Juno nominated singer-songwriter and producer Royal Wood has spent years perfecting his craft of balladry and pop music. His new album, "The Waiting", appropriately begins with a song entitled "You Can't Go Back." And why would he, when with each new release Royal Wood delivers another collection of heartrending and honest tales of love, loss and life more impressive than the last. It now seems more than ever that Wood has found his voice. "This record is about the duality of life and how at times, I seemingly waited for the mirrored experience to return," says Wood. "I went through so many severe shifts personally and all of that turbulence led to serious thought and reflection. That is why these songs were born and why they are my most personal and introspective to date."

"Wood is on his way to establishing himself alongside the Canadian royalty of artists such as Sexsmith and Wainwright." – EXCLAIM MAGAZINE

Royal Wood's voice, songwriting and musical prowess caught the ear of Pierre Marchand and led to Wood's decision to let others into his creative universe. On previous albums (A Good Enough Day, Tall Tales, and The Milkweed EP), Wood self-produced, arranged and played the vast majority of the instruments. Pierre Marchand, a heavy hitter best known for his work with Sarah McLachlan and Rufus Wainwright, produced three of "The Waiting's" tracks. "I wanted someone who was going to push me artistically, get me out of my comfort zone and who I could inevitably learn something from," says Wood. "That was Pierre."

Royal Wood's career trajectory is building one fan at a time through word of mouth, critical acclaim and impressive musical achievements. He was nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the Junos, named iTunes' Songwriter of the Year, Best Pop Album and Pop single, supported national tours with David Gray and Serena Ryder and landed song placements in TV shows like Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. With the release of "The Waiting", his most inspired record to date, an upcoming national theatre tour and more in the works, now more than ever Royal Wood is an artist on the rise.

Press

"With grander arrangements and more conviction in his chocolate-rich vocals, Royal Wood steps up on his third album, confirming his position amongst the cream of Canada's songwriting crop. The Waiting opens with the almost unbearably slick "You Can't Go Back," but immediately moves into rougher terrain with the breathtaking "Do You Recall"; Wood's urgently thudding piano line reels you in and leaves you helpless in its crashing surf of drums and electric pop. The Toronto, ON songwriter pushes his melodies to their limits throughout the first half of the album, hitting another high note with the clatter and rumble of "On Top Of Your Love." The intensity ebbs midway through and he returns to subtler acoustic arrangements that recall his earlier work, placing his affecting lyrics centre stage. It all winds down with the beautifully weary "When Nothing's Left," in which the wrung-out tenor of Wood's crooning demonstrates the emotional depths he's plumbed for the sake of musical magic. "..... Exclaim - Rachel Sanders

"Like a sober and spiffily cleaned-up Tom Wait's, Toronto singer songwriter Royal Wood writes lovely, memorable romantic songs that grab the heart like a gospel singer praising the Lord. "Tonight, I Will Be Your Guide", "Paradise", "Lady In White". Beautiful, spare songs. I received his new album "The Waiting" today at noon and by 5 p.m., had listened to the whole album compulsively four more times. It's been ages since that happened."..... Ottawa Sun - Denis Armstrong

"Royal Wood is no throwback. Despite his suede-smooth voice and fondness for Steinways and three-piece suits, he prefers to leave Rat Pack revivalism to the Michael Bublés of the world. The thoroughly contemporary multi-instrumentalist has a gift for layered, prismatic arrangements that evoke the work of Beach Boys collaborator Van Dyke Parks. As a lyricist, he wears his heart on his bespoke sleeve, offering up wistful tales of love lost and found. Wood's sensitive poet routine has uncommon roots: after studying business at McGill, he moved to Toronto, where he began working as a foreign exchange trader on Bay Street. Then he released several well-received recordings—most notably A Good Enough Day in 2007, which got air play on Grey's Anatomy and earned him an international following and enough security to bid a triumphant farewell to the trading floor. (Finance, Wood insists, was merely "the best and only option" to fund his recordings.) His latest album, The Waiting, was produced with Pierre Marchand, who has refined the ornate sounds of Sarah McLachlan and Rufus Wainwright. Marchand's influence has helped Wood distill his whimsy into smart, sparkling art-pop nuggets: the tunes on The Waiting are crisp, clever and commanding. (Think Wainwright with more chivalry and fewer histrionics.) Wood's fall show at Exhibition Place's 1,250-seat Queen Elizabeth Theatre is his biggest headlining gig yet: the refurbished room has marvelous acoustics and a level of ceremony and elegance worthy of his dapper performance persona. At last, a venue that fits him as well as his finery."..... Toronto Life - Sarah Liss

"...sealed his position as one of Canada's major talents."..... The Metro - Rachel Sanders

"With The Waiting, Toronto-based songwriter Royal Wood stakes his claim to a broader audience than his first two full-length releases and two EPs have earned. And that's no slight against his earlier work---"A Mirror Without" from A Good Enough Day remains his finest four minutes, 39 seconds ---but there's a wider reach to this collection of songs, marrying his typically heart-worn and -warming lyrics and his distinct piano signatures with the bigger, orchestral sounds provided by Sarah McLachlan and Rufus Wainwright producer Pierre Marchand. Witness the gorgeous statement "On Top of Your Love," now getting big play on CBC Radio 2, the sublimely hooky "Do You Recall" or the lovely, fragile "Lady in White," doubtlessly bound for many future matrimonial ceremonies."..... The Coast - Carsten Knox

"In a music scene full of questionable talent and electronically distorted vocal tracks, thank God musicians like singer/songwriter Royal Wood still exist. With his classic good looks combined with vintage suits that makes him look like he walked out of an episode of Mad Men, Toronto based Royal Wood is the type of musician that the world needs more of – talented, intense, intelligent and real."..... Pop Culture Addict - Sam Tweedle

Music from 'The Waiting"

The Waiting	A Good Enough Day	Tall Tales

The Lost and Found EP	The Milkweed EP

Video

Royal Wood Links