After announcing her signing to Bonsound last month, folk-pop singer-songwriter Shaina Hayes now releases “New Favorite,” the first single from “Kindergarten Heart,” her sophomore album set for release on February 23, 2024. The album launch show is scheduled at Le Ministère in Montreal on April 4th, with additional concerts planned across Quebec in the spring.
Shaina Hayes also opens for Helena Deland on November 24 at La Tulipe.
In “New Favorite,” Hayes reminisces about the excitement of new love and tries to bring that feeling into the present. A simple yet persistent guitar melody drives the song. Its verses build momentum with the rhythm section, leading to a lush, vocal-heavy chorus, creating an immersive experience.
“New Favorite” is available on all music services, and the video can be watched and shared on YouTube.
With “Kindergarten Heart,” Hayes explores the theme of deliberate reminiscence, bringing forward memories to inform the present. As the album’s first single, “New Favorite” playfully introduces this concept.
“Kindergarten Heart,” her follow-up to “to coax a waltz,” released independently in 2022, marks her first collaboration with Bonsound. Hayes worked with Francis Ledoux and David Marchand of the band zouz, co-producing the record. The trio skillfully incorporated elements of nostalgia, wonder, and light-heartedness into the songs, creating a whimsical yet earnest sophomore album, also reflected in its design.
Watch the video, directed by Marc-André Dupaul below:
Post-pandemic, Hayes focused on rediscovering joy and playfulness. Initially, “Kindergarten Heart” was themed around rekindling childlike wonder. However, it evolved to encompass broader memories, not just of childhood. The album ultimately centres on retrospection to either inform the present or honour memories and the people connected to them.
Raised in Shigawake, Gaspésie, Québec, Hayes’ influences include singer-songwriters like Feist, Joni Mitchell, Regina Spektor, traditional country artists like Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, and modern country stars such as Shania Twain and The Chicks. After studying agricultural sciences at McGill University, Montreal, she returned to Shigawake to record and co-produce her self-released debut album, “to coax a waltz,” which came out in April 2022. Post-album release, she recorded new songs, performed across Quebec, and opened for bands like The War on Drugs and The Barr Brothers. While still involved in farming, Hayes is now fully devoted to her music career, anticipating the release of “Kindergarten Heart” in February 2024.
Check out the list below or click here for full details on Shaina Hayes’ upcoming shows.
Tour dates
16/03/2024 Gatineau, QC – La Basoche
22/03/2024 Maskinongé, QC – Magasin Général Lebrun
23/03/2024 Brossard, QC – Le Club Dix30
29/03/2024 Drummondville, QC – Espace Mandeville
30/03/2024 Québec City, QC – Théâtre Petit Champlain
04/04/2024 Montréal, QC – Le Ministère (album launch show)
19/04/2024 Lévis, QC – Vieux Bureau de Poste
20/04/2024 St-Hyacinthe, QC – Le Zaricot
03/05/2024 Ste-Geneviève, QC – Salle Pauline-Julien
04/05/2024 Longueuil, QC – Cabaret Jean-Louis Millette
16/05/2024 Trois-Rivières, QC – Salle Louis-Philippe Poisson
