Five Minutes With: Calgary-based Country Artist Brayden King

Introducing Brayden King, the 6’9″ dynamo with an unmistakable stage presence that’s capturing attention throughout North America. Originally from Weyburn, SK, and now proudly representing Alberta, Brayden skyrocketed to fame after securing the coveted “Golden Ticket” on Season 21 of American Idol. In 2023, he unleashed three singles that not only made waves but also cracked the Top 100 on Canadian Country Radio. Luke Bryan himself hailed King as “The Perfect mix between Ed Sheeran and Stapleton.”

But Brayden King isn’t just another face in the country music scene; he stands as a powerhouse at the crossroads of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Country, embracing the edgier side of the genre. His true arena is the stage, where he’s an unstoppable force, delivering over 100 shows annually. His performances are a high-voltage, in-your-face party, creating an unforgettable experience synonymous with “energy.” Whether gracing renowned festivals like Boots & Hearts and Country Thunder or igniting dive bars and Honky Tonks, King brings the same electrifying show to every stage.

In just two swift years, Brayden King has rightfully earned the title of the literal LARGEST Rising Star in Canadian Country.

Brayden King

Name:

Brayden King

Genre:

Rockin’ Country

Founded:

2021

Latest Single:

Tequila & Me

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Nickelback. As soon as I started playing guitar, I pretty much played Nickelback songs exclusively for 2 years straight.

Favourite musician now:

I love Lakeview, Whiskey Myers, The Cadillac Three, Hardy, at the moment. They’re all doing the Rock-Country thing in their own way, and it’s just awesome.

Guilty pleasure song:

Pretty much anything by Eminem from 1999-2013. I went through a huge Eminem phase in my early teens, and I still play it regularly. I don’t feel guilty about it at all haha.

Live show ritual:

I crank AC/DC to 11 to get in the right mindset, jump around a ton to get the lungs going, warm up my voice a bit so I don’t lose it, and have a couple beers.

Favourite local musician:

Kyle McKearney is killing it right now. I have his latest record on Vinyl and it’s on repeat.

EP or LP?

LP for sure.

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl. It’s pretty much a requirement when you’re a touring musician lol.

Road or studio?

Definitely the road. I love recording, but I can’t live without playing shows. Playing to a great crowd is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

Any shows or albums coming up?

We’ve got a pretty big tour across Canada in the next couple months! We’re hitting 5 provinces, including a bunch of cities we’ve never played. Very excited for it.

Where can we follow you?

Website | SpotifyApple MusicYouTubeFacebookInstagramTikTok

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Diner Deluxe in Calgary. I go there for Brunch any chance I get.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

I’ll use my hometown, Weyburn for this one. There’s a road by my old high school, I think it’s called Sask Drive. It’s just a long road closed in my a bunch of trees. We spent many nights just driving up and down that road.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Hometown again. Jubilee Park is my favourite. I pretty much grew up there. Playing soccer, and football. Eventually, I opened for Tenille Arts and the Hunter Brothers in the same park.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

I lived in Edmonton for a few years, and I’ve spent so much time in Calgary recently too, so I’m stuck between Cook County and Ranchman’s.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

I recently moved to Ponoka, and there’s a shop in Red Deer called Gilmore Guitars. A guy named David Gilmore handcrafts all the guitars, and I just got my first one from him. It’s the best guitar I’ve ever played. I always stop there anytime I’m in Red Deer.

 

About Emilea Semancik 85 Articles
Emilea Semancik was born in North Vancouver. Emilea has always always wanted to work as a freelance writer and currently writes for the Vancouver Guardian. Taking influence from journalism culture surrounding the great and late Anthony Bourdain, she is a recipe author working towards publishing her own series of books. You can find her food blog on Instagram: