Country singer-songwriter Alli Walker has forged her distinct musical path from the heart of Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province. Growing up with a Police Chief father and accountant mother, Walker's childhood instilled in her a strong work ethic. As a youth, she excelled in multiple disciplines, achieving four high school championships in different sports while also winning the North American Championship as part of a bagpiping band, which led to performances at the World Championships in Scotland and Ireland. Simultaneously, she honed her skills in drumming, piano, guitar, singing, songwriting, and theater productions.

 

Upon graduating from high school and spending a year studying classical music as a vocal major in University, Walker decided to pursue her passion for country music. Influenced by many genres and artists like Avril Lavigne, Sum 41, Our Lady Peace, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, and Gretchen Wilson, she made the bold move to Toronto, Canada's largest metropolis, to chase her musical dream.

 

Her journey included detours as a print and commercial model and actor for brands such as Nike, Dyson, Google and Levi’s, and she even appeared in the hit TV show Suits. She also became a runner-up in a search for the next video host on MuchMusic, Canada's top-rated music video channel. However, the road to success in music proved challenging, with months spent sleeping on friends' floors and couches while taking on various odd jobs.

 

Undeterred by setbacks, Walker knew that she needed to take charge of her destiny. She embarked on a quest to understand every facet of the music industry, performing at countless venues, from dive bars to weddings, and even making trips to Nashville to collaborate with other songwriters, despite facing rejection from many. She absorbed knowledge through online resources, learning about music management, social media strategies, graphic design, video editing, and record production. Her networking efforts connected her with a multitude of industry professionals, from musicians and producers to radio executives. Walker proclaimed, “I was a sponge, and I wasn’t going to pretend that I knew what to do, but I knew I could learn.”

 

Armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience, Walker released her debut album, The Basement Sessions: What I've Learned So Far in 2019. This album featured intimate songs reflecting her years of perseverance and dedication, which she wrote entirely by herself and recorded in her basement.

 

But Walker's journey was just beginning.  With a decade of experience and a successful album under her belt, Walker was headed to Nashville to write for her next project when she was halted by the pandemic.  Because of Covid travel regulations, Walker had to remain in Ontario and co-write with local writers to build her collection of songs for her sophomore album, Growing Up. After years of applying, she was offered one of a few coveted Canadian grants (FACTOR) which allowed Alli to expand her recording and video creation, including marketing and touring.  During the process, she joined TikTok to post newly written songs to the platform.  After several strong fan reactions, Walker decided to choose the final tracklist based on her most liked TikTok songs.  Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Walker worked remotely from her home recording studio in Ontario via Zoom with her Nashville-based producer, Danick Dupelle (Emerson Drive, Michelle Wright). The album features eight deeply personal songs, and again, her fans responded enthusiastically. Growing Up debuted at #6 on the global iTunes Country charts and earned her prominent placements and playlist covers on major streaming platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, and Tidal.  Spotify gave her the most coveted out of home placement in Canada, a digital billboard in Toronto’s ‘Times Square.’ 

 

Walker received several recognitions during the album cycle, including Spotify Canada's Radar Artist on the Horizon and award nominations from numerous regional Canadian Country Music organizations. She also gained attention from prominent media outlets such as SiriusXM and CMT US.  Spotify invited her to speak on the topic of equality for women in country music, alongside superstar Carly Pearce, at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards.

 

In late 2023, Walker combined her love for bagpipes with country music, creating a unique blend that captured social media's attention. Her country sea shanty called "The Whiskey's Gone", produced by Dave Cohen (Morgan Wallen, Hardy), gained massive traction on TikTok, amassing tens of millions of views and quickly attracting a substantial following. The explosive response included over 10 million views across her social media platforms alongside a staggering global 800,000 streams. This breakthrough led her to secure her first managerial representation by Nashville-based manager Brad Turcotte (Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Shania Twain) and booking support by Toronto-based agent Joel Baskin with The Feldman Group (Avril Lavigne, Bryan Adams).

 

Currently, based in Nashville, Walker is gearing up for her next album and more prominent tour dates across the globe.  Her journey in the music industry has only just begun, and the future holds boundless potential for this dedicated and innovative artist.