VISSIA
[VISS-ee-yuh]
Canadian Alternative Pop recording artist.
40 WORD BIO
Edmonton’s VISSIA is a multi-faceted pop powerhouse whose music thrives on transformation. Blending storytelling with genre-spanning craft, she’s earned acclaim at c/o Pop and the UK’s Great Escape Festival. Her next bold chapter arrives soon, with a brand-new album on the way.
160 WORD BIO
Edmonton’s VISSIA is carving out her space as one of pop’s most inventive voices. Her sophomore album With Pleasure—a genre-blending triumph of pop songwriting—landed at No. 7 on CKUA’s 2021 Top 100 and propelled her to international stages at Cologne’s c/o Pop and the UK’s Great Escape Festival. With a sound that fuses R&B, soul, and pop with folk-tinged roots, VISSIA turns everyday moments into songs that feel both intimate and cinematic.
In 2024, she released Live, With Pleasure, a concert documentary she co-produced, wrote, and edited. Filmed during her sold-out cross-Canada tour with indie-rock duo USS in 2021, the project captures the electricity of her performances while pulling back the curtain on the realities of touring. That same year, her music video “Doorway” earned a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Director of the Year (Peter Kominek), underscoring her reach as a visual storyteller.
Her storytelling instincts soon carried into theatre, where she composed the music and lyrics for Rapunzel, a children’s musical that toured more than 200 Alberta schools, reaching 60,000 students and earning her two 2025 Sterling Award nominations. With a new album on the horizon, she continues to embrace reinvention as the heartbeat of her art.
300 WORD BIO
Edmonton’s multi-talented vocal powerhouse VISSIA is an artist in constant evolution, reshaping her craft with every new chapter. Her sophomore record, With Pleasure, was hailed as a triumph of pop songwriting—landing at No. 7 on CKUA’s 2021 Top 100 and securing invitations to perform at Cologne’s c/o Pop and the UK’s Great Escape Festival. With roots in R&B, soul, and folk woven through a shimmering pop core, With Pleasure transforms ordinary moments into emotional gold. Tracks like the effervescent “On My Mind” and the haunting ballad “About Moving On” reveal an artist who thrives on reinvention and creative risk.
In 2024, VISSIA released Live, With Pleasure, a concert documentary she co-produced, wrote, and edited. Filmed during her sold-out cross-Canada tour with indie-rock duo USS in 2021, the project captures the electricity of her live shows while pulling back the curtain on life behind the scenes. That same year, her music video “Doorway” earned a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Director of the Year (Peter Kominek), underlining her growing impact as a visual artist.
Always pushing into new territory, VISSIA turned her hand to theatre, composing the music and lyrics for Rapunzel, a children’s musical commissioned by Alberta Musical Theatre Company for its 2024/2025 season. Touring more than 200 schools across the province, the production reached over 60,000 students and garnered VISSIA two 2025 Sterling Award nominations, including Outstanding Score of a Play or Musical.
With a new album on the horizon, VISSIA steps into her next era—one defined by deep feeling, embodied movement, and the restless drive to create something new, again and again.
CONTACT
Booking
Trevor Mann
trevor@hurryhardmusic.com
A&R / Publishing
Nich Davies
Hurry Hard Records
nich@hurryhardmusic.com
www.hurryhardmusic.com
VISSIA
viss@vissia.ca
VIDEO
DOWNLOADS
Logo
Press Photos
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Technical Rider
VISSIA – Technical Rider – SOLO.pdf
VISSIA – Technical Rider – VOCAL TRIO.pdf
VISSIA – Technical Rider – TRIO.pdf
VISSIA – Technical Rider – QUARTET.pdf
Hospitality Rider
VISSIA – Hospitality Rider – SOLO.pdf
VISSIA – Hospitality Rider – VOCAL TRIO.pdf
VISSIA – Hospitality Rider – TRIO + Tech.pdf
VISSIA – Hospitality Rider – QUARTET + Tech.pdf
RECENT RELEASES
Live, With Pleasure – Live Album (Digital)
May 10, 2024 / Hurry Hard Records
Words & Music by Alex Vissia.
