Mia Kelly practices joy

It’s not often you catch a touring artist during a “luxury” six-day break at home, but I managed to sit down with Gatineau’s own Mia Kelly just as she prepares for a stint at the NAC. Mia has been making waves in the folk music scene since her teens, and we trace her trajectory from self-managed indie artist to a CFMA-nominated powerhouse with a professional team behind her.

We dig deep into her creative process and the release of her upcoming album, including the “song taming” required to bring her folk-rock collaborations to life. Mia opens up about the nomadic lifestyle, living out of a Sprinter van, and the grounding influence of her tour mate Kim Churchill. Whether she’s discussing the specific magic of river surfing or the logistics of selling hot sauce as tour merch, Mia’s focus on intentional joy and authentic songwriting shines through. It’s an inside look at one of Canada’s most exciting emerging artists.