JUSTINE GILES

In late 2019, Justine Giles was looking for a fresh start. She 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. Things may have taken longer than originally planned, but Justine Giles has another chance to show the world what she can do, and she’s taking full advantage of it. Her new EP, suitably titled Another Chance, encapsulates her past five years in five heartfelt and beautifully constructed songs, re-introducing Justine as a powerful Canadian voice within the global singer-songwriter scene.

 

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. Now with Another Chance she is ready to refocus her energy on getting her music out to the rest of the world, and there is no doubt she is ready.

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