Donovan Woods

Donovan Woods is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, Woods began playing the guitar and writing songs as a teenager.He began his musical journey writing country music with hints of folk, pop, and rock.Woods' style of writing alludes to a soft melody and storytelling lyrics.His first album, The Hold Up, was released in 2007. Woods' song "Brand New Gun" was featured in the movie Numb starring Matthew Perry.His song "Wait and See" was featured on Degrassi: The Next Generation, and his song "My Cousin Has a Grey Cup Ring" was used in commercials for the Grey Cup."Grey Cup Ring" was inspired by Woods' father, who is a cousin of former Montreal Alouettes player Glen Weir. His second album, The Widowmaker, was released in 2011, and his third album, Don't Get Too Grand, was released in 2013.The Widowmaker has been attributed to describe the up and downs of family life.The album tells a tale of one's life in a rural town and the romance associated with it. Woods went on tour for this album across Canada and focused primarily on the East Coast.His next album, Don't Get Too Grand, is inspired by a quote Richard Ford's aunt said to him on her deathbed.This was a large inspiration for his album.Woods wants this album to be a simple listen for the everyday person.Both albums are quite diverse regarding ballads and the instruments being played. Woods' song "Portland, Maine" (co-written with Abe Stoklasa) has also been recorded by Tim McGraw.Woods' song "Leaving Nashville" (also co-written with Abe Stoklasa) has been recorded by Lady Antebellum singer Charles Kelley. Woods was signed to Warner/Chappell Nashville in 2016.His fourth album, Hard Settle, Ain't Troubled, was released February 26, 2016, and was a longlisted nominee for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize.At the 12th Canadian Folk Music Awards, Woods won the award for English Songwriter of the Year, and the album was nominated for Contemporary Album of the Year. Woods had released many singles between his 2016 album and his newest album, Both Ways, that was released on April 20, 2018.He released a song called What They Mean where he discusses love and the complications that follow as a young teen.He accurately describes young love and the heartbreak one feels for their first love.In the same year, he was a SOCAN Songwriting Prize nominee as co-writer of James Barker Band's song "Chills".He has more than 35 million streams on Spotify and continues to enhance his audience.