Katie Dauson releases eighth studio album ‘Change’

Toronto-born singer-songwriter Katie Dauson has always existed between different worlds as a self-taught artist with an adventurous heart and a naturally curious mind. Blending rock n’ roll, rockabilly, surf rock, folk, country and bluegrass, Katie creates songs that feel like scenes from a colourful cinematic universe where different eras collide and familiar influences are reshaped through her own storytelling and performance style.

Her route to music was far from predictable; before stepping fully into the world of songwriting and performing, she explored the worlds of physics and astronomy before moving into creative advertising and video game design. Although she found success in those areas, something continued to pull her towards music and the stage. The turning point came at a small open mic night, where she performed an original song titled “Virtual Sky.” That single moment became the spark that changed her direction and set her on a new creative path.

Since then, she’s flourished as one of Canada’s most exciting independent artists, earning a reputation for ambitious songwriting and a genuine love of performance. Based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, she’s become a familiar presence within Toronto’s music scene, performing at various venues while building a career focused on growth, creativity and artistic exploration. After a prolific 2025 that saw the release of multiple singles and two full-length records, Katie entered 2026 with fresh momentum and new material that captures her creative vision in full.

Her eighth studio album titled Change explores transformation, self-reflection, love and the uncertainty that comes with moving through different stages of life. Produced and engineered once again by longtime collaborator James Nickle, Change showcases her ability to move naturally between genres while maintaining a clear artistic thread while blending pop, rockabilly, classic rock n’ roll, folk influences and heartfelt balladry.

“This whole album is about change, and being able to accept and deal with the consequences of all the changes around us,” she shares. The album’s opening track and title song, “Change,” reflects that idea directly and while originally imagined as an acoustic folk piece, the track developed throughout Katie’s creative process into a pop and synth-inspired anthem. Its transformation mirrors the very subject it explores, becoming both an introduction to the album and a compelling statement of artistic intent.

Throughout Change, Katie’s love for classic sounds and timeless songwriting traditions shines through, with “You Say You Want Me” bringing modern rockabilly energy inspired by Blondie’s Parallel Lines, while “Life in a Day Dream” channels the warmth of 1960s rock and roll with influences from The Lovin’ Spoonful and Hall & Oates, including inspiration from “You Make My Dreams Come True.”

Her fascination with classic instrumentation takes centre stage on “Saxophone Fever Blues,” a tribute to the power and character of saxophone-driven rock n’ roll inspired by Fats Domino and his legendary performances. “We Could Go Dancing” captures a more reflective side of the artist, with the song arising from a late-night period of insomnia and shaped by the influence of Bob Seger’s Against the Wind. The album continues to move between moods and styles with “Sing the Blues Away” offering an uplifting, communal energy inspired by The Marshall Tucker Band, while “Ballad of Medusa and Olivar” revisits a profoundly personal story through the songwriting traditions of Bob Dylan and Electric Light Orchestra, exploring themes of love and redemption.

Katie also embraces pure joy on “I’m Feelin’ Groovy,” a celebration of music and the spirit of 1960s rock and roll, before “Lay Me Down” presents an intimate acoustic love ballad born from emotional vulnerability with the influence of classic Beatles songwriting. Closing the album, “Mamma Bear Shuffle” brings a playful final burst of energy on a track inspired by Blonde on Blonde and the unpredictable spirit of Dylan’s songwriting, concluding Change with a sense of movement and personality.

Listen to Change below