Produced & Mixed by Nich Davies.
“Snowed In” – Single (Digital)
December 8, 2023 / Hurry Hard Records
Words by Alex Vissia.
Music by Alex Vissia & Nich Davies.
Produced & mixed by Nich Davies.
With Pleasure – Album (LP/CD/Digital)
April 30, 2021 / Hurry Hard Records
Words & Music by Alex Vissia.
Produced & Mixed by Nich Davies.
Mastered by Philip Shaw Bova.
PRESS
PRAISE FOR WITH PLEASURE
“Cue the arrival of With Pleasure, and with it, the sound of an artist who is discovering her true voice through fearless exploration.”
“VISSIA’s sophomore album With Pleasure is a triumph of pop songwriting. An album which prides itself on capturing the minuscule moments of monotonous everyday life and turning them to gold, With Pleasure is a near-perfect exploration of gratitude and mindfulness.” 4.5 Stars
“The power of VISSIA is unmistakably feminine, coming from a place of utter empathy and descriptive talent in the way she draws on the power of nature and earth in order to create a totally unique personality which shines through in every single track.”
“Carving out a niche in the pop world which both calls back to retro eras but sounds utterly of-the-moment, With Pleasure rips up the rule book of what a pop record can and should sound like.”
“The album starts off with a shower of confidence and positivity, with ‘Doorway’ providing an epic sound with atmospheric, electronic backing, dramatic drums, powerful vocals, and bluesy chord progressions. By track 2 – the witty, unapologetic feminist anthem ‘My Wom’ – we’re hooked. Its sassy, unstoppable funk bass line drives the piece forward with personality and style, coupled with crisp, clear vocals and a tight, boppy melody.” 4/5 Stars
“It’s with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy that the new VISSIA album, With Pleasure, washes over the listener. A mixture of retro soul instrumentation, modern pop melodies, and a flirtatious attitude, VISSIA proves with this release that she is a jack of all trades and lays the foundations of a rich and lustrous career as your new favorite DIY pop star.” 4/5 Stars
“From the LP’s first track, ‘Doorway’ to the concluding notes of ‘About Moving On’, VISSIA takes you on a kaleidoscopic journey of nostalgia, growth, and living life to its fullest. While standout track ‘The Cliffs’ is a laid back, groove-laced anthem that celebrates the solace you can find in your loved ones and the power of standing together through life’s various trials and tribulations.”
“With Pleasure’s finest two moments are its most cathartic. ‘On My Mind’ is a rush of exhilaration from start to finish, its magnetic vocal hook coasting over a pulsing dance beat, while the neo-soul of ‘The Cliffs’ splits at its chorus like rainfall over an arid prairie drought. It’s a brilliant moment in an album full of them, showcasing VISSIA’s growing command of multi-faceted pop.” 8/10 Stars
“VISSIA reinvents herself on groovy new album With Pleasure… an album that pines for connection, reminiscing on missed connections, and blurry nights out that meant everything. On every song it feels like love is just around the corner – it’s a contagious feeling that makes us hopeful for the future and desperately excited to meet it.”
“Confidently on her sophomore release With Pleasure, VISSIA sets her sights on exploration and expanding her paradigm of genre and style. From R&B, soul, pop, and with a subtle tinge of her folk roots hidden in the details, her new record focuses on progress, both musically and personally.” 7/10 Stars
PRAISE FOR “ON MY MIND”
\“‘On My Mind,’ a neo-disco song for the here and now. Chilled out vibes, minimal production, a sultry vocal; VISSIA proves it’s not a lot that you need to create the perfect vibe for a dance song in 2021.”
