Local Country Artist To Release Upcoming Album While Reflecting Recent Success

It has been a long 13 years of being in the country music business but Peterborough’s Elyse Saunders displays the evolution of her career with a new single for her upcoming album released this fall.

Saunders is the current Country Music Association of Ontario Artist of the Month for June, one of seven new finalists in the Boots & Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase and was a top five finalist in CBC Music’s 2021 Searchlight competition. Photo Courtesy Of Liz Rosa Photography.

“Sunshine State Of Mind” is Saunders’s latest song that debuted in mid-May and one of three singles — “Free” and “Wine Down” as the others — that have been released for her upcoming album “Free”.

Co-written by Saunders and T.J. Simpson, this was the first single since being nominated for Female Artist of the Year and Rising Star of the Year by the Country Music Association of Ontario.

“Sunshine State of Mind” was meant to radiate joy, summer adventure and sunny escapism according to Saunders.

“We wrote it before the pandemic shut down,” she said. “It would be so nice to get away. We wanted the song to be everything people wanted to think of when they go on a tropical vacation. We also wanted that message to be on vacation no matter where you are.”

Her newest album is a culmination of what she learned in the music business and how she has grown since starting her music career in 2008.

Since 2020, the Peterborough country singer has gained a list of achievements and awards such as Video of the Year at the 2020 Mississauga Music Awards with “Free”. “Wine Down” had 100,000 streams across Spotify and Apple Music, 46,000 YouTube views with two Country Music Association of Ontario nominations.

“I’ve come into my own in the last year and a half and two years that I’ve gotten to this point feeling confident,” explains Saunders. “I feel like music has made me stronger and made me the best version of myself. It forces me out of my comfort zone so you become pretty fearless and unstoppable.”

”Sunshine State of Mind” has over 68,000 views on Youtube to date since premiering on May 15. Photo Courtesy of Elyse Saunders Jasper Anson.

Saunders reflects on growing up in Peterborough and the surrounding area with how it influenced her to become a country music singer.

The music star has lived in Keene, River Road South just outside of Peterborough and spent a lot of time with her grandmother who lived in the countryside.

“When I talk about Peterborough, a lot of my music reflects that,” said Saunders. “‘Free’ was inspired by my youth, being free of responsibility. It’s nice to come home to Peterborough.”

When asked about her end goal with country music, she wants to go as far as she can with her career.

“I imagine myself as an international artist,” said Saunders. “It’s about finding the right team doing whatever we can together. It’s an amazing gift to be able to have and sharing my music is always exciting to see.”

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