“For The Record,” Festival Season & Building Independently | Kelsi Mayne
Kelsi Mayne joined Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza during CRS 2026 in Nashville to talk about “For The Record,” “Can’t Sleep,” recording in Nashville and building her career as an independent Canadian country artist.
Blending country with soul, rock and pop influences, Kelsi has developed a sound—and especially a live show—that isn't afraid to push beyond traditional genre lines.
Kelsi Mayne talks “For The Record,” “Can’t Sleep” and bringing her genre-bending Canadian country sound to Nashville.
Canada to Nashville
Being a Canadian country artist recording in Nashville gives Kelsi a unique perspective on the industry.
Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza sits down with Kelsi Mayne during CRS 2026 to talk songwriting, Nashville and building an independent career.
During her Heart of the Gulch interview, she discusses how her background has shaped her songwriting while Nashville has provided new opportunities to collaborate and develop her sound.
Rather than losing what makes her different, Kelsi is using those influences to her advantage.
“For The Record” & “Can’t Sleep”
The conversation dives into Kelsi's singles “For The Record” and “Can’t Sleep,” including the stories and songwriting behind the music.
Her approach pulls from several genres while keeping country storytelling at its foundation.
That same experimentation is helping shape the music she's creating for her next album.
Built for the Festival Stage
Kelsi's music really comes alive onstage.
She's performed at major events including Boots and Hearts and the Calgary Stampede, developing a reputation for high-energy performances that turn a set into an experience.
For Kelsi, connecting with the crowd isn't an afterthought. It's an essential part of being an artist.
Building the Next Chapter
Doing it independently means Kelsi has to think about much more than writing and recording songs.
She's continuing to build momentum between Canada and Nashville while preparing new music and looking toward another busy festival season.
From “For The Record” to some of Canada's biggest country music stages, Kelsi Mayne is building the next chapter her own way—and the new album could be her biggest statement yet.
Watch Kelsi Mayne on Heart of the Gulch
Watch the full Kelsi Mayne interview from CRS 2026 as she joins Tony Mendoza to discuss “For The Record,” “Can’t Sleep,” recording in Nashville, festival season, independent music and her next album.
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with country artists, songwriters and personalities from Nashville and beyond.
