Joanna Bronson Photo Credit Matt Azzarello
Peterborough, Ontario Singer-Songwriter Teams with East Coast Legend J.P. Cormier for Intimate, Story-Driven Debut
Canadian country-folk artist Joanna Bronson steps into the spotlight with two stirring singles that capture the emotional landscape of small-town life and love. “Highway 28,” and “Norwood,” both out now, mark the arrival of a songwriter whose voice feels both timeless and deeply personal. These tracks offer the first glimpse into Bronson’s forthcoming debut album ‘Highway 28,’ slated for release in March 2026, a collection that serves as an intimate love letter to her hometown and the roads that shaped her.
https://www.youtube.com/@JoannaJuneBronson
Recorded with acclaimed East Coast musician and producer J.P. Cormier in his studio outside Halifax, the album showcases Bronson’s gift for emotional honesty and grounded, roots-driven storytelling. Cormier—a lifelong musical hero of Bronson’s—played all additional instruments, and handled the mixing and mastering, building a sonic world around songs Bronson recorded exactly as she wrote them: just her voice, her guitar, and the stories she needed to tell. The collaboration represents a significant milestone in Bronson’s artistic development, with the result being a record that sounds the way these songs were always meant to be heard – warm, intimate, and achingly real.
“At its core, this record is a love letter to my hometown,” Bronson reflects. “Every song began with something real – a feeling, a conversation, or a moment that actually happened.” The album explores acceptance, memory, and the quiet wondering of what might have been, written from the perspective of time and distance when the heart has had space to heal and reflect, beautifully portrayed in the title track “Highway 28″. Holding both reflection and a wishing-well curiosity for the life that almost was. “Norwood” takes listeners down a different road exploring different aspects of letting love back in. Together, the songs create a small-town world of love and loss – the kind of places that never really let go of their memories.
Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1oicdubzhYRgFm04hl9cJI?si=1ScR18CKQW2uFGOW6AEjgw&nd=1&dlsi=5269b489475445b4
The recording process itself became a defining moment in Bronson’s journey. “Hearing J.P sing harmony on Norwood for the first time was a moment I’m not sure I’ll ever top,” she shares. The organic approach – Bronson laying down her vocals and guitar parts while Cormier built the instrumentation around them – resulted in an honest, intimate record that honors the songs’ original essence while elevating them with nuanced production. Each track maintains the story-forward authenticity that has become Bronson’s signature, rooted in the kind of lived experience that connects with audiences on a deeply human level.
Over the past three years, Bronson has honed her craft performing alongside her father and fellow entertainer Danny Bronson. The duo has connected with audiences at local venues, jamborees, and headline performances including the Millbrook Fall Festival, building a reputation for intimate, story-forward shows. Her work has garnered attention from YourTV, where she appeared on Making Music and The Skinny to discuss her music and creative process. With a growing regional presence and a commitment to authentic songwriting, Bronson is establishing herself as an emerging voice in the Canadian country-folk scene, equally at home on small stages and festival lineups.
Bronson’s songwriting carries additional significance as she draws from relationships and experiences that lend her work a distinct sense of perspective and offers authentic LGBTQ+ representation to the country-folk genre. Her approach to storytelling is universal in its emotional resonance while remaining deeply personal and true to her lived experience. This authenticity extends beyond subject matter – it’s woven into every aspect of her artistry, from the vulnerability in her vocal delivery to the careful attention she pays to each lyrical detail. The songs on ‘Highway 28’ invite listeners into a world where honesty and heart create the kind of connection that transcends genre boundaries.
With “Highway 28” and “Norwood” paving the way, Bronson is building a body of work that celebrates the kind of songs that bring people together. Whether on stage or in the writing room, she continues to grow her craft and share her journey – one song, one story, and one listener at a time. The full album ‘Highway 28’ promises to be a defining statement from an artist who captures the quiet beauty and raw honesty of life in small towns, weaving heartfelt stories that resonate long after they’re heard.
https://joannabronsonmusic.com
https://joannabronson.bandcamp.com/music