Folk, singer-songwriter
Waterloo/Newmarket/etc, Ontario, Canada
sounds
basics
Artist/Band Name: Jordan Kalist
Location: Waterloo/Newmarket/etc, Ontario, Canada
Genre: Folk, singer-songwriter
Label: NA
Label Type: NA
blurbs
Bulletin/Greeting: Hey, welcome to my Demo Pages… page. Stick around for a while, hope you enjoy!
DemoPages Session Experience: The vibe was very chill and laid back, very coffeehouse-esq. I think it suited my songs and style very well, and Todd was very welcoming. I’m really excited to have a webpage like this with my information and interview and some of my songs to point to, so shout out to Todd for the fun idea!
DemoPages Session: #009
DemoPages Session Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2026
about me
Band Members:
Jordan Kalist - everything (for now…)
Influences: Adrianne Lenker/Big Thief, Phoebe Bridgers, The Microphones, Sufjan Stevens, Neutral Milk Hotel, Waxahatchee, Indigo De Souza, Elliot Smith, Iron and Wine, Snail Mail, Hozier, Car Seat Headrest, Andy Shauf, Sharon Van Etten, Patti Smith, Tracy Chapman, etc. That’s already so many, and those are only my musical influences… (and I’m probably missing some)
I’ve written a couple of songs that were inspired by movies I’ve seen, most notably David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive”, and Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow.” I really love films that use that surrealist dream-like style to convey things we maybe can’t through straightforward words and imagery, and I find myself really inspired by that.
I also really enjoy walking around in nature and contemplating life, while listening to a lot of these artists. I feel like I get a lot of inspiration from that, and hope that I (and maybe others) can do the same with my music.
Sounds Like: I feel like people have compared my voice to every decently well-known Canadian female singer-songwriter you can think of (Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLaughlan, Serena Ryder, etc). I think I really really caught the songwriting bug when I was living in an older suburb of Calgary in the summer of 2024, and I would go for walks around there listening to a lot of the artists I mentioned above. To me I think my music feels like walking around that neighbourhood as the sun’s setting. It’s like if you threw all of my influences in a melting pot, with some artists poking out more than others on certain songs, and a touch of my own experience in there.
Listens to: Billy Joel, Beastie Boys, Altin Gün, Arlo Parks, Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, Magdalena Bay, Interpol, Hole, Joy Division, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Xiu Xiu, Model/Actriz, kd lang, Kate Bush, Fiona Apple, System of a Down, Charli xcx, Olivia Rodrigo, Violent Femmes, Ween, LCD Soundsystem, Slowdive, Swans, Rush, black midi, Black Country New Road… Really hard to narrow it down to a (semi) short list but these are some of the big ones right now. I’m always trying to discover new stuff but I also find myself coming back to certain artists/songs/albums time and again.
I’m also a big radio enjoyer, always have been (shoutout Radio Waterloo). I also listen to a lot of CBC Music, particularly at night, I’ve gotten quite a bit of my music taste from them.
Bio: Jordan Kalist is a singer-songwriter with roots everywhere from Waterloo to Newmarket to Calgary to Saskatoon. Since first picking up (or re-picking up) the guitar in 2020, she has begun crafting songs based on personal experiences and the world around her. Her debut album “Prairie Stairs” was self-released in 2024, followed by the most recent release “Boxing Day (EP)” in 2026. Jordan hopes people can connect and find some comfort in her music, the way her influences have done for her.
extras
Discography:
Boxing Day - 2026, EP
“Boxing Day” - 2026, single
Prairie Stairs - 2024, sparsely recorded and self released :)
Awards:
Honorary participant in life award :) - 2026
Highlights:
Released my debut album Prairie Stairs! - Jul. 2024
First ever solo gig at Midnight Run! - Dec. 2024
Graduated university :) - Oct. 2025
Released my EP Boxing Day! - Apr. 2026
Played a show at the Gravity Cafe Calgary (first inter-provincial show!) - Apr. 2026
Pinch Cabaret - Apr. 2026
Blueberry Sun Music Festival - Uptown Waterloo - Jul. 2026
Emmanuel Church Gig (coming up 👀) - Sep. 2026
Via Rail Artists on Board participant (coming up 👀) - Nov. 2026
images
Photos by Todd
