Kelsi Mayne talks new music, vulnerability & life beyond country music

We sit down with country singer-songwriter Kelsi Mayne to talk about her latest singles “Someone Who Knows” and “For The Record,” and the winding road that’s shaped her career.

Kelsi opens up about growing up in Windsor, Ontario, balancing music with life as a nationally ranked track athlete and registered nurse, and how playing bar gigs helped spark the realization that music was more than just a side passion. She reflects on releasing her debut album As I Go at the onset of the pandemic, the viral success of its Mad Max–inspired video, and why working closely with her brother has become such a big part of her creative process.

We dive deep into the emotional core of “Someone Who Knows,” written in the aftermath of a cancelled wedding and recorded almost immediately, and how embracing vulnerability has led to her most honest music yet. Kelsi also talks about her high-energy live shows, her infamous “shots and squats” pre-show ritual, performing marathon sets at the Calgary Stampede, and what fans can expect as she looks ahead to 2026.

Jonathan’s Drinking: Penelope Rio