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Kathleen Edwards
Edwards at Wakefield, Quebec's Black Sheep Inn, September 1, 2011
Background information
Born	(1978-07-11) July 11, 1978 (age 46) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Alternative country folk
Occupations	Musician songwriter
Instruments	Guitar violin vocals bass guitar
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Zoë, MapleMusic Recordings, Rounder, Dualtone
Website	kathleenedwards.com

Kathleen Margaret Edwards (born July 11, 1978) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. Her 2002 debut album, Failer, contained the singles "Six O'Clock News" and "Hockey Skates". Her next two albums – Back to Me and Asking for Flowers – both made the Billboard 200 list and reached the top 10 of Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart. In 2012, Edwards' fourth studio album, Voyageur, became Edwards' first album to crack the top 100 and top 40 in the U.S., peaking at #39 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #2 in Canada. In 2012, Edwards' song "A Soft Place To Land" won the SOCAN Songwriting Prize, an annual competition that honours the best song written and released by 'emerging' songwriters over the past year, as voted by the public. Her musical sound has been compared to Suzanne Vega meets Neil Young.

Early life

Edwards, the daughter of a diplomat, spent portions of her youth in Korea and Switzerland. Her father is Leonard Edwards, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. At age 5, Edwards began classical violin studies that continued for the next 12 years. As a teenager she lived overseas, where she spent much of her time listening to her brother's records of Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Her brother also bought her her first record, a Tom Petty album. After high school she decided not to attend post-secondary education, instead opting to play local clubs to pay the bills.

Music career

In 1999, Edwards recorded a six-song EP entitled Building 55 and pressed 500 copies. By the fall of 2000, she was on tour across Canada managing her own gigs. In 2001, she wrote seven of the ten songs for her 2002 debut release Failer.

Edwards played at SXSW in 2002 and was signed to Rounder Records and MapleMusic shortly after. Failer was released in Canada in the fall of 2002 on MapleMusic Recordings. In January 2003 Failer was released by Rounder Records in the US and internationally. Rolling Stone declared her one of year's most promising new acts and Blender said that Failer's songs possessed "an indefinable pull that makes you love the characters they describe, no matter how fucked up they are." The New York Times praised Edwards as a writer whose songs can "pare situations down to a few dozen words while they push country-rock towards its primal impulses of thump and twang." She made her television network debut on the Late Show with David Letterman where she performed "Six O'Clock News."

In 2005, Edwards released Back to Me, which also garnered considerable critical acclaim, and led to the release of the singles "Back to Me" and "In State". The track "Summerlong" was also featured on the soundtrack of the movie Elizabethtown starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst.

In 2008, Edwards released her third studio album, Asking for Flowers. It was described by the San Francisco Bay Guardian as "her finest album to date", and was a shortlisted nominee for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize. In contrast with 2005's Back to Me, on which Edwards relied on her working band, Asking for Flowers predominantly features session musicians.

In fall 2010, Edwards began working on her fourth studio album in Wisconsin. Voyageur was released in January 2012. It includes the single "Change the Sheets," and was co-produced by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.

She appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on January 17, 2012, singing "Change the Sheets" from her new album Voyageur.

In November 2019, Edwards released "It's Christmastime (Let's Just Survive)", her first new single since Voyageur, on the Dualtone Records compilation album A Dualtone Christmas.

In May 2020, Edwards released the single "Options Open" and announced Total Freedom, her first new album in eight years. The album was released on August 14, 2020.

Musical collaborations

In 2005, Edwards lent her vocals to the duet "The Plan", recorded with Matt Mays and El Torpedo for their self-titled album. In 2006, she was nominated for Juno Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year for Back to Me. In 2007, Edwards worked with John Doe, of the punk rock band X, on his solo album A Year in the Wilderness. She sings on three tracks.

In 2008 Edwards sang backup vocals on Bryan Adams' album 11, and supported one of his tours. In 2009, she joined Adams on stage to sing one of Adams' songs, "Walk on By". In 2011 Edwards contributed vocals on Arkells' song "Agent Zero", off their second album Michigan Left. "Soft Place to Land", one of two songs on Edwards' Voyageur album co-written with The Long Winters frontman John Roderick, won the 2012 SOCAN Echo Songwriting Prize.

She co-wrote the song "Good Woman", from Maren Morris's 2019 album Girl.

