Country Artist & Songwriter
Pronounced Mah-Rye-Ah
"I first heard Mariya in a country bar in Calgary, Alberta. She captivated the room with just an acoustic guitar and her voice and "Hands On My Body" sounded like a hit, even in that simple setting.”
Carly Klassen
Executive Director, Alberta Music
ABOUT MARIYA
From hosting the Country Music Alberta Award Show in 2021 alongside the legendary George Canyon to playing guitar and opening for Ru-Pauls Drag Race superstar Trixie Mattel, Mariya Stokes always appears where you'd least expect her.
Known for her quick wit, quirky sense of humour, and signature retro style, Country Music Alberta's two-time Horizon Female Artist of the Year (2019 & 2020) is currently recording her debut album with Juno Award-winning producers and frequent collaborators Spencer Cheyne and Justin Kudding.
Growing up in Stavely, Alberta, an hour south of Calgary, Stokes spent time in her parents' small-town bar, and at eight years old, was sneaking in on Friday afternoons to sing with the local jam band. Now a seasoned performer, she has opened for Doc Walker, Jade Eagleson, and Jann Arden and was one of three artists selected to work with 19-time CCMA winner Terri Clark at National Music Centre's RBC Master in Residence program in 2019. In addition, Stokes' was the 2019 runner-up in Project WILD, a country-focused artist development program run by WILD 95.3 FM (Calgary) and Alberta Music.
Her small-town, community-minded values have followed her to the big city: Stokes was a 2020 Artist in Residence at the Women's Centre of Calgary. A past volunteer at the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre, she worked on two charity records and independently organized numerous coat drives for the organization. In addition, she is a member of the 2022 CCMA Host Committee, taking part in planning the Canadian Country Music Association's upcoming awards week in Calgary in September.
Focusing heavily on songwriting, Stokes has had songs recorded by artists in multiple genres, including CCMA nominees Leaving Thomas, alt-pop singer Celia Palli, country-rocker Devin Cooper, and pop singer Hayden McHugh.
With confident, expressive vocals and gritty steel guitar, Stokes' current single, "Break My Heart," is a laid-back, pop-country feminist anthem and was nominated for "Horizon Single of the Year" at the 2021 Country Music Alberta (CMAB) Awards. Dripping with attitude, "Break My Heart" solidifies her commitment to empowering women and telling their stories.
A three-time CMAB "Songwriter of the Year" nominee, Stokes' 2019 feel-good debut,"Hands on My Body," pushed country music boundaries with an R&B feel and sex-positive lyrics. Her second single, "Christmas, Arizona," landed in the Top 100 on the BDS Canadian Holiday Chart and was followed by a vulnerable, heart-wrenching ballad: "Rebound." Released in October 2020, “Rebound” was featured across Canada as the "Next Big Thing" on the Casey Clarke Country Countdown and has over 200,000 streams on Spotify.
"I'm a songwriter first. My songs are rooted in country storytelling, but I'm not afraid to bend outside the genre if it feels right. My sound changes drastically with each release because I'm constantly evolving, and I like to surprise my fans and keep them excited for what could be coming next. We're hitting the road again in 2022 - I can't wait to see everyone and share my upcoming record with you." - Mariya Stokes
TOTAL STREAMS - 530,000 +
SINGLE
MUSIC VIDEOS
MUSIC
TOTAL STREAMS - 530,000 +
RADIO
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#1 Most Active Indie at Canadian Radio (Yangaroo/DMDS) in August 2019
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Added to Stingray’s Pop Adult Streaming Channel
DIGITAL
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Added to 2,400 + independent playlists on Spotify
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Over 190,000 streams across platforms
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Spotify Editorial Playlists: "New Music Nashville" and "Down Home Country"
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#8 on iTunes Canadian Country Chart (TopCountry.ca)
PRESS
VIDEO
MUSIC VIDEOS
LIVE VIDEO
MUSIC
TOTAL STREAMS - 530,000 +
RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS
RADIO
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#2 Most Downloaded Country Single at Canadian Radio (DMDS/Yangaroo) - April 2021
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#9 Most Active Indie at Canadian Radio (DMDS/Yangaroo) - April 2021
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Added to CBC Country and SiriusXM Country
DIGITAL
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60,000 + streams across platforms
-
Added to 300 + independent Spotify playlists
Spotify Editorial Playlists
- Live Country
- Fresh Finds Country
- RADAR Canada
- Women of Country
Amazon Music Editorial Playlists
- Breakthrough Country: Cover Feature
- Fresh Country
- Brand New Music
PRESS
“The new single from Canadian country-soul queen Mariya Stokes, might just set your speakers on fire." - Country Queer
RADIO
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#9 Most Active Indie at Canadian Radio (DMDS/Yangaroo) in October 2020
-
Featured as "The Next Big Thing" on the Casey Clarke Country Countdown (October 2020)
DIGITAL
-
240,000 + streams across platforms
-
Added to 900 + independent Spotify playlists
Spotify Editorial Playlists
- Live Country
- Take it Slow
Amazon Music Editorial Playlists
- Breakthrough Country
- Certified Country
Apple Music Editorial Playlists:
- New in Country
PRESS
"Touches the listener from the very first strum of the guitar quickly followed by captivating them with the very first lyric."
