By: Laura Moreno
The incomparable
singer/songwriter Jennarie (pronounced “Jenna-ree”) is a Toronto-based independent artist whose music blends pop, R&B, and jazz into a sound that is soulful, bold, and emotionally resonant. Proudly queer, plus-size, and neurodivergent, she is making waves in today’s highly competitive music scene.
The up and coming singer has crafted a unique sound that perfectly highlights her amazing voice, which is often compared to velvet or a warm embrace. Combined with top-notch songwriting and a spirited personality, Jennarie brings a sense of authenticity and emotion that makes her a rising star.
Equally impressive, she writes and performs songs that uplift underrepresented communities and champion self-love and body positivity. Whether through heartfelt live performances, beautiful melodies, jazzy arrangements, or candid lyrics, her music serves as a platform for marginalized voices, a place listeners can feel valued and understood.
Her music is “like a portrait of the kinds of things I think about, the experiences I’ve had, the things I’ve healed from,” Jennarie said in an interview with Amanda Shekarchi for Met Radio. “I’ve since met so many people from all over the world who have the same experience as me, and that has really like launched not just me as a musician…but most importantly has connected me with listeners who actually really relate and who are not just feeling empathetic or compassionate for the experience, but who really feel that song in their core for themselves as well.”
Big breakthrough
Her breakthrough came in 2024 when she decided to respond to online body-shaming with the empowering anthem “Never Been Small,” a song that went viral across social platforms.
Jennarie’s debut EP by the same name was incredibly well received across Canada, the U.S., and Europe. The six-track project blends musical skill with fearless emotional depth, sparking conversations about body positivity, mental health, and healing from trauma. The artist promotes a message of radical self-love in the EP that unites communities across borders.
The high-caliber production led by Nick Tateishi, showcases Jennarie’s unique ability to merge jazz-trained precision with R&B soul and pop sensibility.
But the most exciting thing by far was that it caught the attention of major artists she very much admires including SZA and Meghan Trainor, who in a sense discovered her. It surpassed 2 million streams on Spotify. She was also featured in the 2025 Netflix comedy The Motherlode.
In 2025, Jennarie’s talent was recognized on a national stage when she was named Second Prize Winner in the Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Program (in partnership with Stingray Music), one of Canada’s premier platforms for new musical talent. She also earned a place in the RBC x MusiCounts First Up 2025 Cohort, reflecting industry confidence in her potential as an artist.
To be sure, songs like “Melodies” also highlight both her beautiful voice and her artistry, fusing acoustic songwriting with luscious horn and string arrangements, establishing Jennarie as one of the most exciting new voices to emerge internationally.
No doubt, Jennarie inherited her musical talent from her family of music-lovers and her grandfather in particular who was a jazz musician and always encouraged her in her singing and music.
Her best advice for people dealing with self-acceptance is found in the lyrics of “I’d Rather Be Ugly If that Means I Love Me.” There’s a lot of noise out there and “sometimes it helps to learn about the politics and to learn about why people do the things they do…so you can better understand the situation.”
Jennarie’s candor and willingness to be raw and real with her fans — fans being a word she finds slightly cringe —are fueling her rising popularity across social media. The Canadian composer continues to cultivate a solid, growing, incredibly loyal fanbase of hundreds of thousands of followers who connect with her music’s messages of empowerment and authenticity. Her work continues to spark discussion around body image, self-acceptance, and what it means to take up space unapologetically in both art and life, empowering a new generation to get to a place of self-acceptance and peace.
www.jennarie.com