epk
Critically acclaimed folk singer-songwriter, Joey O'Neil, is bewitching audiences across Canada with hauntingly heartfelt anecdotes from a queer, woodland life. Her album, Phantom Vibes (2023), weaves poignant storytelling with nostalgic folk-jazz instrumentation and has been dubbed "gentle and intimate" (Exclaim!).
Bio (40 words)
Critically acclaimed Yukon folk singer-songwriter, Joey O'Neil, is bewitching audiences across Canada with hauntingly heartfelt anecdotes from a queer, woodland life. Her third album, Phantom Vibes (2023), weaves poignantly personal storytelling with her signature fingerpicked guitar, the ethereal howls of her theremin, and a mélange of nostalgic folk-jazz instrumentation. In this collection of figurative ghost stories, O'Neil explores presence in familiar forms, all the while wielding bittersweet wordplay and vulnerable vocals. Sure to make you laugh and cry simultaneously, her performance has been described as “gentle and intimate” by Exclaim! and “absolutely touching, even a little heartbreaking” by NEXT Magazine.
Bio (100 words)
Critically acclaimed Yukon folk singer-songwriter, Joey O'Neil, is bewitching audiences across Canada with hauntingly heartfelt anecdotes from a queer, woodland life. Sure to make you laugh and cry simultaneously, her performance has been described as “gentle and intimate” by Exclaim! and “absolutely touching, even a little heartbreaking” by NEXT Magazine. Her third album, Phantom Vibes (2023), weaves poignantly personal storytelling with her signature fingerpicked guitar, her theremin's ethereal howls, and a mélange of folk-jazz instrumentation including the enchanting trills of a vibraphone, the arresting breath of a flute, a trumpet's calming croon, an organ's divine warmth, and a sentimental pedal steel voiced by producer Aaron Goldstein (Le Ren, Julianna Riolino). "In this collection of figurative ghost stories," O'Neil recounts, "I wanted to marry the modern world with the spirit realm, exploring presence in familiar forms. Intangible tales of missed calls and 'ghosting' are made timeless by our nostalgic arrangements." Going deeper, she touches on lyrical themes of maternal love, memory triggers, and mannerism mimicry, all the while wielding bittersweet wordplay and vulnerable vocals. Her clever sincerity has earned her regular spins on the CBC, as well as a place on !earshot's National Folk / Roots / Blues chart. More than ever, Joey O'Neil has cordially invited us into her personal reflection as she hosts this soul-stirring séance… and we’re so pleased to accept. When taking a break from chopping wood or hauling water around her off-grid Klondike cabin, O'Neil has achieved long-haul status over countless cross-country tours in her vintage camper while warming stages for Basia Bulat, Jennifer Castle, and Julie Doiron. She's been steadily collecting festival experience at Folk on the Rocks, Dawson City Music Festival, BreakOut West, Wintersong, Canadian Music Week, and NXNE. After the release of her canine-centric album, Ever Ahead (2020), O'Neil and her road-dog, Oblio, embarked on a Dog Park Tour of Canada, performing at 13 parks across five provinces.
Bio (315 words)
Discography
“Such a great storyteller.”
— Odario Williams, CBC Music (Canada)
“…absolutely touching, even a little heartbreaking.”
— Michael Hollett, NEXT (Canada)
“O’Neil delivers something disarmingly organic here and it’s a refreshing surprise.”
— Country Queer (USA)
“Joey O’Neil delivers an intimate record of personal stories, enhanced by its use of the all-too-underused theremin.”
— Ottawa Life Magazine (Canada)
“The album is rife with playful poetry and sees O'Neil casually bounce between tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a true sense of heartbreak.”
— CBC Arts (Canada)
“She taints the still water that is new country music with a signature blend of songwriting that echoes the very foundation old-school country was built on.”
— Canadian Beats (Canada)
“…her music has been one of my favourite new finds of the year.”
— One Chord To Another (Finland)
“So much can be said in such a small amount of lyrics and Joey O’Neil has achieved exactly that.”
— Cups n Cakes (Canada)
“An excellent singer-songwriter with a voice as haunting as a Klondike winter.”
— Grant Lawrence, CBC Music (Canada)
High-Resolution Photos
Performance Videos
Music Videos
Exclaim! Artists You Should Hear (Canada)
CBC Arts Your Best Bets for Events (Canada)
NEXT BreakOut West Highlights (Canada)
The Owl Mag Tracks of the Week (USA)
Country Queer Roundup (USA)
One Chord To Another International Music (Finland)
One Chord To Another Favourite Albums of the Year (Finland)
Ottawa Life Magazine Album Reviews (Canada)
Cups N Cakes Quick Picks (Canada)
The Tinnitist Songs That Will Take Over Your Life (Canada)
The Tinnitist Songs That Will Bring You Back (Canada)
The Tinnitist Indie Roundup + Indie Roundup (Canada)
Lists
Exclaim! The Eh! List (Canada)
Exclaim! Exclaim!’s New Faves (Canada)
CBC Music Songs You Need To Hear (Canada)
DittyTV Artists You Need To Know (USA)
Songpickr Women of Americana (Germany)
Country Queer Rainbow Opry (USA)
One Chord To Another New Music Weekly (Finland)
Dominionated Torch & Twang (Canada)
The Q Review New Queer Friday (Canada)
Women In Music Canada Featured Playlist (Canada)
Blundstone Canada Blundstone Playlist (Canada)
Playlists
Contact East (2024)
Wintersong (2024)
NXNE (2023, 2013)
Canadian Music Week (2023)
BreakOut West (2022, 2021)
Folk Music Ontario (2021)
Folk On The Rocks (2021)
Dawson City Music Festival (2021, 2019, 2016)
Winterfolk Festival (2023, 2022, 2011)
Calgary Pride Festival (2020)
Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous (2020)
Keno City Music Festival (2019, 2018, 2017)
Available Light Film Festival (2021, 2019)
(S)hiver Winter Arts Festival (2018)
Riverside Arts Festival (2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016)
Showcases + Festivals
Opening For
Press Highlights: Phantom Vibes (2023)
Press Highlights: Ever Ahead (2020 — 2022)
Booking + General Inquiries
Joey O’Neil
1(867)334-1684
sarahjo.oneil@gmail.com
Contact
Publicity
Jen Cymek
Listen Harder PR
jen@listenharder.com