Ken Yates

Ken Yates is an award-winning singer-songwriter known for his introspective storytelling and his signature blend of folk, indie, and rock influences. His latest album, Total Cinema (2025), marks a defining evolution in his sound. Working with producer Dan Ledwell in Halifax, Yates explores themes of gratitude and self-awareness with characteristic precision and emotional depth.

His new music has captured critical attention, with NPR's Ann Powers declaring, "I'm obsessed with this song by Canadian troubadour Ken Yates, 'Cataclysmic End,’”, while Atwood Magazine called the new music a “bright, cathartic reckoning.” Total Cinema features eleven tracks that showcase an artist who has found clarity in his creative vision, embracing both the shadows and light of human experience.

Total Cinema follows Yates’ 2022 album, Cerulean, which earned him a Contemporary Album of the Year nomination at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Recently selected as an Official Showcasing Artist at SXSW and Americanafest 2024, Yates continues to grow his audience, opening for artists including Madison Cunningham, Passenger, and Kathleen Edwards, and collaborating with respected songwriters Trousdale, Katie Pruitt, Tiny Habits, and Lori McKenna. With the release of his new album, Yates continues to assert his place as one of the most incisive voices in rising indie music.