“‘Walk Me Home’ was the take on the classic piano ballad, ‘About Moving On’ was a gorgeously lo-fi exploration of the grieving process, and now with ‘On My Mind,’ the Canadian pop star proves she has what it takes to tackle upbeat melodies as well, ready for nights out, dancing ‘til the sun comes up.”
“Canadian pop singer VISSIA ‘pops’ into 2021 with her amazing new single, ‘On My Mind,’ which is stacked to the roof with electro-synth-retro-disco beats. VISSIA’s vocals are so akin to Roisin Murphy and you could be mistaken that this is an extension of Moloko, but this is very definitely VISSIA and a trip back in time to the now.”
PRAISE FOR “ABOUT MOVING ON”
“In its simplicity lies its genius – [‘About Moving On’] is no more, no less than quiet and fervent grief told in song form.”
– Independent Music and Arts, Inc. (USA)
“[VISSIA is] the underground alt pop star with a show stopper of a voice and a knack for storytelling who is about to make the big time.”
“Vissia’s latest single ‘About Moving On’ paints her as one of the most essential storytellers in pop music today.”
PRAISE FOR “WALK ME HOME”
“‘Walk Me Home’ is the massive new track from alt-pop newcomer, VISSIA – with the looks and talent to go the whole way… The Canadian singer is someone whose talent truly speaks for itself, with impressive vocals and songwriting ability to rival that of Taylor Swift and Adele.”
– Independent Music and Arts, Inc. (USA)
“Whatever the inspiration behind this belter of a song, it is undeniable that VISSIA is a songwriting and performing force to be reckoned with… A truly captivating release, putting VISSIA firmly on the Ones To Watch list. A triumph.”
“With the sort of emotion and dedication usually reserved for artists such as Adele, VISSIA blasts onto the scene with ‘Walk Me Home’, a song about finding strength in allowing herself to be vulnerable, a song which turns asking for help into empowerment. It shows off her talents as a songwriter and as a singer, her vocals strong, clear and impressive as anything on the charts right now.”
“An empowering lyrical plea of vulnerability in modern times…”
“’Walk Me Home’ is the sound of an artist totally comfortable with every facet of her being, a creative force using her pain as momentum to propel herself forward, and thus rendering her stronger than ever.”
“VISSIA sounds both ethereal yet stoic, fragile yet strong, and utterly content in who she is, all at once. This track is unmissable.”
“Utterly emotive and expertly produced, the piano-led ‘Walk Me Home’ is a song which plays on VISSIA’s strongest suit – her powerhouse of a voice.”
“Phenomenal and soulful… A stunning new track from an artist making waves.”
“A woman with an icy voice and breathtaking talent.”
“The emotions threaded into her performance have an intimate feeling that connects you to the song on a deeper level. Throughout the song, you can hear the power of her voice as she modulates her performance to fill you with emotion.”
– The Other Side Reviews (Germany)
“…Impressive grasp on dynamics giving the song a brilliant shape and structure,”
“Production and instrumentation are luscious, with lots of depth, but it is her breathtaking vocals which truly steals the show.”