Personal life

In 2004, Edwards married guitarist and collaborator Colin Cripps. They divorced in 2011. Edwards was later in a relationship with Justin Vernon, Wisconsin-born singer/songwriter and front-man of the band Bon Iver. Edwards and Vernon separated in 2012. In 2020, Edwards married property developer Sean McAdam. The couple now make their home in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Edwards stepped back from the music scene in 2014, launching a coffee house in Stittsville called Quitters along with Rick Tremblay (who was her manager when she worked in a downtown Starbucks in the 1990s). She insisted that she is not leaving music but just taking a break, and that the name Quitters is "kind of tongue-in-cheek". Quitters closed on March 6, 2022 after Edwards sold the business, so that she could return to her music career.

As of 2018, Edwards continued to perform sporadically, including a number of new songs. In August 2019, following the suicide of American singer-songwriter Neal Casal, Edwards opened up on Twitter about the struggle with depression that led her to take time away from her music career.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

• 1999: Building 55
• 2003: Live from the Bowery Ballroom
• 2008: Live Session EP (iTunes Exclusive)
• 2022: Dogs and Alcohol

Singles

Guest singles

Music videos

Contributed as primary artist

• 2003: VA - Cities 97 Sampler: Live from the Cities 97's Studio C - 15th Anniversary (KTCZ)
• 2003: VA - City Folk Live VI: More Exclusive, Live Performances from the Studios of WFUV in New York City. (WFUV)
• 2003: VA - Greetings from Area Code: Maine 207 Volume 4 - 98.9 WCLZ (WCLZ)
• 2003: VA - Madison's Progressive Radio: 105.5 Triple M - Live from Studio M Volume 3 (WMMM)
• 2003: VA - 92.9 WBOS: Live from the Archives Volume 1 - Studio 7 (WBOS)
• 2003: VA - 107.1 KGSR Radio Austin: Broadcasts Vol. 11 (KGSR)
• 2004: VA - Sweetheart: Love Songs - Our Favorite Artists Cover Their Favorite Love Songs.
• 2005: VA - Live At The World Cafe XX: V. Twenty - WXPN 88.5 (WXPN)
• 2005: VA - 92.9 WBOS: Studio 7 - Live from the Archives 3 (WBOS)
• 2005: VA - 102.1 KPRI: Rock Without Rules! - Live Tracks Volume 3 (KPRI)
• 2005: VA - 107.1 KGSR Radio Austin: Broadcasts Vol. 13 (KGSR)
• 2006: VA - 107.1 KGSR Radio Austin: Broadcasts Vol. 14 (KGSR)
• 2007: VA - 91.3 FM KXCI Presents: Live from Studio 2A Volume VII (KXCI)
• 2009: VA - FUV Live 12: More Exclusive, Live Performances from the Studios of WFUV in New York City - 90.7 wfuv.org (WFUV)
• 2009: VA - Live & Direct 11: 91.3 FM - WYEP (WYEP)
• 2011: VA - National Parks Project: Gwaii Haanas / Wapusk (EP) (FilmCan / Last Gang)
• 2012: VA - KINK Live 15 (KINK)
• 2012: VA - Live at the World Cafe Volume 34: WXPN (WXPN)
• 2013: VA - The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver (ATO)

Appears on

• 1999: Wooden Stars - The Moon (Matlock)
• 2003: Oh Susanna - Oh Susanna (Nettwerk)
• 2004: Paul Reddick - Villanelle (Northern Blues)
• 2004: Liam Titcomb - Liam Titcomb
• 2005: Colin Linden - Southern Jumbo
• 2005: Matt Mays + El Torpedo - Matt Mays + El Torpedo (Sonic / Warner Music Canada)
• 2006: Jim Cuddy - The Light That Guides You Home (5 Corners Productions)
• 2007: John Doe - A Year In The Wilderness (Yep Roc) "The Golden State" also appears on {2008: John Doe - The Golden State (EP) (Yep Roc)} & {2014: John Doe - The Best of John Doe This Far (Yep Roc)}
• 2008: Bryan Adams - 11
• 2008: Collin Herring - Past Life Crashing
• 2009: Rose Cousins - The Send Off
• 2009: John Doe and The Sadies - Country Club (Yep Roc)
• 2010: Andrew Cole - Why We Wonder
• 2010: Ladies Of The Canyon - Haunted Woman (Kindling Music)
• 2010: Young Artists for Haiti - "Wavin' Flag" (single)
• 2011: Arkells - Michigan Left (Universal Music Canada)
• 2013: What Made Milwaukee Famous - You Can't Fall Off the Floor (self-released)
• 2014: Caitlin Harnett - The River Runs North
• 2014: Oh Susanna - Namedropper (Sonic Unyon)
• 2016: Jim Bryson - Somewhere We Will Find Our Place (MapleMusic Recordings)

DVD

• 2004: Return To Sin City: A Tribute To Gram Parsons (Image Entertainment)
• 2004: Toronto Rocks {2 DVD / Canadian Edition} (TGA DVD)
• 2004: A Zoe / Rounder Video Compilation: Watch This! (Zoe Vision)
• 2005: Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary Concert (Image Entertainment)
• 2010: NPP: National Parks Project (VSC)

