Ottawa-Based Soul Singer Sherri Harding to Release Her Highly Anticipated New Album, "Storyland"

Ottawa-Based Soul Singer Sherri Harding to Release Her Highly Anticipated New Album, "Storyland"
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​Canadian-based soul singer Sherri Harding will release her highly anticipated new album, Storyland, June 5th on the Instant Replay Music label, with distribution by Fontana North/Universal. Blending soul, blues, and R&B, the album delivers a powerful, grown-up collection of songs with a soul-tinged reflection on love, resilience, and the world around us.

Instant Replay Music will release “Money Man,” Sherri Harding’s first single off the album and its accompanying video, on March 12th to be followed by “Down In The Shoals” on April 30th.  To hear a sample of the music on Storyland
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While recorded in Ottawa, Storyland carries on Harding’s long-standing relationship with Muscle Shoals: legendary Muscle Shoals guitarist Kelvin Holly (Little Richard, The Amazing Rhythm Aces), who played on Sherri’s last album,  traveled north to perform on the sessions; the iconic Muscle Shoals Horns recorded their parts in Alabama; and Grammy-winning engineer Jimmy Nutt mixed the album at The NuttHouse in Muscle Shoals.

Storyland was produced and written by veteran songwriter and Cooper Brothers co-founder Richard Cooper, offering a unified, narrative-driven listening experience while keeping Harding’s commanding voice front and center. Her performances are powerful yet nuanced, shaped by decades of live work and real-world experience. The result is a record that bridges two musical worlds — blending Canadian storytelling with Southern soul tradition, anchored by Sherri’s soulful voice.

“Working on Storyland with Richard Cooper has been a thrill,” Harding says about the sessions. ”We found our musical groove together and I couldn’t be happier. So many talented musicians and technical folks from both sides of the 49th parallel have come together on this record. I am so proud of this beautiful thing we have created: Storyland. “

“As a singer, my job is to tell the truth emotionally, and Storyland gave me the space to do that. The songs are honest stories, sung from the heart. Every drive home in terrible weather at 3am after a not-so-great gig has been worth it to bring me to this time and place. I’ve definitely paid my dues, but I wouldn’t change a darn thing.”

Two tracks that especially stand out in remembrances for Harding are “Down In The Shoals” and “Through It All,” a duet she sings with fellow Canadian powerhouse singer Jeff Rogers. “The song, ‘Down In the Shoals’ is really the story of how we came to our Muscle Shoals connection; and having Kelvin Holly actually play guitar on it is just so special,” Harding says. “Plus, I am really happy with how the song, ‘Through It All,’ turned out. It’s about genuine, true and lasting love. And singing with my friend Jeff Rogers is always a treat.”
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Sherri Harding first drew national attention with her Muscle Shoals-recorded debut, A Million Pieces, which showcased her wide emotional range and established her as a Canadian soul artist with authentic Southern soul connections. With Storyland, she takes the next step — not chasing trends, but delivering music rooted in truth, craft, and soul. Often compared to Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi and Mavis Staples, Sherri Harding delivers music that is timeless, fearless, and deeply human. As one reviewer opined, “Sherri Harding’s voice is unforgettable! It is soulful, powerful and full of heart.”

Website:
sherriharding.com

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