DAHLIA WAKEFIELD
Updated: Sep 14
ARTIST OVERVIEW
Dahlia Wakefield is a powerhouse singer-songwriter, performer, and vocal coach whose style blends classic rock influences with raw emotion and a modern edge, similar to a cross between the angst of Halestorm/Alanis Morissette/The Pretty Reckless and the 70s revivalist sounds of The Sheepdogs and the blues-rock focus of Greta Van Fleet. Born in Cebu City, the Philippines and raised in Maidstone, Saskatchewan, this multifaceted artist capable of singing multi genres earned a Vocal Performance diploma with Distinction from Grant MacEwan University.
Dahlia has released three solo albums, numerous singles, and has also released music with award-nominated country/rock group Dirt Road Angels. With over 20 years of gracing the stage, she performs with various bands and tribute acts from country to metal. Since 2011, she has taught vocals and beginner piano, inspiring students of all ages. Passionate and driven, Dahlia continues to perform, record, and empower others through music and her unstoppable energy. Building on a breakout year in 2023 when she met fellow songwriter Kevin Frey and started writing her album, her recent work signals a strong upward trajectory within the Western Canadian Music landscape.
Dahlia Wakefield continues to expand her artistic and professional reach into 2025-2026 through new releases, live performances, and growing audience engagement through her various online social media platforms. As such, Dahlia‘s music career continues to flourish year after year, gaining momentum with each year that passes. Recently, Dahlia Wakefield signed a one-song label deal with independent label “Skyrocket Records” who invested in her upcoming rock single “Light of the Phoenix” with the opportunity for more.
Dahlia's work centers on themes of resilience and empowerment, connecting deeply with audiences through both recorded music and live performance. She has partnered with WIN House, a charity that provides shelter, safety, and support for women, children, and non-binary individuals fleeing violence in Edmonton. A portion of proceeds from her upcoming release party on November 14 at Chromozone in Edmonton, Alberta, will go towards WIN House. The first three singles have already been released (Queen of Overthinking, Goodbye, and Well Dressed Lies).
Dahlia’s rock song “Light of The Phoenix”, was the fourth single released on May 18, 2026 from her upcoming album. Though her last solo album was released in 2012, shortly afterwards, she joined country/rock band Dirt Road Angels and released music with them from 2013 to 2024. She started writing the new album with Kevin in 2023. Unfortunately, Dahlia had to put her new solo album on hold due to family issues but says that going through that whole experience made her stronger than before. Transmuting her pain into power, she wrote about her experiences in songs which will appear in her upcoming album “Phoenix Rising” to be released October 2026. Producing her album is Sandro Dominelli, a Juno nominated drummer and producer. Other musicians lending their talent to the album is fellow songwriter Kevin Frey (guitars), Alan Tymofichuk (lead guitar), Jeff Godley (bass), and Dennis Boisvert (drums). Darcy Phillips, who is Jann Arden's touring keyboard player, lends his keyboard skills on 3 songs. Dahlia performs lead and backup vocals on all the songs and some synth on two of the songs.
Another recent highlight for Dahlia is being nominated in six categories for the 2026 International Singer Songwriter Awards (ISSA) which includes: International Entertainer of the Year; Female Vocalist of the Year; Female Rising Star; Female Single of the Year - “Well Dressed Lies”; Female Songwriter of the Year and Female Emerging Artist. The awards show will be held in Atlanta on August 22, 2026, and Dahlia plans on attending. She was also recently Gold Medal Honors as a finalist in the European International Songwriting Awards (EIMA) with her song "Light of the Phoenix" - Best Rock Song for Social Change!
In September 2025, Dahlia released her current single “Well Dressed Lies”, which received an “Earshot Song of the Day” shout out and received many community and college radio adds, including play across Canada, Australia, USA, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, and the UK.
Dahlia has been a music teacher since 2011 and has taught students of all ages and skill levels. She finds joy in imparting her knowledge and experience to those who are willing to learn. Since 2020, she has also been a vocal coach and beginner piano instructor in St. Albert at Visionary Centre for the Performing Arts. In September 2025, Dahlia joined the music team at KPA Music (Karar Performing Arts) in Stony Plain, Alberta. Dahlia has been a music teacher since 2011 and finds joy in imparting her knowledge and experience to those who are willing to learn.