As composer

• 2016: Jack and Amanda Palmer - You Got Me Singing (8 ft. Records)

In TV

• 2019: The Order (episode 10) - Netflix

Awards and nominations

References

1. "AWAY". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
2. Archived September 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
3. Whibbs, Chris (April 26, 2008). "Kathleen Edwards Method Acting". Exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
4. "Past Nominees and Winners". SOCAN Songwriting Prize. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
5. "Album: Kathleen Edwards, Voyageur (Rounder)". The Independent. January 6, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
6. (March 4, 2008). "Kathleen Edwards gets politically charged Archived July 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine", Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
7. Langness, David (March 1, 2008). "Kathleen Edwards: A Songwriter's Progress Archived January 7, 2016, at the Wayback Machine", Paste. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
8. Deziel, Shanda (February 17, 2003). "Alt-country's New "It" Girl: Kathleen Edwards Archived August 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine", The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
9. Loftus, Johnny. "Kathleen Edwards: Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
10. "25 best Canadian debut albums ever". CBC Music, June 16, 2017.
11. "San Francisco Bay Guardian : Article : Flowers for Kathleen Edwards". Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
12. "2008 – Winners and Nominees". Polaris Music Prize. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
13. "Kathleen Edwards Unveils 'Voyageur'". Retrieved December 15, 2011.
14. Brock Thiessen, "Kathleen Edwards Emerges with Her First New Song Since 2012". Exclaim!, November 6, 2019.
15. ^ Jonathan Bernstein, "Kathleen Edwards Left Behind Roots-Music Stardom to Sell Coffee. Now She’s Back". Rolling Stone, May 19, 2020.
16. "Kathleen Edwards On Taking A Break From Music And Finding 'Total Freedom'". NPR.org. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
17. allmusic ((( Matt Mays + El Torpedo > Overview )))
18. kathleenedwards.org Archived September 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
19. Archived January 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
20. Paolozzi, John (March 30, 2009). "Watch Kathleen Edwards Juno Performance with Bryan Adams". CBC Radio 3. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
21. Wheeler, Brad (October 19, 2012). "Kathleen Edwards, John Roderick". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
22. Dearmore, Kelly (September 12, 2011). "Kathleen Edwards: "Justin [Vernon] Helped Me Construct Something That's a 180 For Me." | Dallas Observer". Blogs.dallasobserver.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
23. Downing, Andy (September 25, 2012). "Kathleen Edwards gets personal on new album". 77 Square. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
24. "Kathleen Edwards gives Madison its money's worth in fearless show : Arts-madisondotcom". Host.madison.com. September 28, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
25. Phillips, Caroline (May 5, 2021). "Acclaimed musician Kathleen Edwards set to premiere new music video Thursday for Shepherds of Good Hope". Ottawa Business Journal. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
26. DeYoung, Bill (November 19, 2022). "Kathleen Edwards: The Last Waltz and a new hometown". St Pete Catalyst. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
27. "No quitter: Kathleen Edwards finds a new path in Stittsville coffee shop". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
28. Saxberg, Lynn (February 25, 2022). "Kathleen Edwards quits Quitters". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
29. "Kathleen Edwards and Matt Mays to headline final day of Peterborough Folk Festival". Kawartha Now, June 26, 2019.
30. Corey Atad, "Canadian Singer Kathleen Edwards Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles Following Death Of Neal Casal" Archived November 15, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. ET Canada, August 28, 2019.
31. "Kathleen Edwards Album & Song Chart History – Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
32. "Kathleen Edwards Album & Song Chart History – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
33. "Kathleen Edwards Album & Song Chart History – Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
34. "Kathleen Edwards Album & Song Chart History – Folk Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
35. "Kathleen Edwards Album & Song Chart History – Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
36. "Kathleen Edwards - Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2018.

External links

• Kathleen Edwards
• Kathleen Edwards at AllMusic
• Kathleen Edwards discography at Discogs

• 1978 births
• Living people
• Canadian alternative country singers
• Canadian women country singers
• Canadian country singer-songwriters
• Canadian pop guitarists
• Musicians from Ottawa
• Singers from Ontario
• MapleMusic Recordings artists
• Zoë Records artists
• Canadian women pop singers
• 21st-century Canadian women singers
• 20th-century Canadian women singers
• 21st-century Canadian guitarists
• Canadian women singer-songwriters
• Rounder Records artists
• Dualtone Records artists
• 21st-century Canadian women guitarists
• 20th-century Canadian singer-songwriters
• 21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters