Mark Ledlin | Artist of the Month
Fresh into a new year we get to meet JR’s first Artist of the Month – Vancouver’s very own Mark Ledlin.
Mark Ledlin is a country music powerhouse with a journey as unique as his sound. After spending a decade playing professional hockey across Europe, he boldly swapped his skates for a guitar. He first caught public attention in August 2020 when he appeared on The Voice of Germany, advancing to the third round under the mentorship of renowned singer-songwriter Michael Schulte (Eurovision Song Contest). Just two years later, he released his debut single, “Drink About Me,” in June 2022, quickly reaching over 2 million streams and paving the way for his rapid climb in the country music scene. To date, Mark’s music has garnered over 6 million streams worldwide—and the numbers keep climbing!
With a voice as compelling as his story, Mark has opened for artists like Lainey Wilson, Dallas Smith, and Kameron Marlowe. He recently took the main stage at Quebec’s Festival Lotbinière alongside Riley Green and Nate Smith.
In 2023, Mark was named a SiriusXM Top of the Country semi-finalist. That same year, he dropped his debut EP, Cowboys Wear Sneakers Too, which made waves across the country music scene and earned him a sold-out show at Vancouver’s iconic venue, The Roxy. His fan-favorite performances also earned him the title of 2023’s most requested indie artist at Sunfest Country Music Festival.
By February 2024, Mark made the decision to retire from professional hockey, concluding a remarkable career of 300 games to fully devote himself to music. Since then, he’s become a Rogers ‘One to Watch’ on country radio, and scored his first Top 40 hit with the single “Slower Than You Planned.”
Mark’s unique sound was crafted in collaboration with standout producers Dan Botch and Garrett Ward at Renaissance Music, whose credits include talents like Zach McPhee, Parker Graye, and Mitch Zorn. Backed by AAG Management and XOXO Entertainment Corp., he’s just getting started—bringing a fresh edge to country music that fans can’t get enough of.
Listen for Mark Ledlin all this month on JR and check out ‘Jealous of Jesus‘