Chantal Kreviazuk

Biography

Chantal Jennifer Kreviazuk ( shahn-TAHL KREV-ee-AZ-ək; born May 18, 1973) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist.
Born in Winnipeg, Kreviazuk played music from a young age before signing with Columbia Records and releasing her debut album Under These Rocks and Stones×Under These Rocks and Stones8 October 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1God Made Me3:112Surrounded5:173Don’t Be Good4:064Believer3:165Grace3:506Wayne4:467Imaginary Friend4:118Hands4:339Disagree3:2910Co‐Dependent3:4611Green Apples4:2612Boot3:5013Actions Without Love3:52 (1996).
Kreviazuk released two more studio albums with the Columbia label, Colour Moving and Still×Colour Moving and Still5 October 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Blue4:582Dear Life3:293Until We Die3:554Souls5:105Before You3:536M4:017Soul Searching3:278Far Away3:499Eve3:4610Little Things4:36 (1999) and What If It All Means Something×What If It All Means Something19 November 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1In This Life3:512Time4:073What If It All Means Something4:034Julia3:425Flying Home (Brenda’s Song)3:196Weight of the World3:337Waiting4:298Ready for Your Love3:389Morning Light3:5710Miss April3:3811Turn the Page3:46 (2002), both of which brought moderate commercial success worldwide. She signed with Sony BMG for her fourth album, Ghost Stories×Ghost Stories5 September 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Ghosts of You3:582All I Can Do3:363Spoke in Tongues3:134Mad About You3:465So Cold2:206Waiting for the Sun3:487You Blame Yourself4:088Grow Up So Fast3:279Wonderful3:3310Asylum4:1311Wendy House6:09 (2006), which reached number two on the Canadian Albums Chart.
Since 2003, Kreviazuk has co-written and composed numerous songs for other artists as well as film soundtracks, and has appeared in several Canadian independent and short films. Her fifth album, Plain Jane×Plain Jane13 October 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Invincible3:352Half of Me3:263Ordinary People3:4245000 Days4:115Today3:226The Way3:277Plain Jane4:448Say the Word3:309Kerosene Lamp3:4310Halfway Around the World3:4211Na Miso1:27, was released by Canadian independent label MapleMusic Recordings in 2009. Her most recent albums, Hard Sail×Hard Sail17 June 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Hard Sail3:492All I Got3:093Into Me3:174Vicious3:495Lost4:166Meant for This3:377Snowing in the Desert3:348Ticklish3:459I Love You4:2110Smile in Your Sleep2:03 and Get To You×Get to You2020 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Get to You2:192Idonwannu3:193Love Gone Insane5:054Unforgivable2:545Love Is What Is Good3:286Room Full of People4:027Keep Going3:218Shooting Star2:459Oleander3:4610Wings3:59, were released by Warner Music Canada in 2016 and 2020, respectively. She also released a Christmas album in 2019, called Christmas Is A Way Of Life, My Dear×Christmas Is a Way of Life, My Dear2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Shine0:552Christmas Is a Way of Life, My Dear2:163Winter Wonderland2:414Blue Christmas3:175Wonderful Christmastime2:316What Child Is This3:267I Wanna Be an Angel3:028Overthinking4:119Silent Night3:1010The Christmas Train1:43.
From the beginning of her career to 2016, Kreviazuk was the 51st best-selling Canadian artist in Canada.
Kreviazuk is a three-time Juno Award winner and she has collaborated with several other musicians, including Kelly Clarkson, Drake, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Kendrick Lamar and Pink.

