Press release –
indie-folk artist Mia Kelly announces the release of her forthcoming album, Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling, out May 22, 2026.
For her third full-length album, Mia travelled to producer Connor Seidel‘s (Charlotte Cardin, Half Moon Run, Leif Vollebekk) studio, The Treehouse in Sainte-Adèle, QC. There, she recorded while snowstorms battered the surrounding landscape, embracing the cozy isolation of the studio, living out of her van just steps away. “This is my most joyful album to date,” shares Mia.
The album announcement arrives alongside the release of the brand-new single “Coin in the Cake,“ a joyous ode to the moments and people who make life feel special. Mia also reveals she’ll be joining her dear friend, Australian singer-songwriter Kim Churchill, as a special guest on his upcoming Canadian spring tour.
“Coin in the Cake is a love song to my friends, family, and everyone close to me who makes me feel special,” says Mia. “I feel so loved by my community and wanted to give back.”
The song’s title is inspired by a cherished family tradition: Mia’s grandma wraps coins in parchment paper and hides them in birthday cakes. Whoever finds one is deemed the lucky one. “The song contains references to many sweet and magical moments, as well as moments of luck that make life worth living,” Mia adds. “It feels like my version of “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music.”
Recording “Coin in the Cake” was a fun nut to crack in the studio. “There were so many sonic directions we considered, and we tried a few different roads before landing on the version that made it onto the record,” says Mia. “What we settled on feels to me like someone running through a field with their arms wide open, catching the magic. It’s fun, upbeat, and unexpected, and makes you want to crank it in the car with the windows down.”
You’re the coin in the cake
A win when the stakes are high
You’re a pack of wild geese
In a clear blue sky
You’re the sun on my face
You’re the first sweet nectarine
Dripping down my chin
You kiss me clean
Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling also features previously released singles,’ Blind Horse’ a poignant reflection on privilege and the rigged systems we mistake for fairness, and ‘Sea to the Moon’ featuring Blair Dunlop. The latter was praised by Great Dark Wonder as “a beautiful gut-wrenching ballad that further showcases Mia’s lyrical talents,” and can be heard on SiriusXM’s North Americana.
Mia Kelly’s 2025 highlights include extensive international touring in support of her 2024 album To Be Clear, a Canadian tour with Blair Dunlop, a UK tour supporting John Smith, two Capital Music Awards: Single of the Year and Video of the Year, and two 2026 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for English Songwriter of the Year and Contemporary Artist of the Year.
2026 is shaping up to be her most exciting year yet, with upcoming performances in Australia at the Nannup Music Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, and Blue Mountains Music Festival; additional tour dates to be announced; and the release of Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling, an indie-folk album that balances intimacy, joy, heartbreak, and real-life journeys.
What’s The Story about Mia Kelly?
Mia Kelly is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Gatineau, Quebec. Kelly is ready to release her third full-length album, Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling (May 2026). For the new collection, she ventured to acclaimed producer Connor Seidel’s (Charlotte Cardin, Half Moon Run, Leif Vollebekk) studio, The Treehouse, in Sainte-Adèle, QC.
“This is my most joyful album to date,” shares Kelly. “I was so excited to have the chance to work with Connor and see where the new songs would take me.” As snowstorms battered the surrounding landscape, Kelly embraced the studio’s cozy isolation, living out of her van just steps away while bringing the record to life.
Her sophomore album, To Be Clear (2024), co-produced with Jim Bryson (The Tragically Hip, Kathleen Edwards), earned international acclaim and cemented Kelly as a rising voice in the Folk/Americana scene. The record received two 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominations for Contemporary Singer of the Year and English Songwriter of the Year, while the single “Meaning Well” earned a 2025 Single of the Year nomination. To Be Clear also garnered four 2025 Capital Music Awards nominations, with Kelly winning Single of the Year for “Bonefish Boys” and Video of the Year for “Si j’étais franche.” The official video for the single “Remedy River” featured Kelly enjoying one of her favourite pastimes: river surfing.
Kelly’s debut album, Garden Through the War (2022), showcased her as a poetic lyricist with a powerful, versatile voice. Exploring themes of resilience and growth after hardship, the album was recognized by the SOCAN Foundation.
Her music has been featured by La Presse, Americana UK, Ottawa Citizen, Radio-Canada, Roots Music Canada, Le Droit, Châtelaine, CKUA, SiriusXM North Americana, CBC, and more. She has shared the stage with Basia Bulat, Kim Churchill, John Smith, Blair Dunlop, Bobby Bazini, Aysanabee, The Franklin Electric, Daniel Champagne, Jeremie Albino, Julian Taylor, and Lloyd Spiegel, and has performed at major festivals including Tallinn Music Week (Estonia), Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Folk Alliance International, Ottawa Bluesfest, Summerfolk, Ontario Festival of Small Halls, Festival des Montgolfières, Mariposa Folk Festival, Live from the Rock, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Mia Kelly has been named Emerging Artist of the Year by Culture Outaouais, represented Canada as a finalist at the 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and received both Young Performer of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year honours at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
With Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling, Mia Kelly broadens her horizons, digging into her core values while continuing her touring adventures and discovering new fans, one bottle of hot sauce at a time.
For more information, visit www.miakellymusic.com.
