Ken Yates
Heartfelt indie-rock; incredible lyricism
About Ken
Ontario-born indie-folk artist Ken Yates has a penchant for saying what the rest of us are thinking. Cerulean, his latest album, finds Yates at his darkest and most vulnerable - "the worst pain comes with no bleeding" he writes - as he explores the complicated reality of navigating the world through half-clenched teeth. Yates' "earworms of sadness" have gained him a new legion of fans, who, drawn to his "stunning candidness and relatability" (No Depression), have shared numerous fan covers on social media and helped spur a dedicated surge of audience growth. The new album found great success at streaming, where songs were shared on playlists including "Your Favorite Coffeehouse," "Infinite Indie-Folk", "Fresh Folk," and more. Guest vocalists Kathleen Edwards, Katie Pruitt and Stephanie Lambring lent their talents to the new songs, produced by Ottawa's Jim Bryson. With praise in FLOOD, Atwood Magazine, NPR Music Live Sessions, and two Canadian Folk Music Awards under his belt, Yates has expanded his touring in recent years, supporting acclaimed artists including Passenger, Kathleen Edwards, and Stu Larsen, as he brings his "lyrical vessel of yearning and emotional reckoning" (FLOOD) on the road.
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Credit: Melissa Alderton
Credit: Brianna Fish
Credit: Brianna Fish
Credit: Brianna Fish
Credit: Melissa Alderton
Credit: Melissa Alderton
Credit: Melissa Alderton
Recent Press
“Capturing universal truths with pinpoint precision…Cerulean is a painstakingly truthful exploration of depression’s quiet, insidious toll, and Yates’ bare-faced songwriting is stunning in its candidness and relatability…The unexpectedly spirited earworms of sadness…urging acceptance of the discomfort and demanding repeat listens.” -NO DEPRESSION
"It’s another lyrical vessel of yearning and emotional reckoning matched up with strummed acoustic guitar, further setting the scene for what Cerulean has in store." - FLOOD
"Cerulean is more astral than backroads, a soundscape that gives Yates room to ruminate, approaching the concert hall atmospherics of The War on Drugs, Andy Shauf, and Big Thief." - The Creek 100.9
“Yates has now asserted himself as one of Canada’s most unique folk artists with a true knack for effective songwriting.” - Canadian Beats
"An enchanting song of acceptance and resolve, Ken Yates’ “The Big One” is a soothing and stirring apocalyptic lullaby that finds refuge in the face of life’s fragility." - Atwood Magazine
"Ken has earned a strong reputation as a bona-fide composer who combines his emotionally charged storytelling with some incredible and unforgettable melodies.” - Great Dark Wonder