Michelle Willis

Before embarking on her own path as a solo performer, British-born and Canadian-raised singer/songwriter Michelle Willis had already compiled an extensive track record via session work on keyboards and multiple artistic partnerships. Upon completing studies in the jazz curriculum at Toronto’s Humber College, she established herself within the city’s vibrant music community before branching outward to collaborate with figures such as David Crosby, Zac Brown Band, and Parachute Club. A 2009 recording project with the acclaimed Toronto roots ensemble the Henrys sparked the formation of a new trio that paired Willis with the group’s slide guitarist Don Rooke and veteran violinist Hugh Marsh. Operating as Three Metre Day, the unit released the 2012 album Coasting Notes and composed the soundtrack for the 2013 independent film Still Mine, an effort that earned a best original score nomination at the Canadian Screen Awards. During one of their tours the musicians forged an unexpected alliance with former Iggy and the Stooges guitarist James Williamson, who subsequently arranged California performances for the band and recruited them for the 2013 Iggy Pop album Ready to Die. By 2015 Willis was juggling extensive road commitments with Brooklyn instrumental fusion band Snarky Puppy and Canadian indie folk artist Peter Katz while finalizing tracks for her first solo project. She ultimately signed with Snarky Puppy founder Michael League’s Universal-affiliated GroundUP Music imprint, which issued the debut album See Us Through in spring 2016.