- Canadian Beats
"There are some songs that are more than just songs…they’re art. And that’s the case with rising artist Mariya Stokes’ newest release." - Raised On It
RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS
RADIO
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Reached #63 on Canadian Holiday Chart (DMDS/Yangaroo) - 2019
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Added to CBC Country and SiriusXM Country
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#5 Most Active Indie at Canadian Radio the week of release (Yangaroo/DMDS)
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Homegrown Country Music Alberta Spotlight song on CFCW - Edmonton (2020)
PRESS
"Canadian Beats All Nice List: Christmas Music"
- Canadian Beats
Global News Calgary
CTV Morning Live Regina
CTV Morning Live Saskatoon
RADIO
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#1 Most Active Indie at Canadian Radio (Yangaroo/DMDS) in August 2019
-
Added to Stingray’s Pop Adult Streaming Channel
DIGITAL
-
#8 on iTunes Canadian Country Chart (TopCountry.ca)
-
190,000 + streams across platforms
-
Added to 2,400 + independent Spotify playlist
Spotify Editorial Playlists
- New Music Nashville
-Down Home Country
PRESS
"Beautiful indie-pop record that bridges the worlds of pop/soul and country music." - Aipate
"Sugar-sweet temptation, wrapped in a little bit of slow funk." - ChillFILTR
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
*indicates sold out show
2022
*Blue Jay Sessions, The Prairie Emporium - Calgary, AB
*Ferrari of Alberta Showroom - Calgary, AB
Direct Support for Dan Davidson
*Banded Peak Brewing - Calgary, AB
2021 / 2020
*Canadian Finals Rodeo - Red Deer, AB
*CES Virtual Shows - London, UK
Commodore Grill - Nashville, USA
*Country Music Alberta Holiday Showcase - Lacombe, AB
Blue Jay Sessions: Cross Country - Hamilton, ON
*Nashville North, Calgary Stampede - Calgary, AB
Elk Valley Pride Festival - Fernie, BC
Direct Support for Lindsay Ell
QUSIC Concert Series - Kelowna, BC
*Prairie Grid Market After Dark - Saskatoon, SK
*Rise Up Concert Series - Calgary, AB
Direct Support for Jade Eagleson with Devin Cooper
*Southern Alberta Music Festival - Mossleigh, AB
Dog Rump Creek Music Festival - Stony Plain, AB
Direct Support for Doc Walker
2019/2018
*Hearth Restaurant - Saskatoon, SK
Grey Cup Festival - Calgary, AB
Direct Support for Jocelyn Alice
Country Thunder Alberta - Calgary, AB
The Palace Theatre - Calgary, AB
Direct Support for Trixie Mattel & Nice Horse
*National Music Centre - Calgary, AB
Terri Clark Master in Residence Songwriter Round
*Surf’s Up Cafe: Mi Futuro Fundraiser - Mazatlan, Mexico
Rogers Hometown Hockey - Lethbridge, AB
The Palace Theatre - Calgary, AB
Direct Support for Jann Arden
Calgary Stampede Coca-Cola Stage - Calgary, AB
*Kwanlin Dunn Cultural Centre - Whitehorse, YK
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2 x Winner - Horizon Female Artist of the Year (2019 & 2020)
1 x Nominee - Horizon Female Artist of the Year (2021)
1 x Nominee - Horizon Single of the Year (2021)
3 x Nominee - Songwriter of the Year (2019 - 2021)
1 x Nominee - Interactive Artist of the Year (2020)
1 x Nominee - Music Video of the Year (2019)
COUNTRY MUSIC ALBERTA
2nd Place (2019)
Top 12 (2018)
Presented by Alberta Music, WILD 95.3 (Calgary), and Jim Pattison Group
PROJECT WILD
COUNTRY ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
2022 / 2021
Country Music Alberta Award Show - Red Deer, AB (2022)
Performer