AWARDS
2025 Sterling Awards Nominations
– Outstanding Score of a Play or Musical, Rapunzel (Alberta Musical Theatre Company)
– Outstanding Artistic Achievement, Theatre for Young Audiences, VISSIA (Composer), Rapunzel (Alberta Musical Theatre Company)
2024 Western Canadian Music Awards Nomination – Director of the Year, Peter Kominek, for “Doorway” Music Video
2018 Edmonton Music Prize Shortlist Place Holder album
2018 Edmonton Music Awards Nominee – “Mountaineer” for Roots/Folk Recording of the Year
2018 Canadian Songwriting Competition Honourable Mention for “You Don’t Know Her”
SHOWCASES
2023 NXNE Showcase, Toronto, ON
2022 Alberta Focus at Breakout West, Calgary, AB
2022 c/o Pop Festival, Cologne, Germany
2022 Breakout West, Winnipeg, MB (virtual) Feb 2-6, 2022
2021 Canadian Music Week (virtual) May 18-21, 2021
2018 The Great Escape Showcase Festival for New Music, Brighton, UK
2017 NXNE Showcase, Toronto, ON
– curated by the Rural Alberta Advantage
RADIO & STREAMING
With Pleasure #7 on CKUA Top 100 Albums of 2021
“On My Mind” featured on CBC q and CBC Afterdark
With Pleasure in rotation at over 60 UK radio stations, play on BBC Wales
11,000+ monthly listeners on Spotify (April 2022), nearly double the listenership since Sept. 2021, without editorial play-listing; top countries are the USA, Canada, Germany and the UK
VissiaVEVO Channel – over 1 million total views; “I Just Wanna Hold You” (released January 2022) reaching 1.2M views alone
Place Holder charted on the NACC 200 for 5 weeks peaking at #142 in its third week
Place Holder charted on Top 30 campus charts across North America at over 30 stations
“You Should Be Sleeping” added to CBC Radio 2 After Dark program
Place Holder – CBC First Play
2015 CKUA TransCanada Music West performance series – recorded live & rebroadcast
2012 CBC Radio 2 Canada Live! feature performer
Young Love; charted three weeks in a row for the month of May on CJSR FM (University of Alberta), as well as receiving consistent airplay from CBC Radio 1 and CKUA Radio
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
July 15, 2023 – Wild Mountain Music Festival, Hinton, AB
Dec. 3, 2022 – Dear Rouge special guest – Edmonton guest singing on “That’s it, That’s All” (original collaboration with Lights) at their sold-out Edmonton show – Midway Music Hall, Edmonton, AB
June 18, 2022 – Long Days Night Festival, Swift Current, SK – direct support for Tanika Charles
May 8, 2022 – The Finsbury, YMX Showcase, London, UK
April 21, 2022 – c/o Pop Festival, YUCA Club, Cologne, Germany
Nov & Dec 2021 – six sold-out dates opening for USS in Alberta and Ontario
August 19 2021 – Edmonton International Fringe Festival – With Pleasure full-band debut
July 23, 2019 – Taste of Edmonton – opening for Hawksley Workman
April 2019 – Weekly residency at The Cameron House, Toronto ON
Nov 10, 2018 – All is Bright Festival, Edmonton, AB
Sep 1, 2018 – Waynestock, Wayne, AB
Jul 18, 2018 – Revelstoke Arts Council Street Fest, Revelstoke, BC
Jun 29, 2018 – Wild Oats & Notes, Tofield, AB
May 2018 – Live From the Roadee, Brighton, UK
– live performance broadcast on Freeview Channel 7, Virgin Media 159 and online at TheLatest.co.uk
May 2018 – The Great Escape Festival for New Music, Brighton, UK
Apr 14, 2018 – Times Changed High & Lonesome Club, Winnipeg, MB
2017 – Cross-Canada Tour in support of Place Holder LP– 20+ dates from Vancouver Island to Halifax
Jun 2017 – NXNE Showcase, The Dakota Tavern, Toronto, ON – curated by The Rural Alberta Advantage
2017 – The Club, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity – opening for Gretchen Peters
2016 – ATB Financial “ATB Listens” Campaign; performer and actor for “Resonate” Commercial;
– Rosie Award Winner 2017: Best TV Commercial Under 50k
2016 – Bow Valley Music Club, Calgary, AB – opening for the Harpoonist & the Axemurderer
2015 – Edson Arts Council Concert Series, Edson, AB – Headliner
2015 – TransCanada Music West Series at the CKUA Radio Network live performance space
2014 – Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival – opening for Lindi Ortega
2014 – Big Valley Jamboree – Songwriter Stage with Harry Stinson, Russel de Carle and JJ Shiplett
2013 – Edmonton Folk Festival
2013 – Canmore Folk Festival
2013 – Lyric Theatre, Swift Current, SK – opening for Del Barber
2012 – Duncan Garage Showroom, Duncan, BC – opening for The Skydiggers