Local Spins spotlights the emerging tunesmith and Taylor Swift tribute artist, while also debuting new music from PHABIES, Silver Creek Revival, Ajax Stacks, Pretoria and more.
Kanin Wren: Loving to create ‘without any limits or big expectations.’ (Photo/Jeff Johnson)
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Even at 19, Kanin Wren knows the magic of creating a successful pop song, and sometimes, that magic materializes quickly.
“What I’m Missing” from the up-and-coming singer-songwriter’s debut studio album, “Wren,” was written and recorded in a single day.
“It was a 12-hour day in the studio,” the mid-Michigan singer and guitarist said of collaborating with tunesmith and producer Aron Rosing at his Nashville studio.
“We recorded two songs and then wrote a song. I just had so much fun creating it. So my hope for all the songs on the album is that people just find ways to have fun with them and interpret them in their own ways.”
On Stage: Singing her own songs and covering Taylor Swift. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Since Wren was named Local Spins’ Emerging Artist of the Year in February 2024, the young performer has experienced a whirlwind of milestones, from touring her mega-popular “Taylor Swift Experience” tribute show to penning a bevy of her own songs to finishing up her studies and graduating from DeWitt High School.
Her new studio album, being released today (June 27), sees Wren embracing “a fresh and exciting new direction,” diving headlong into pop, elements of which have always woven their way through many of her songs.
“It’s the first time that my songs truly feel like they belong on my own personal playlist,” Wren insisted. “I wrote my first pop song not even really intending to write a pop album necessarily. And from there, it kind of just snowballed because I fell in love with writing pop songs and I just love the way they sounded.”
That “snowball” effect was enhanced after she met Rosing at last year’s Key West Songwriters Festival and the pair hit it off. The resulting album is being released independently just as summer heats up, with the first single co-written by the pair, “Fake,” released in May. (Listen to it below.)
“It’s great for summer, really, which is why we decided to switch directions and release it now instead of waiting until we’re halfway through the summer. I’m very, very excited for people to hear it. I love it so much, so I’m hoping other people will, too,” she said.
“With this debut album, we are steering away from the conventional release approach and we’re not looking to go head-to-head with the algorithm. My album is out for our loyal followers who can stream it right away, whether before attending my shows or afterwards. … I’m an independent artist and not interested in signing with a label right now. I’m loving being able to create without any limits or big expectations while I am still navigating a normal life.”
LISTEN: Kanin Wren, “Fake”
READY TO BALANCE COLLEGE STUDIES WITH TOURING AND WRITING
That normal life to which Wren refers includes enrolling in classes at the University of Michigan starting this fall – thus continuing her longstanding practice of juggling her studies with performing and songwriting.
“Obviously taking on a college schedule is going to be a huge thing and a huge adjustment, but I did touring all through high school, so I’m not super worried about it because I have a lot of practice already with balancing a school schedule and a touring schedule,” said Wren, who plans to major in music, though she’s also eyeing business and marketing.
Before that, the singer and her band have a series of summer concerts on the docket, including Taylor Swift tribute shows in Virginia and Tennessee, followed by several Michigan appearances: July 10 for Lowell’s Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts series, July 11 at Lansing’s Grewal Hall, July 16 at Charlevoix’s Castle Farms, July 17 at Greenville’s Frugthaven Farm, July 19 at Fremont’s National Baby Food Festival and July 23 for Sparta’s Summer Music Series.
Happy With the Direction of Her Music: Kanin Wren (Photo/Jeff Johnson)
“I will take the Taylor Swift tribute band as far as it can go, I would also love in this next year and in the next couple of year to transition into my own music and performing that for people and maybe even being an opening act. I think that would be awesome,” Wren said.
“The goal is to get to that place where I can perform my own music and have people coming to my shows. But until then, I’ll continue with the Taylor Swift tribute because it has brought me a lot of success and a lot of fans so far.”
She added: “As a tribute artist, there’s often a misconception that I’m simply doing karaoke. I strive to bring much more to my shows by dedicating the past three years to performing my Taylor Swift Experience. This has not only enhanced my stage presence, but also improved my vocal abilities.”
For a teenager, Wren – who released her first song at age 11 – already has logged an impressive career belying her age. And the release of “Wren” opens yet aother a new chapter for the singer-songwriter.
“At this point, I’ve been really happy with the direction my music is going in, and honestly, I just can’t wait to write more music and collaborate with other artists,” she said.
“Hopefully, my venues will grow a little bit and my fan base will grow a little bit as well.”
For this week’s edition of the Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase — – airing at 11 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org, and on Interlochen Public Radio at 7 p.m. Saturdays – Wren featured two tracks from the new album, “Eyes Talk” and “What I’m Missing.”
The radio show podcast also features new music from Pretoria, Matt McCalpin, Bryan Wolfbird, PHABIES, Ajax Stacks (with Phillip Wolf and Fresco Trey), Silver Creek Revival, Ethereal, Lindsay Lou and Justin Avdek. Listen to it below.
PODCAST: Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase (6/29/25)
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