SLACK ROCKER CJ WILEY’S DEBUT LP, SO BRAND NEW, OUT FEBRUARY 28, 2025 VIA TINY KINGDOM MUSIC
LISTEN / SHARE “DON’T DIE CHARLIE” HERE
BUY / STREAM “DON’T DIE CHARLIE” HERE
PRE-SAVE SO BRAND NEW HERE
PRE-ORDER SO BRAND NEW VINYL HERE
“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!, Most Anticipated Albums of 2025
Photo Credit : Stella Gigliotti // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Today, CJ Wiley is sharing another new single from their upcoming debut LP, So Brand New, set for release February 28, 2025 via Tiny Kingdom. “Don’t Die Charlie” arrives on the heels of recent singles “Cheap Therapy”, “No One Like U”, and “Adelaide”, and “is about my decade-long battle with addiction and the grief I still carry for the friends I lost along the way,” shares CJ. “It holds vivid memories, taking me back to high school when everything felt so chaotic, though I didn’t fully realize how dark things really were at the time. There’s a sense of guilt that comes with surviving, knowing how easily it could’ve been me who didn’t make it out. Writing this song helped me make sense of it all. It’s for anyone who’s lost someone and still feels their presence.”
LISTEN / SHARE “DON’T DIE CHARLIE” HERE
BUY / STREAM “DON’T DIE CHARLIE” 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.
WATCH / SHARE “ADELAIDE” HERE
BUY / STREAM “ADELAIDE” HERE
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.
“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
BUY / STREAM “NO ONE LIKE U” 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
BUY / STREAM “CHEAP THERAPY” 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.
PRE-SAVE SO BRAND NEW HERE
PRE-ORDER SO BRAND NEW VINYL HERE
CJ WILEY LIVE
January 31 - Toronto, ON - The Cameron House | Unplugged North
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