Albums

Kreviazuk's debut album, Under These Rocks and Stones×Under These Rocks and Stones8 October 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1God Made Me3:112Surrounded5:173Don’t Be Good4:064Believer3:165Grace3:506Wayne4:467Imaginary Friend4:118Hands4:339Disagree3:2910Co‐Dependent3:4611Green Apples4:2612Boot3:5013Actions Without Love3:52, was first issued in Canada in October 1996 before being released in the US June 1997 to critical praise. The album sold over 150,000 copies in Canada according to SoundScan, fueled mostly by the singles "Surrounded×Surrounded1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Surrounded (Radio Edit)3:582Love Is All2:563Surrounded (Acoustic)5:10" and "God Made Me". Three videos from the album received modest play on the video channel MuchMusic and radio ("God Made Me", "Believer" and "Wayne"), but it was a fourth, "Surrounded", that became her first major Canadian airplay hit in 1997. That year, Kreviazuk received her first Juno Award nomination as Best New Artist. She also took part in the 1998 Lilith Fair music festival; "Surrounded" was included in the live compilation album from that year.
In 1999, Kreviazuk released her second album. Titled Colour Moving and Still, it featured tracks written with her new husband, Raine Maida, lead singer of Our Lady Peace. The lead single from the album "Before You" became a huge radio hit in Canada and she performed the single on the 2000 Juno Awards, where she won two awards for Best Adult/Pop Album and Best Female Artist. Kreviazuk released two more videos from the album, "Dear Life" and "Far Away", as well as an additional radio release, "Souls", which was also remixed and was released as a promo vinyl for the M1 & Steve Fernandez Remix.
Her third album, What If It All Means Something×What If It All Means Something19 November 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1In This Life3:512Time4:073What If It All Means Something4:034Julia3:425Flying Home (Brenda’s Song)3:196Weight of the World3:337Waiting4:298Ready for Your Love3:389Morning Light3:5710Miss April3:3811Turn the Page3:46, was released in 2002. This album also featured multiple collaborations with Maida. The first single, "In This Life×In This Life3 July 2012 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Surrounded5:512Feels Like Home5:3235,000 Days (interlude)0:4445,000 Days4:365Invincible4:156Eve5:147Half of Me3:418Until We Die4:529Today3:3910Need Anyone4:2311Plain Jane4:4812In This Life4:5013Leaving on a Jet Plane7:06", was a hit in Canada. Kreviazuk performed the song live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Kreviazuk began writing and recording her fourth album in her home studio in August, 2005, with Maida producing. The first single off the album, "All I Can Do×All I Can Do27 June 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1All I Can Do (radio single)3:40", was made available on her official website and MySpace page prior to the release of the album. On July 24 the album premiered on the Canadian music channel Much More Music along with a behind the scenes special. The album, Ghost Stories×Ghost Stories5 September 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Ghosts of You3:582All I Can Do3:363Spoke in Tongues3:134Mad About You3:465So Cold2:206Waiting for the Sun3:487You Blame Yourself4:088Grow Up So Fast3:279Wonderful3:3310Asylum4:1311Wendy House6:09, was released August 29, 2006.
On October 28, 2008, she released her first compilation album, Since We Met: The Best of 1996-2006.
On October 13, 2009, she released her fifth studio album, Plain Jane×Plain Jane13 October 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Invincible3:352Half of Me3:263Ordinary People3:4245000 Days4:115Today3:226The Way3:277Plain Jane4:448Say the Word3:309Kerosene Lamp3:4310Halfway Around the World3:4211Na Miso1:27.
Kreviazuk was featured on the song Over My Dead Body by fellow Canadian artist Drake from his 2011 album Take Care, which won a Grammy award.
Her first live album, entitled In This Life, was released on July 3, 2012.
She featured on rapper Jay Rock's track Pay for It, which she performed alongside Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar on Saturday Night Live on November 15, 2014.
In November 2014, Kreviazuk released a new single called "I Will Be", speaking to her desire to want to help those who feel alone and isolated. She sang the song live on December 12 on the Toronto radio station 104.5 CHUM FM.

Soundtracks

Kreviazuk's work has appeared on many soundtracks for films and television shows. In 1998, Kreviazuk scored her only international hit to date with a cover of "Leaving on a Jet Plane×Leaving on a Jet Plane1998 · Single · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Leaving on a Jet Plane4:202Love Is All2:563Dealer3:39", a song written by John Denver and popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary. The song appeared on the soundtrack to the blockbuster film Armageddon and was that album's follow-up single to Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing". The song "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was also on a trailer for The Terminal, and on TV spots for The Prince and Me and De-Lovely.
In 1999, Kreviazuk recorded a cover of the Randy Newman ballad "Feels Like Home" for the Dawson's Creek soundtrack, as well as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. She also performed a cover version of The Beatles' "In My Life" as the theme song for the NBC television drama series Providence.
In 2002, Kreviazuk recorded "Another Small Adventure" which was played in Stuart Little 2 and was also on the soundtrack.
"In this Life×In This Life3 July 2012 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Surrounded5:512Feels Like Home5:3235,000 Days (interlude)0:4445,000 Days4:365Invincible4:156Eve5:147Half of Me3:418Until We Die4:529Today3:3910Need Anyone4:2311Plain Jane4:4812In This Life4:5013Leaving on a Jet Plane7:06" was featured in the film Saved! and also in a trailer for the film The Door in the Floor starring Jeff Bridges, as well as in an episode of the CW Television Network's Smallville and Everwood. Kreviazuk's "Time" was played in the credits of the movie Uptown Girls, and featured in an episode of the MTV reality show, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, the pilot episode of the ABC romantic comedy/drama Men in Trees, the CBS drama Joan of Arcadia, and the ABC family movie Lucky 7. Her song "This Year" was featured on the Serendipity soundtrack. In 2005, two new songs written and performed by Kreviazuk were also featured on the soundtrack of the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. In 2006, "It's All About a Kiss" played during the film Just My Luck. The song "Weight of the World" is also featured during the credits of the 2003 film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and in the US television series Wildfire.

