Kat Harlton
Photos: Provided via artist/PR Team
Canadian country singer-songwriter Karli June recently released her compelling new single “Always Gonna Be” via The Orchard.
The breezy, melodic country track produced and co-written by Gavin Slate (The Reklaws, Tim Hicks, James Barker Band), is a country anthem about celebrating a love that’s as enduring as the timeless elements of cherished country living. With its catchy chorus and uplifting energy, “Always Gonna Be” pays tribute to the simplicity of shared moments and the steady strength of devotion. Anchored by warm banjo tones alongside Karli’s soaring vocals and heartfelt storytelling, the song radiates a comforting sense of forever. The track is from Karli’s forthcoming EP and follows a breakthrough two years.
The award-nominated singer-songwriter is emerging as one of Canada’s standout country music artists. Hailing from a farm in rural Listowel, Ontario, Karli discovered her passion for music singing in her church choir and performing at local fairs and competitions. Her deeply personal songwriting, drawn from her own life experiences, resonates with authenticity and energy.
Over the past two years, Karli has achieved steady milestones. Her duet “Feel Like Home” featuring Ryan Langdon climbed to #12 on the Australian country radio charts and cracked the top 30 in Canada, marking her highest-charting release to date. The song, which has nearly half a million combined streams and views, was the most added song at Canadian country radio upon its release and was recognized as Rogers Radio’s One to Watch, iHeartRadio’s Future Star, and Stingray’s Trending Track.
Following this success, her smoldering single “Still Make Cowgirls” hit #1 on SiriusXM’s “Top of the Country” in Canada and reached the top 20 on Australian country radio. Karli’s career now boasts over 2.7 million combined streams and video views, and her presence on stage has grown significantly, with performances at key festivals including Country Thunder Calgary and the Ponoka Stampede, as well as opening slots for Gord Bamford and The Abrams. In 2023, she showcased her talents during CCMA Country Music Week in Hamilton with performances at Songwriters Unplugged and the Country Music Crawl. Her achievements were further highlighted by several CMA Ontario Award nominations and performances in 2023 and 2024, with Karen Kosowski winning Producer of the Year for Karli’s debut EP in 2023.
With high-energy performances and an ever-growing list of accolades, Karli June is firmly establishing herself as a rising force in country music. In 2025, she is putting the finishing touches on her highly anticipated sophomore EP and is eager to hit the road again, bringing her live shows to audiences across Canada.
I had the opportunity to chat with Karli about her new single, her musical journey so far, and what’s next.
Kat: Congratulations on the release of your new single, “Always Gonna Be”! Can you share the inspiration behind the song?
Karli: Thanks! We live in a fast paced world and I am a fairly traditional kinda girl. One of my favourite things about going back home to the country is all the things that you know are never going to change. The song is a love song to someone you’re always going to love – just like all the other things that are timeless.
Kat: How do typically you approach songwriting; do you start with lyrics, melody, or something else? How did this come into effect with your new single?
Karli: Most of the time I find the songs come out of a title – and then we find music that matches the feel. On this song I had a title and a bit of voice memo of some melody with a few lyrics – I brought that to Gavin for our co-write that day and we went from there!
Kat: With so much success over the past few years, how do you stay motivated and continue to find inspiration for creating new music?
Karli: Music will always be part of my life – and the scale of it doesn’t really matter to me. I find the most joy in it when I just focus on telling stories that matter to me, and using it to bring some joy into the world!
Kat: How would you say your sound has evolved since your debut EP, and what influences have shaped this growth?
Karli: I would say my sound now is much more country than on the first EP. I wanted to bring in more country elements like steel guitar – more like my country roots! I love the first EP and I think we’ve just continued to grow on the story of who I am through the new songs. It’s like building blocks that keep adding up to share more of me to the listeners.
Kat: Looking back on your career so far, what moment stands out as the most rewarding experience for you as an artist?
Karli: I really loved playing the songwriters series at the CCMAs. That was a big bucket list for me and such an honour to be part of a show like that with that calibre of songwriting. I love a quiet room where people just get to soak in the lyrics and hear the stories behind the songs.
Kat: What else can fans expect from you this year, both in terms of new music and live performances?
Karli: We have a few more singles coming out this year! So that’s really exciting. Hopefully some live shows for people to catch as well!! Hope to see everyone there :)
Connect With Karli June
Facebook: @karlijunemusic
Instagram: @itskarlijune
Twitter: @itskarlijune
Website:www.karlijune.com