Highlighted by an artistic acumen and an amazing ability to evoke emotion, Stokes' music is demonstrative of a songwriting craftsperson at work, with music, words, and vocal performances that connect to the hearts and spirits of all who hear them.
What is undeniable is the deeply honest approach to her musical storytelling, a wide-open emotional tableau that is representative of the silence of the vast forests, and big open skies of the northern Ontario city of North Bay where Stokes was born and raised.
Her prior work has garnered recognition from the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards, earning her an 'Outstanding Songwriter' nomination in 2019 and award in 2017.
Stokes recently released her sophomore LP ‘When The Sun Goes Away,’ produced by Jim Bryson (Kathleen Edwards). It merges folk formats and orchestration with elements of country, indie rock, and ambient electronic embellishments, which create a supportive foundation for Stokes’ crystal clear vocals and unique conversational phrasing. Its 11 tracks tell stories of relationships and self-reckoning and capture nuanced moments in a relatable way that will both break your heart and put it back together again.
“When The Sun Goes Away takes listeners on an emotional journey, weaving a tapestry of relatable themes and musical diversity…a collection of songs that together create a compelling and memorable musical experience.”
“Empowerment can come in a plethora of voices. And one of the most sincere and celestial I’ve heard in recent times is the acclaimed Rose-Erin Stokes’ recent folk-pop single “I Can’t Stay”. The palpable verse is Stokes’ forte and with lines like, “Like when I’m high on you/ When I’m drunk on dreams/ The come down always gets the best of me” and “So take what you have/ Make it into something that/ You can hold onto not something that is holding you back,” you get the sense that this song is the result of experiences”
"Sounds the way nostalgia feels- with lyrics so lovely I rewound the track several times to hear them again.”
"The music is moving, without trying too hard, and that’s just as noble as quiet confidence in a world that seems determined to write you off."
“If I could capture daydreams in jars, I imagine they’d sparkle and glow in the same way “Always On My Mind” by Rose-Erin Stokes does. Her desire and longing are palpable in the way you imagine hope would feel if you could hold it in your hands, its physical and emotional weight and volume equal. It’s a feeling that lasts for a fleeting, fluid moment.”