Ken Yates / Stephanie Lambring
Ken Yates
Image courtesy of the artist
Stephanie Lambring
Image courtesy of the artist
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Berklee alum Ken Yates ’11 has gained a reputation as one of his country’s brightest, rising singer-songwriters. The winner of two Canadian Folk Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year and New Artist of the Year, Yates has spent recent years expanding his sound and touring North America and Europe.
His latest album, Cerulean, steps firmly into indie-folk and alternative territories, and captures Yates at his most vulnerable. The cool-hued record was written as an intimate reckoning as he grieved his dying mother, giving listeners a vivid window into the rollercoaster of intense thoughts and emotions that accompany such a personal, yet universal experience.
Yates supported Passenger on their tour across North America and in Europe in 2020, and has shared stages with Ryan McMullan, Jenn Grant, and many others.
Singer-songwriter Stephanie La
Autonomy’s “Joy of Jesus” recently earned the number 28 position on NPR’s 100 Best Songs of 2020, with Ann Powers calling Lambring “one of Nashville’s most fearless young singer-songwriters.” Powers also named Autonomy as her Best of October pick on NPR’s All Songs Considered, noting, “What lifts these stories beyond the maudlin is Lambring’s thoughtfulness and clarity in going past the point of comfort to a place that demands the listener not just weep, but confront her own assumptions, the lies she tells herself. Speaking truth should feel uncomfortable, but ultimately freeing. And beautiful. Like this music.”
Lambring has had playlist support from Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. She has also been the face of TIDAL’s Rising Folk playlist, and her single “Pretty” is included in the Best of Rising Folk 2020 playlist. Additionally, Rolling Stone called “Daddy’s Disappointment” “a song you need to know” and an “alt-country gem.” The track also has received spins on BBC Radio Scotland.