Songwriting for other artists

Since 2003, Kreviazuk has co-written many songs for other artists, often collaborating with her husband Raine Maida. In 2003, Kreviazuk and Maida collaborated on a number of tracks with Avril Lavigne for Lavigne's second album Under My Skin. Kreviazuk and Maida also contributed songs to Kelly Clarkson's 2004 album Breakaway, The Veronicas' The Secret Life of the Veronicas, Marion Raven's 2005 and 2007 albums Here I Am and Set Me Free, Cheyenne Kimball's debut Hanging On in 2006, and the song "Permanent" from David Cook's self-titled album. She also helped write a song called "Gardenia" which appears on Mandy Moore's 2007 album Wild Hope. In 2011, she appeared on the rapper Drake's album Take Care; she wrote part of the song "Over My Dead Body" and sang the chorus. In 2012 Chantal wrote the Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera single "Feel This Moment" with The Messengers. She also wrote Josh Groban's single "Brave" with Groban and Thomas "Tawgs" Salter. In 2014 she wrote the song "You Don't Care About Me" with Shakira, released on her self-titled album. She also worked with Jennifer Lopez on her album A.K.A. and the song "Emotions". Kreviazuk was also one of the writers of "If I'm Dancing" on the Britney Spears album Glory.

Other work

In 2001, Kreviazuk made her big-screen debut as a main character in David Weaver's indie film Century Hotel (co-starring alongside Sandrine Holt and Mia Kirshner). She also co-wrote the movie's theme song, "Can't Make it Good", with Maida. In 2007, Kreviazuk starred in Pretty Broken, a short film about a woman dealing with mental illness. Kreviazuk also co-produced the movie.
Kreviazuk has contributed vocals to various releases by other artists. She sang background vocals on a Nightmare of You song called "I Want to Be Buried in Your Backyard", which was released on their 2005 self-titled debut album. She has also contributed to Maida's solo EP, Love Hope Hero. Kreviazuk also provided additional vocals on a Men, Women & Children song titled "Monkey Monkee Men", from their 2006 self-titled debut album. She performed vocals for Chris Botti on the song "The Look of Love". Kreviazuk also appears on Canadian singer-songwriter Ryan MacGrath's 2010 record, "Cooper Hatch Paris". She performed a duet with the artist entitled "Bird & Cage".
Kreviazuk formerly maintained a MySpace page where she posted about her daily life, her thoughts on world politics, and updated fans on her music.
On March 27, 2010, Kreviazuk headlined a concert held at Yonge-Dundas Square (now Sankofa Square) in Toronto to celebrate WWF's Earth Hour. In 2010, she contributed the song "Na Miso" to the Enough Project and Downtown Records' Raise Hope for Congo compilation with Bibiana Mpoyo. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo's women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.
On March 29, 2014, Kreviazuk and her husband Raine Maida received the Alan Waters Humanitarian Award at the Juno Gala Dinner & Awards during the 2014 Juno Awards in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Allan Waters Humanitarian Award recognizes outstanding Canadian artists whose contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada.
In December 2014, Kreviazuk was appointed a member of the Order of Canada along with her husband Raine Maida by Governor General David Johnston for their charitable and humanitarian work.
In February 2025, Kreviazuk sang the national anthem O Canada at the final game of the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey series in Boston, during which she changed the lyric "in all of us command" to "that only us command." The lyric change was an intentional publicity stunt in response to the annexationist rhetoric against Canada from US President Donald Trump.
In 2026, she was appointed to the Order of Manitoba, the province’s highest honour.

Personal life

Kreviazuk was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and attended Balmoral Hall School for Girls. She graduated from the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, and has subsequently received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Winnipeg for her philanthropic work for War Child. She has two brothers, Michael and Trevor
and is also the second cousin of curler and 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion Alison Kreviazuk. She is of Ukrainian and Métis descent.
Kreviazuk met Raine Maida, the lead singer of Our Lady Peace, at a Pearl Jam concert in Toronto in 1996. They married in December 1999, and have three sons, born January 2004, June 2005, and June 2008. In honour of their tenth wedding anniversary, Kreviazuk and Maida renewed their wedding vows in Costa Rica in November 2009. The family lives in Toronto and also has a home in the USA.
Kreviazuk and Maida appeared in the 2019 documentary film I'm Going to Break Your Heart, which detailed both their collaboration on the album Moon vs. Sun, their first album recorded jointly as a duo, and the conflicts and tensions that had arisen in their marriage after 19 years.
Kreviazuk is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism. She has been intimately involved with War Child and other charities since 2003.