In the middle of the dimly lit café, surrounded by fans of
Toronto’s young Indy scene sits Ken Yates, acoustic guitar comfortably in hand as he banters with friends,
fans and soon-to-be admirers of his music.
Born and Raised in London, Ontario, Yates holds true to his roots as a Canadian singer/songwriter by
following the influence of such folk stars as Neil Young. Self described first and foremost as a guitar
player, Yates reaches out to his fans by crafting rhythmic guitar arrangements blended seamlessly with
melodies that transport his listeners into the world of his lyrics.
His unique sound has been compared to Sufjan Stevens, James Taylor and John Mayer – and rightfully so.
Appropriate for an evening in a cottage backyard, on a roadtrip driving past the Rockies or, as it is now,
shared among a group of friends, Yates’ melodies are subtly enchanting; a pleasure to listen to and reflect
on later.
The talented young songwriter’s lyrics are thought-provoking, a triumph to the artist who at first struggled
with writing his own songs. Witty plays on words, ballads that craftily sidestep the clichéd in order
to be truly romantic; Yates has mastered the art of writing intelligent lyrics for an appreciative
audience.
“It was the most rewarding thing in the world,” Yates laughs. “It was so hard to write something I actually
liked. And then you have that break through and you have something that you’re really proud of that other
people enjoy…”
Today Yates is completing his final year at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. In Boston as
in London, and now Toronto, where he spent the summer playing and working for the Indy label Six Shooter
Records, Yates is rapidly establishing himself as a premier folk singer/songwriter, and gathering a
rapidly-growing fanbase.
His advice to new artists is simple: up and coming artists should try their hand at as many open mic venues
as possible. Here, new listeners give honest feedback, new fans are found, and it provides an invaluable
opportunity to test your sound against a live audience.
His most memorable experience as a musicial was at one such venue, the “Best of Open Mic” at the Free Times
Café.
“It was my first time testing my songs outside of school; the first time to test my songs against a regular
audience. Everybody was dead quiet and [afterwards] gave great feedback,” he shares.
Yates intends to pursue a career in singing and songwriting, and hopes to perform again in Toronto soon.
Check our website for his upcoming performances and releases.
Ken Yates’ music is available for free listening at www.myspace.com/kenyatesmusic. For more information, or to contact
the artist directly, please email kenyates15@hotmail.com•