Breakout West: "Back To Live" Showcase - Calgary, AB (2021)
Performer
Canadian Country Music Week: Sakamoto Agency Showcase - Hamilton, ON (2021)
Performer
Country Music Alberta Award Show - Edmonton, AB (2021)
Co-hosted with George Canyon
2020 /2019
Country Music Alberta Award Show - Red Deer, AB (2020)
Performer
Country Music Alberta: Spotlight Series - Virtual (2020)
Performer
Breakout West: Featured Artist - Virtual (2020)
SOCAN Song Camp - Virtual (2020)
Alberta Music: Alberta Spotlight Series - Virtual (2020)
Performer
Breakout West: SOCAN Song House - Whitehorse, YK (2019)
Songwriting Masterclass with Grammy award winning songwriter and producer Stephen "Koz" Kozmeniuk
Alberta Music & Breakout West: Alberta Focus International Showcase - Calgary, AB (2019)
Performer
National Music Centre: RBC Master in Residence Program with Terri Clark - Calgary, AB (2019)
2018 / 2017
CMAB at CCMA Showcase - Hamilton, ON (2018)
Performer
2017 Canada's Music Incubator Artist Entrepreneur Program - Toronto, ON (2017)
Mariya Stokes and co-host George Canyon on set at the Country Music Alberta Award Show - February 2020
SOCAN Song House - October 2019
PRESS
“A masterclass in a restrained vocal performance, "Rebound" by Mariya Stokes has us feeling all the feels. All of them.”
"With a degree in life and music, Calgary country artist Mariya Stokes is in it for the slow burn."
“Break My Heart, the new single from Canadian country-soul queen Mariya Stokes, might just set your speakers on fire."
“After seeing Mariya Stokes’ “Hands On My Body” appear on the Top Country Sales Chart, I was immediately hooked. The song is catchy, fun and full of good vibes.”
PRESS PHOTOS
VOLUNTEER WORK
Canadian Country Music Week - Host Committee (2022)
Women’s Centre of Calgary - Artist in Residence (2020)
Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre (2015 - 2018)
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Collaborated on two records with clients of the DI: "Shelter From The Storm" and "Verses vs. Homelessness"
2019 - 2022 volunteer performances supported:
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Skipping Stone Foundation
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Nanton Community Food Bank
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Community Kitchen Calgary
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Melodic Caring Project
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Ovarian Cancer Canada
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Alzheimer Society of Canada
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Paul Brandt’s "Not In My City"
Live Band Karaoke in Support of the Women's Centre of Calgary
Recap Video
TESTIMONIALS
"Mariya Stokes is an excellent musician. She thinks creatively and uniquely as an artist; her work ethic is exemplary - she is prepared and dependable; she has a passion for performing and continually learning about music and I respect her extraordinary talents."
"She is an incredibly talented songwriter and has a very unique, quirky, and super catchy style. On top of all of this, she is also a fantastic singer. Mariya is also driven, an extremely hard worker, and has a great attitude."
“Mariya Stokes is not only an incredibly talented musician but also fantastic to work with. She is professional and willing to go above and beyond expectations.”
CONTACT
Management & Booking
Natasha Mandrusiak, Stampede Entertainment
Publicity & Media Inquiries
Jess Seguire, Alley Cat PR
Radio Promotion
Tera Lee Flaman, GPS Promotion
SOCIAL MEDIA
