Royal Wood

Toronto-based songwriter Royal Wood shapes stylized adult alternative music rooted in traditional pop, prompting comparisons to fellow Canadians Ron Sexsmith and Rufus Wainwright. His recording career began with The Milkweed EP in 2002, after which a Juno Award nomination for Songwriter of the Year followed for his third full-length, 2010’s The Waiting. Several projects have registered on Canadian charts, including 2012’s We Were Born to Glory and 2016’s Ghost Light.

John Royal Wood Nicholson spent his childhood in Lakefield, Ontario inside a household that actively backed his musical interests. His brother Luke Nicholson also works as a solo recording artist. Piano came first, learned by ear in preschool, followed by formal lessons a few years later. Guitar, drums, and trumpet joined his skills during the teenage years, yet piano remained primary; he played jazz in Montreal clubs while pursuing business studies at McGill University.

Releasing material under his middle names, Royal Wood issued The Milkweed EP on Sherpa Records in 2002. Tall Tales, his first full-length, appeared on the same label in 2004. He shifted to Six Shooter Records for 2007’s A Good Enough Day, and Dead Daisy Records released the EP The Lost and Found in 2009. Third album The Waiting arrived in 2010 on MapleMusic Recordings and earned a 2011 Juno nomination for Songwriter of the Year.

We Were Born to Glory became his initial Canadian album-chart entry in 2012, reaching number 23 and securing a Juno nomination in the Adult Alternative category. MapleMusic/Fontana North handled the follow-up, 2014’s The Burning Bright. Later that year he self-released his sixth LP, I Wish You Well. Ghost Light returned him to the Canadian charts in 2016 at number 66 and led to an opening slot on Bonnie Raitt’s 2017 Canadian tour.

After signing with Toronto-based Outside Music, Royal Wood released Ever After the Farewell in April 2018 and issued the Love Will Linger EP that October.