Chris Velan

Chris Velan

As a songwriter, musician, and producer hailing from Montreal, Chris Velan has made a name for himself by deftly weaving together a wide variety of musical genres, infusing each song with his signature emotional intensity. But the secret to Velan's success goes far beyond his technical abilities or his ear for catchy hooks - it's his ability to tap into something raw and authentic that speaks to the shared human experience.

His music - and search for inspiration and truth - has brought him to Guinea, Sierra Leone, Haiti and back. He has toured throughout North America with festival performances at The Lincoln Center, Sundance Festival, Montreal International Jazz Festival, and Osheaga, among many others.

At the heart of Velan’s sound lies a sense of empathy and emotional intelligence that is all too rare in the modern musical landscape. His music is a journey through the various worlds and cultures that have shaped him. Musically and lyrically, he has been recognized for his smartly crafted singer-songwriter pop and indie folk that trades in songs that both comfort and challenge. Drawing on a diverse musical DNA that includes West African desert blues, highlife, reggae, Americana and beyond, Velan has forged a sound that is uniquely his own, one that is universally resonant while remaining deeply personal and intimate. It's the kind of music that makes you feel seen and understood, even as it expands your own horizons.

Velan’s artistic journey has been one of constant evolution and creative output, constantly exploring new sounds and influences from around the world. He’s earned the respect of fans, peers, and industry for the consistent strength of his body of work, his abilities as a performer, and his versatility as a collaborator. His is a career built on collaboration and community, a testament to the power of music to bring people together and break down barriers.

Velan is proof that sometimes, the most unexpected paths can lead to the greatest destinations. Following his early, formative experiences playing in bands, including the short-lived but well-loved reggae outfit, Equalizer, Velan went on to leave a budding career in law to pursue his own solo musical path. That defining decision was influenced in no small part by his experience as the music producer for the award-winning documentary, “Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars” about the lives, and resilience, of a musical group of refugee musicians in West Africa. Velan’s experience with the project, and on the two internationally acclaimed albums he subsequently produced for the band, was transformative and helped to shape his own musical vision.

Since then, Velan has made his mark with a catalogue that includes seven albums and numerous appearances as a musical contributor and producer on others, earning accolades along the way. The single, “un-American Gothic” from his record, “Glow” (2016), landed on CBC Radio 2’s Top 100 Songs List for that year.

His follow-up album, “Amateur Hour” saw its single, “All-Time Record”, charting high on CBC Radio 3’s Top 30 Songs of the Week. Velan followed the success of his work with Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars to produce Haitian music collective, Lakou Mizik, on their debut, award-winning release, “Wa Di Yo”.

In the downtime of the pandemic, he kept busy collaborating with renowned Mauritanian-Senegalese artist, Daby Touré, on a duo project and launching an EP, “Emissaire Vol. 1” to an enthusiastic critical response that has both artists setting eyes on more touring and recording. Velan also released his first French single, ”Ma Baleine”, which found itself in regular rotation on satellite radio.

Velan’s latest album, “Songs About Songs”, out on May 19th, is a testament to his enduring curiosity and restless creativity. The album is an upbeat and heart-forward exploration of the insecurities and joys of finding new love, getting older and starting a family. It’s a fitting antidote for the times, shot through with his honed songwriting chops, wit, insight, and compassion.
www.chrisvelan.com