue to grow with each release. Every song has introduced my music to new listeners, and it feels like I’m slowly building a community of people who genuinely connect with what I’m creating. As an independent artist, that support means everything, and it motivates me to keep writing, keep growing, and keep putting new music out into the world.
You’re performing at Cloverdale Rodeo and Nashville Takeover this year. What can fans expect from your live shows this season?
Fans can expect a lot of energy, a lot of fun, and hopefully to leave with a smile on their face. Live shows are my favourite part of being an artist because it’s where I get to connect with people in real time and bring the songs to life. This year I’ll be mixing in fan favourites, newer music, and a few surprises along the way.
I’m especially excited for events like Cloverdale Rodeo and Nashville Takeover because they bring together such great country music audiences. Whether someone has been following my music for a while or is hearing me for the first time, my goal is always to create a show that feels welcoming, engaging, and memorable. I want people to walk away feeling like they got to know me a little better and had a great time doing it.
Between streaming success, major performances, and new releases, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for you. What goals are you still hoping to accomplish before the year ends?
A) 2026 has already been an exciting year, and I’m really grateful for everything that’s happened so far. For the rest of the year, my biggest goal is honestly just to keep building on that momentum. I want to continue releasing music, reaching new listeners, and getting in front of as many people as possible through live shows.
I’m also looking forward to spending more time writing and collaborating, especially in Nashville. Every trip down there pushes me creatively and helps me grow as both a songwriter and an artist. More than anything, I just want to keep expanding my audience and building a career that’s sustainable and meaningful. If I can look back at the end of the year and see growth in the music, the live shows, and the connections I’ve made along the way, I’ll be pretty happy with that.