Press release –
Currently on her first-ever tour in Australia, Mia Kelly is thrilled to announce the release of her latest single, “Time’s Easy to Blame,” featuring Australia’s own Kim Churchill.
A song about growing up, falling in love, and navigating the inevitable mistakes that come with figuring life out, “Time’s Easy to Blame” captures the push and pull between youth and responsibility. “I was quite young when I wrote this song and was learning to find the balance between travel and home, between friends and lovers, all the learning, all at once,” shares Kelly.
After attempting to record the track three different times over the years, it was producer Connor Seidel (Charlotte Cardin, Half Moon Run, Leif Vollebekk) who immediately called it for what it was: a happy, catchy pop song.
Letting go of its earlier, more reflective tone, “Time’s Easy to Blame” finally found its place on Kelly’s forthcoming album Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling (out May 22, 2026). With Churchill bringing his Australian sunshine to the track, the song transforms the lessons in growing up and taking responsibility for your mistakes into a blissful ballad.
“It was SO satisfying to reimagine the song, to speed it up, shine some SUN on it, and turn it into the poppy, joyful tune it is now,” says Kelly. “Bringing Kim on was a no-brainer. Even though he’s based in Australia, he happened to have a session booked with Connor in Montreal at the perfect time. It all lined up beautifully, and we got the song! We can’t wait to perform it together on our upcoming cross-Canada tour!”
Full tour details can be found below and at www.miakellymusic.com.
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.
WRITTEN BY: Mia Kelly
PRODUCED BY: Connor Seidel
MIXED BY: Charles-Emile Beaudin
MASTERED BY: Ryan Morey
MUSICIANS
Mia Kelly: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Connor Seidel: Bass, Acoustic Guitar
Olivier Fairfield: Drums, Percussion
Ben Plotnick: Fiddle
Aaron Collis: Mandolin, Accordion
Kim Churchill: Vocals, Harmonies
Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling Tracklist
Holy Grail / Big Magic
Sea to the Moon (ft. Blair Dunlop)
Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling
Blind Horse
Coin in the Cake
Salish Sea
Time’s Easy to Blame (ft. Kim Churchill)
Strange Cocoon
Medicine
Le vent qui m’emmènera
Stand-Up Woman