In addition to teaching/mentoring children and people of all ages, Dahlia is a positive influence in the Edmonton/Alberta Music scene. Dahlia performs almost every weekend with the many bands she is involved with: “The Dahlia and Alan Duo” (acoustic), “Dahlia and the Villains” (pop/rock/classic rock/country/originals), hard rock band “Kerosene”, occasionally with 80s metal band “Shocker” and country rock band, “Dirt Road Angels”, as well as her Heart tribute band “Brigade”, who will be performing on Saturday July 25 at Cornstock 2026 in Taber, Alberta, opening for Nik Gilder of Sweeney Todd (of “Roxy Roller” fame), Headpins, Honeymoon Suite and Colin James. In September 2025 she joined “Twilight Time” - a Tribute to The Platters and Doo Wop music and loves performing the nostalgia of the golden oldies songs, not to mention the standing ovations the group regularly receives. Dahlia has also been called “The Joy Bringer”, finding joy and purpose singing solo at retirement homes at least three or more times per week.
She was also a judge for the 2025 WKC Championships Edmonton pop-up finals and occasionally throughout the years. Once upon a time, Dahlia was a Karaoke Hostess in Lloydminster, Alberta, so she loves donating her time to this event as it brings back many fond memories of the past. It was really how she learned her love of performing songs in public and wanted to move to Edmonton to attend the Grant MacEwan Music Program, which she eventually did and graduated with Distinction.
Dahlia is also a session singer on many other artists’ original recordings, such as Stirling John, Zackaria, Marty Collins, Marv Machura and more. She is also a regularly hired backup singer for several Elvis tribute acts including Darren Lee, Robin Kelly and US performer Cody Ray Slaughter. She has also sung backups for a Dolly Parton tribute as well as a Kenny Rogers tribute act as well. Dahlia was also a backup singer for Las Vegas singer Yolanda Fletcher who performed “A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” and who previously sang all over the world with a version of The Platters.
Dahlia has sung many covers of songs in the past, but now takes pride in singing her own music. On March 11, 2024 Dahlia released a song called “Still Waters”, co-written by Kevin Frey, who is also a co-writer on the majority of the songs on her upcoming album. “Still Waters” received a Josie Award nomination for songwriting in Nashville. On June 17, 2024, Dahlia released "Dreams of Yesterday", a song she penned alone, which became an official nominee in the 2025 Elite Music Awards.
2023 to Present
Dahlia believes that 2023 was a launching pad into her future. Slightly jaded from the depressing experience of Covid Days when she wasn’t allowed to perform for a year and a half, Dahlia really bounced back. New Year’s Eve 2023 was a highlight for Dahlia as she and her band performed for over 10,000 people in Churchill Square in her current city of Edmonton. She says it was exhilarating to be able to play her own music (as well as covers) to so many people!
Since November 2023, Dahlia has released seven singles: Now’s the Time, Still Waters, Dreams of Yesterday, Queen of Overthinking, Goodbye, Well Dressed Lies and Light of the Phoenix. It is also notable to mention that “Caro Mio Holdings” invested in Dahlia, helping her record her singles “Dreams of Yesterday” and “Still Waters” (which received a Josie Awards Nomination in Nashville) at Dominelli Studios. She is forever grateful to them.
In February 2023, Dahlia was chosen out of many singers to become 80s band Toronto’s backup singer for their Calgary show at Grey Eagle Resort with Lee Aaron and the Headpins. Dahlia repeated that honour in February 2025 in Edmonton at Century Casino with a repeat offer in February 2026 though she had to decline as she was performing at Rivers Casino in Fort MacMurray with her band “Dahlia & The Villains”. Dahlia Wakefield looks forward to a lifetime of making, singing, and teaching music.
Dahlia has received much critical acclaim in music blogs, such as Canadian Beats, Cashbox, Tinnitist, Record World International and more for her songs "Still Waters", "Queen of Overthinking", and "Light of the Phoenix":
Currently, Dahlia is working with radio tracker Andrea from AM to FM Promotions. Eric Alper PR, and Obsidian PR, and after a month after her "Light of the Phoenix" release, has garnered radio play from many stations across the world, especially in the UK!
Dahlia Wakefield looks forward to a lifetime of making, singing, and teaching music.
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