Rising Calgary, Alberta folk-pop singer, songwriter and designer Justine Giles has released a new animated lyric video for her award-winning, Mark Troyer produced single – “Save Myself” (supported by Alberta Music and the Government of Alberta).
“Save Myself,” a statement of strength and emotion, chronicles Giles’s personal journey and mission as a singer and songwriter to develop her own sound.
Of the new lyric video, Giles states, “I typically start a song by writing the lyrics, and I've always listened intently to the lyrics in songs. So naturally, being able to showcase the words of ‘Save Myself’ in lyric video form made complete sense for me and it’s another way to bring the song to life and draw listeners in with a new visual/artistic component.”
“Save Myself” was recorded at Evergreen Sound in Calgary, AB and was produced and mastered by award-winning producer, mixer, engineer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Troyer (Brett Kissel, Shane Yellowbird, Drew Gregory, Gord Bamford). The single, a co-write by Giles and Calgary roots-rock troubadour Matt Blais (“Male Artist of the Year” at the 2018 Calgary Music Awards and Singer-Songwriter of the Year at the 2017 YYC Music Awards) features Giles on lead vocals and Mark Troyer on backing vocals, guitar, piano and programming.
Justine Giles (she is also a jewellery designer at her own J. Giles Styles) states, “There’s been extreme growth for me over the past few years. I’m trying to embrace vulnerability and honesty and I feel that ‘Save Myself’ captures my strength in a new way. Above all, I’ve learned how to trust myself and find my own voice.
“During one of the lockdowns, I called upon one of my best friends, singer-songwriter Matt Blais, and we did a few video calls to finish the song. At times it felt like pulling teeth, to revisit old pain and a traumatic time in my life, but it was ultimately extremely cathartic. My hope is that someone out there can relate the song’s message.”
When asked to describe her musical evolution to this point, Giles admits, “It’s been a wild ride.” In 2016, she released a self-produced single titled “Unspoken’ (#1 winner in northern Ontario and Top 25 nationally in the 2017 CBC Music Searchlight Awards) and in 2017, she participated in Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) program (which led her to record and release three singles). She was profiled on CTV’s Marilyn Denis Show in 2020, and soon after, she was named Calgary’s representative/finalist in the 2020 Jim Beam Virtual National Talent Search, staged in conjunction with Canadian Music Week.
Lately, Giles has a lot in the works. She has received airplay on CBC Radio’s Key of A (Alberta-wide) and interviewed on CBC Calgary Eyeopener, her music was featured on X92.9 Calgary’s Alternative’s “Xposure” and she has performed live in-studio at CJSW FM Calgary. Giles is booking summer performances, was accepted to perform at the annual 4th Street Lilac Festival in Calgary this June, is trying to foster the local songwriter community and is hoping to showcase at Breakout West. She recorded in-depth interviews recently on two podcasts (The Calgary Sessions and Rock Your Voice) and is entering the studio to finish the vocals on her next single.
Now based in Calgary, Alberta and born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, folk-pop singer, songwriter and designer Justine Giles has found her own voice.
Website: www.justinegiles.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/justinegilesmusic
Twitter: twitter.com/JustineGiles
Instagram: www.instagram.com/msjustinegiles