Born into a family of musicians in London, Ontario, Amanda Keeles does not really remember a time when she was not singing.

Introduced to country music at a young age through her mother’s work in the music industry, she began writing her own songs in her teens.

“Everything that I sang had a country flavour to it, and I think it’s just because I had it from such an early age that it was just kind of embedded in me,” she said.

Keeles’s songwriting process begins with formulating the chorus first, she explained. From there, she moves to the piano and starts creating a story for the song based on her ideas for the chorus. Her talent for songwriting took her to the Canadian Open Songwriting contest and was pleasantly surprised to win back-to-back with her songs “Blame it on the Moonlight” and “My Heart Feels The Same Way Too.”

While primarily a country artist, Keeles is also influenced by other genres, specifically pop and classic rock, which she incorporates into her sound.

“I’m a country singer, but I do love classic rock,” she stated. “I love the heavy guitar riffs and the heavy drums, so when we go in the studio […] we add those things that I love so much.”

Describing her overall artistry and the music on her debut album she said, “There seems to be a sound for everyone. No matter what genre you like, there’s a little something in there.”

Keeles’s debut album, Can’t Stop Me Now, was written over different periods of her life and is based on life experiences. The album was recorded over a period of two years, with the title track — a powerful self-motivation song — being the last song that she wrote.

“It’s a personal anthem, but it can be anybody’s anthem really,” Keeles said. “It was such a powerful song in the studio that I was like, that’s the song […] that is going to be the title track.”

One of the other singles from the album, “Saving Grace,” released in fall 2023, was written about a first love that brings one a special feeling of joy. Keeles said it is one of her favourite songs from the album and a favourite to perform on tour.

For the music video of “Saving Grace,” Keeles collaborated with Roadhouse Productions and videographer Jake Sauve, plus two actors to weave the song’s story throughout the visuals. The video has achieved great success, winning Best Music Video at both the London Music awards and the Toronto Independent Film Festival, and becoming a finalist at the Los Angeles Film awards.

“It has just gotten such distance […] It’s just got this new life going into these different film festivals,” she remarked. “It is exciting.”

Keeles’ latest single, “Playin’ It Cool,” released in September, turns the classic trope of “cool guy gets the girl” on its head. The song was partially inspired by boys she knew in high school and university.

“Everybody knows that guy,” Keeles remarked. “The guy that really thinks he’s all that, and he’s a serial heartbreaker, and I thought you know what, […] there’s always one that he doesn’t get, right? And it’s the one that is playing it cool, who doesn’t fall to his lines or his good looks […] It’s kind of turning the tables on the serial heartbreaker.”

Looking ahead to 2025, Keeles plans to expand her performances across Canada and release new singles, including one scheduled for early in the year. She also plans to collaborate with other artists and will return to the studio to record a new single for release in the spring.

The advice that Keeles wished to impart on other aspiring singer-songwriters mirrors her album’s title track.

“There’s a lot of work to it, but just enjoy it […] You have to just learn to continue to do what you love and drown out the negativity. And don’t stop doing it,” she advised.

Keeles also encouraged university students to continue to work hard on their degrees!

Keeles’s debut album, Can’t Stop Me Now, and her latest single, “Playin’ It Cool,” are available now. She is currently on the second leg of her Ontario tour