Rising Indigenous Country Singer Shawnee Kish Signs Global Distribution Deal with ADA/Warner Music Canada

ADA and Warner Music Canada announced that they have signed Indigenous singer-songwriter Shawnee Kish to a global distribution deal, making her the latest signee to the label's independent distribution arm.

“Partnering with ADA/Warner Music Canada is an incredibly exciting moment for me. Their team brings such powerhouse energy to the table!" says Kish.

As part of the distribution deal, Kish's recent single "Ride At Dawn," a rallying anthem that carries authentic country grit, has been released to country radio. Simultaneously, the Mohawk singer has released a similarly bold track, "Hold Me," a song about finding reassurance in someone you love amid adversity uncertainty. She says she wrote it "on a day she must've really needed a hug," and that it is dedicated to the person you can rely on whenever you're being overwhelmed by too many thoughts and things going on.

"Shawnee Kish is building on impressive momentum right now. Her live performances and powerful songwriting have already earned her incredible independent success, and our team at ADA Canada is proud to work alongside her to amplify her voice worldwide," says Eric Wong, president of Warner Music Canada.

Kish has earned several accolades and award nominations from key Canadian institutions and programs. Yesterday (July 16), her album Chapter 1 earned a 2026 CCMA Award nomination for alternative country music album of the year, and she's already a four-time Juno nominee. Before sitting down with Billboard Canada FYI for a podcast interview in 2021, she had already been named on Billboard's 2019 Musicians You Need To Know list and won CBC's 2020 national talent search, as well as the 2021 Allan Slaight Juno Master Class program.

ADA continues to add to its illustrious roster, reinforcing itself as a jack of all trades in terms of incorporating diverse musical styles. Since 2025, the independent distribution label has signed global distribution deals with the Punjabi music company EYP Creations, the Toronto-based R&B label Escape Records and fellow Canadian country singer-songwriter Zach McPhee.

L to R: Jordan Howard, Manager, Label & Product Management, ADA Canada, Shawnee Kish, Jen KishADA/Warner Music Canada