CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH GRAMMY NOMINATED PRODUCER RYAN HADLOCK
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10 JULY 2026 (TORONTO, ON) – Folk/Americana singer-songwriter, Sarah Vanderzon unveils the nostalgic new single, “Being Free” out today via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The heartfelt new single was created in collaboration with Ryan Hadlock, the Grammy-nominated producer behind some of the most iconic albums and songs from The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile and Zach Bryan. The duo came together to work on new music at the iconic Bear Creek Studio in Seattle, which has seen the likes of heavyweights including Soundgarden, Eric Clapton, The Tragically Hip, and more. The pair immediately hit it off and went on to create new music that breathes new life into Vanderzon’s delicate yet unapologetically raw sound. The authenticity is felt in the track from the opening instrumentals to the swooning strings that are woven throughout. Vanderzon’s soaring vocals stand at the forefront with an emotional depth that immediately draws you in.
On the new single Sarah notes: “’Being Free’ is about escaping reality and diving back into the past… Because to move forward, I have to remember how far I’ve come.” The single marks the first of more music to come through 2026 and into 2027. “Being Free” shows fans a new side of Vanderzon, bridging the gap between country, folk and Americana.
The track arrives as the first taste of new music since Vanderzon’s major label debut EP, Fortune Teller, released in 2025. In contrast to previous releases, “Being Free” marks a new chapter for Vanderzon as she expands her storytelling into more complex narratives and diverse subject matter. Vanderzon sings about the modern-day insecurities and the desire for simpler times where ‘a screen wasn’t all that bad,’ and ‘a call was all that we had.’ She draws on the hopeful feelings we had in our youth, looking towards the future with endless possibilities in mind. “Being Free” sees a shift in tone from Vanderzon towards a maturing sound that suits the context of the new music.
Signed to RLive Management and Paquin Artists Agency, Vanderzon prepares for this next chapter of her career with live dates already lined up for 2026 across Canada. Vanderzon will bring her self-proclaimed ‘VanderBand’ to the road, including the first annual Boots and Hearts West festival in Edmonton. Vanderzon hits the Boots and Hearts stage as an Emerging Artist Showcase alumni, after winning the contest in 2024. See the full list of upcoming dates below.
Stay tuned for more coming from Sarah Vanderzon as she propels her career to new heights with the exciting music to come.
Photo Credit: Dustin Haney
UPCOMING LIVE DATES:
Jul 17 – Les Rythmes New Country – Tremblant, QC
Aug 28 – Boots & Hearts West in Edmonton @ Fan Park Ice District
Sep 13 – Supercrawl – Hamilton, ON
Mar 12 2027 – W.H. Collins Centre – Elliott Lake, ON
Mar 13 2027 – Classic Theatre – Cobalt, ON
ABOUT SARAH VANDERZON:
Sarah Vanderzon writes music the way some people tell the truth – carefully, and with an incontestable conviction that compels you to lean in. Rooted in a reflective strain of Americana, the Québec-born singer-songwriter turns life’s in-between moments – uncertainty, devotion, the push and pull of love – into something intimate and immediate. Her sound is shaped as much by intuition as experience, grounded in a creative life that began on the outskirts of Montreal, where music was less a career path than a steady, private companion. Raised on a quiet stretch of road, Vanderzon gravitated early toward songs as stories, developing a songwriting approach built on emotional clarity and narrative detail. After winning the Boots & Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase in 2024, it marked a turning point for Sarah. Soon after, an offer from Universal Music Canada accelerated a long-building trajectory.
In the months after the release of her 2025 major label debut EP, Fortune Teller, Vanderzon travelled to Seattle to work with Grammy-nominated producer Ryan Hadlock, best known for his work with The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile, and Zach Bryan, spending several weeks at the storied Bear Creek Studio.
For Vanderzon, Americana is a feeling of proximity – music built on restraint, intention, and emotional truth. Increasingly, her focus has turned toward music built for performance and connection. What comes next for her is more open in sound, unguarded in its storytelling, and more closely aligned with who she’s becoming as an artist.
