SLACK ROCKER CJ WILEY’S DEBUT LP, SO BRAND NEW, OUT NOW
VIA TINY KINGDOM MUSIC
WATCH / SHARE “SO BRAND NEW” HERE
BUY / STREAM SO BRAND NEW HERE
BUY SO BRAND NEW VINYL HERE
TOUR DATES BEGIN APRIL 4
“CJ Wiley keeps things simple in order to get complex. Warm guitars, steady drums and lively bass — sometimes that's all you need to start a fire. Wiley's Boy Golden-produced debut lights all kinds of fires, an ever-shifting document of change and renewal” Exclaim!
Photo Credit : Stella Gigliotti // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Next week, CJ Wiley will take their newly released debut LP, So Brand New, out on tour for a run of dates in Canada and the U.K. Full dates can be found below. Today, they’re sharing the new video for the album’s title track, a song which “captures the seductive essence of finding parts of ourselves in others, seeing life from new perspectives, and the irresistible urge to burn it down and start again,” says Wiley.
Directed by Lea Rose Sebastianis and edited by Nate Wilson, the music video “taps into that universal feeling of falling in love — becoming obsessed to the point of wanting to live inside someone’s skin,” says Wiley. “But the desire for something new is never-ending. For better or worse, it’s a raw and emotional rollercoaster many of us have experienced, including the darkness of being left behind. She only wants it if it’s so brand new.”
WATCH / SHARE “SO BRAND NEW” HERE
MORE ABOUT SO BRAND NEW
A groundswell of gripping slacker rock, non-binary singer-songwriter CJ Wiley doesn’t waste any time. Twirling guitars, a steady drum beat, crunchy bass; ballads twanged slightly country, anthems skewed slightly grunge; a message of love and anger, healing and rancour; all of which are found on their debut LP, So Brand New.
Produced by Boy Golden, So Brand New is a journey through the ever-shifting landscapes of identity and self-acceptance. This album explores embracing change and finding comfort in the continuous evolution of who we are. It delves into themes of grief, nostalgia, queer love, struggles with drug addiction, and the rejection of gender performance, while also addressing the absurdity of how expensive it is just to be alive these days. At its core, the album reflects the idea that no one is ever just one thing; we are all fluid, constantly adapting through the various stages of our lives.
So Brand New is a journey through the ever-shifting landscapes of identity and self-acceptance, embracing change and finding comfort in the continuous evolution of who we are. The album reflects on the feeling of having lived multiple lives within a single lifetime and confronts the irresistible urge to reinvent and start again. It delves into themes of grief, nostalgia, queer love, struggles with drug addiction, and the rejection of gender performance, while also addressing the absurdity of how expensive it is just to be alive these days. At its core, it captures the idea that no one is ever just one thing; we are all fluid, constantly adapting through the various stages of our lives.
LISTEN / SHARE “DON’T DIE CHARLIE” HERE
WATCH / SHARE “GET PAID” HERE
“Growing Out My Hair" marks "a pivotal moment in embracing my non-binary identity and breaking away from societal expectations of androgyny," says Wiley. "In "People Please," I challenge the music industry’s ideals of who I should be and what will make me successful, reflecting on my attempts to fit that mold before realizing I’d rather create art that truly represents me. Meanwhile, "Adelaide" is a heartfelt tribute to chosen family and the conscious choice to love and grow together instead of growing apart. The title track, "So Brand New," captures the seductive essence of finding ourselves within others, discovering parts of our identity through alluring new perspectives.”
WATCH / SHARE “NO ONE LIKE U” (OFFICIAL VIDEO) HERE
WATCH / SHARE “ADELAIDE” HERE
So Brand New blends deeply emotional and uplifting tracks with a slacker rock vibe, seamlessly marrying introspective singer-songwriter elements with a polished, radio-friendly sound. Featuring ballads with a hint of country twang and anthems that skew slightly grunge, it creates a unique experience characterized by rich, textured arrangements and candid lyricism. This collection serves as a musical reflection on identity and the courage it takes to let go of who others think we should be, embracing the full range of who we’re becoming. The result is a set of songs that feel both intimately personal and universally relatable, celebrating the transformative journey of self-discovery and the acceptance of our ever-changing selves.
WATCH / SHARE “CHEAP THERAPY” (OFFICIAL VIDEO) HERE
MORE ABOUT CJ WILEY
Performing alongside artists like Tokyo Police Club, Shannon and the Clams, or Haley Blais, and already a mainstay in the city’s queer music scene as the host of the Big Gay Night concert series, Wiley introduces themselves in songs as categorical and entrancing as the sold-out shows they organize. Aflame in a stirring spectrum of soulful Sheryl Crow Americana and the electric grumblings of Garbage or Hole, sometimes in the space of a single song, Wiley’s distinct voice carries their project with the wit, candour, and excitement of an artist with a striking perspective and a heart that demands to be heard.
BUY / STREAM SO BRAND NEW HERE
BUY SO BRAND NEW VINYL HERE
PERFORMANCE DATES
Apr 4 - Sonic Music Hall, Guelph ON
Apr 12 - Mills Hardware, Hamilton ON
May 5-8 - Focus Wales, Wrexham UK
May 12 - London UK
May 14-17 - The Great Escape, Brighton UK
May 29 - The Drake, Toronto ON
May 31 - Spring Reverb, Kingston ON
Jun 1 - La Sotterenea, Montreal QC
SO BRAND NEW TRACKLIST
01 No One Like U
02 Get Paid
03 People Please
04 Adelaide
05 Growing Out My Hair
06 Don’t Die Charlie
07 Cheap Therapy
08 So Brand New