Rebecca Reads: The Indie Folk Storyteller

Rebecca Reads is a Canadian indie folk singer-songwriter known for her narrative lyricism and acoustic melodies. Her 2019 album, "Paper Maps," achieved critical acclaim and charted within the Top 20 on the Canadian Albums Chart, establishing her as a distinct voice in modern folk music.

Early career

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1992, Rebecca Reads began writing songs as a teenager, performing at local open mic nights. Her first official release was the self-recorded EP "Anchorless" in 2014, which caught the attention of the independent label Birchwood Records.

Breakthrough

The artist's breakthrough arrived in 2017 with the single "Lighthouse Keeper," which garnered extensive play on Canadian campus radio. This momentum led to her signing with the larger indie label Folkway Records and the subsequent release of her debut full-length album, "Paper Maps," in 2019.

Key tracks

Lighthouse Keeper — This 2017 single became Rebecca Reads' first charting song on the CBC Radio 2 Top 20, introducing her sound to a national audience.

Paper Maps — The title track from her 2019 album is a fan favorite, celebrated for its intricate storytelling and minimalist production.

Northern Line — This 2021 collaboration with fellow Canadian artist Donovan Woods added a nuanced duet dynamic to her discography.

Silver Lake — A standout track known for its vivid imagery, it became a staple on streaming playlists and helped "Paper Maps" reach Gold certification in Canada.

Following the success of "Paper Maps," Rebecca Reads toured extensively across North America and Europe. Her sophomore album, "The Long Way Home," released in 2022, debuted at number 15 on the Canadian Albums Chart and featured a collaboration with producer Daniel Ledwell.

If you enjoy the introspective folk of Rebecca Reads, you might also appreciate the work of similar Canadian artists. Basia Bulat shares a talent for crafting poignant folk-pop melodies. City and Colour explores a similar space of acoustic-driven, emotionally resonant songwriting. The Weather Station offers comparably rich lyrical narratives within the contemporary folk genre.

The music of Rebecca Reads is a regular feature on the folk and singer-songwriter rotations of our partnered stations. Listeners can hear her tracks on independent music radio stations and curated online folk radio streams that champion narrative-driven acoustic music.

You can discover the evocative indie folk catalog of Rebecca Reads by tuning into the radio stations featured on onairium.com, where her songs are regularly programmed for listeners seeking authentic storytelling.