Canadian folk-pop artist Shaina Hayes releases her new single "Timid" - out now on Bonsound Inbox Lorraine Long
Following the warm reception to recent single “Flourish”, Canadian singer-songwriter Shaina Hayes returns with her shimmering new offering “Timid”.
Blending breezy indie-pop textures with the melodic warmth and intimacy that have become signatures of Hayes’ songwriting, “Timid” is a sparkling ode to introverts and quiet thinkers; a song that celebrates the richness of the inner world while gently encouraging vulnerability and self-expression.
Driven by live instrumentation and an effortless sense of movement, the track introduces a slightly rougher-edged energy than some of Hayes’ previous work, while still retaining the softness and emotional clarity that defines her sound. Recorded live in Montréal alongside a band of acclaimed collaborators including Francis Ledoux (drums), Étienne Dupré (bass), David Marchand (electric guitar), and Lysandre Ménard (upright piano), “Timid” balances looseness and precision in equal measure.
Cascading layers of Hayes’ silky vocal harmonies glide over the track’s sunlit instrumentation, creating something that feels both intimate and expansive; indie-pop with dirt beneath its fingernails and warmth in its bones.
"Timid was a track that came about during a period when I was listening to a lot of Julia Jacklin and Billie Marten.” Hayes explains. “I was loving the way their sweet, folky vocals float above the instruments in their more indie-rock tunes, and I wanted to create something similar. With this in mind, I created a basic demo of Timid and left it with my super team, Francis Ledoux and David Marchand to work out the arrangement. As far as the writing of the song itself, I wanted to explore the idea that even at our most articulate, the way we express ourselves is just a tiny glimpse into what’s actually going on inside us - that we contain whole, unseen universes. Ultimately, Timid is a song about everything we feel but rarely manage to express.”
Best experienced with the windows rolled down and summer beginning to settle in, “Timid” captures a lightness that feels instinctive rather than forced. There’s a quiet confidence running beneath the song; one that encourages stepping outside yourself without abandoning the comfort of introspection entirely.
Originally from Shigawake, Quebec, Shaina Hayes has steadily become one of Canada’s most quietly captivating songwriting voices, blending folk-pop clarity with alt-country warmth and grounded emotional storytelling. Since the release of her debut album ‘to coax a waltz’ in 2022, Hayes has earned growing international acclaim for her intimate lyricism, understated delivery and graceful melodic instincts.
Her 2024 follow-up ‘Kindergarten Heart’ expanded her palette further, weaving together reflective folk-pop, playful country textures and more expansive arrangements, while still remaining rooted in emotional honesty and subtle detail.
Recent support has continued to grow across the UK and internationally, with praise from publications including Clash, Wonderland, RTÉ and Far Out Magazine, alongside airplay from BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music.
Alongside her life as a touring musician, Hayes continues to operate a vegetable farm in rural Quebec, a balance between stillness and motion that subtly informs the spaciousness and patience of her music. Influenced by artists such as Feist, Joni Mitchell, Regina Spektor and The Chicks, Hayes continues to create songs that feel timeless, grounded and quietly luminous.
With “Timid”, she leans further into joy, softness and emotional openness; proving once again that subtle songwriting can still leave a lasting mark.
DISCOVER SHAINA HAYES
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