CTV Reveals the 30 Aspiring Artists Featured on Season 2 of Hit Music Series, THE LAUNCH

CTV officially unveils today the 30 artists vying for their chance to record an original song on the upcoming second season of CTV’s smash-hit music series, THE LAUNCH, premiering January 30. Handpicked from thousands of applicants, these widely gifted artists represent some of the best talent that Canada has to offer across a variety of musical genres, including pop, rock, country, soul, folk, and more.

The six-episode second season of THE LAUNCH kicks off Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT in super simulcast on CTV, VRAK, and the CTV app. Weekly episodes of THE LAUNCH will also air day-and-date with CTV on VRAK, subtitled in French. Encore presentations of THE LAUNCH air Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and Sundays at 11 a.m. ET on Much (visit CTV.ca and Much.com to confirm local listings).

Guiding artists through the audition, performing, and recording process are Scott Borchetta, world renowned music executive and CEO/Founder of Big Machine Label Group, and new permanent mentor Marie-Mai (STAR ACADÉMIE, LA VOIX), who join a weekly rotating panel of music industry powerhouse celebrity mentors and producers. Fan favourite entertainment reporter Liz Trinnear (ETALK) also joins Season 2 in a new hosting role.

See below for a list of artists, airdates, and corresponding celebrity mentors and song producers. To learn more about each artist and to watch a Season 2 preview, visit @CTV_PR and click here. Viewers can catch up on Season 1 of THE LAUNCH on CTV.ca, the CTV app, and the all-new Crave.

Episode 1 – Airing Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Celebrity Mentor/Producer: Ryan Tedder

Amber J, Trail, B.C. – Pop, R&B

Cassiøpeia, Burnaby, B.C. – Alt-Pop

Dey, Toronto – Soul

NOA, Richmond Hill, Ont. – Pop

Vi, Ottawa – Alternative, Dark-Pop

 

 

Episode 2 – Airing Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Celebrity Mentor: Sarah McLachlan

Song Producer: Alex Hope

Alexandra Porat, Mississauga, Ont. – Pop, R&B

Avery Florence, Montréal – Soft-Soul, Low-Key R&B

T. Thomason, Halifax – Indie, Pop-Rock

Trevor LaRose, Mississauga, Ont. – Alt-Pop

Phé, Vancouver – R&B

 

Episode 3 – Airing Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Celebrity Mentor: Max Kerman (Arkells)

Song Producer: Jon Levine

Charlie The Kid, Toronto – Confetti-Folk

James Clayton, Montréal – Singer-songwriter, Alternative Folk-Rock

Old.Soul.Rebel, Vancouver – Soul, Rock-n-Roll

Polina Grace, Montréal – Power-Pop

Saveria, London, Ont. – R&B, Neo-Soul

 

Episode 4 – Airing Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Celebrity Mentor: Jann Arden

Song Producer: Shaun Frank

Clancy Coulter, Princeton, B.C. – R&B, Alternative-Pop

JaydePeterborough, Ont. – Alternative-Pop

Julia Gartha, Markham, Ont. – Singer-Songwriter, Pop

Nick Babcock, Kingston, Ont. – Pop

Olivia Lunny, Winnipeg – Alternative-Pop

 

Episode 5 – Airing Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Celebrity Mentor/Song Producer: Bryan Adams

Ben Cottrill, Vancouver – Acoustic-Rock, Soul

Jordane Labrie, Québec City – Folk Americana

Maddie Storvold, Edmonton – Country-Folk

Nate Daviau, Toronto – Country, Americana

The Faceplants, Vancouver – Pop-Rock

 

Episode 6 – Airing Wednesday, Mar. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Celebrity Mentor: Bebe Rexha

Song Producer: Nile Rodgers

Adrian Chalifour, Victoria – Indie-Rock, Folk-Rock

Del Hartley, Toronto – R&B/Soul

Michelle Treacy, Ottawa – Pop

Sarah Carmosino, Aurora, Ont. – Indie-Pop

WILL, Toronto – R&B, Pop

As announced last fall, the exciting second season of THE LAUNCH features A-List mentors and producers, including Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan; Grammy® Award-winning music legend Bryan Adams; frontman for four-time JUNO-Award winning rock band Arkells, Max Kerman; celebrated multi-platinum award-winning singer-songwriter Jann Arden; chart-topping singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha; and recording/producing superstar Ryan Tedder, who produced the Season 1 certified platinum hit single “Ain’t Easy” by Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, returns.

Additionally, some of the most successful producers working in music today join Season 2 to produce fresh hit songs including Nile Rodgers (Madonna, David Bowie, Diana Ross); Jon Levine (Avril Lavigne, Drake, Bebe Rexha); Alex Hope (Carly Rae Jepsen, Troye Sivan, Tove Lo); and Shaun Frank (The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, Dragonette).

Based on the success of the first season, THE LAUNCH secured an exclusive worldwide distribution deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT). In addition, the inaugural season delivered a series of consecutive #1 hit songs amassing more than 30 million streams internationally to date, including “Ain’t Easy” by Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, which also has accumulated more than 342 million radio audience impressions to date. The pop/hip-hop duo won the iHeartRadio MMVA for Best New Canadian Artist in August, and recently dropped their latest single “Better Off.”