Canadian folk-pop artist Shaina Hayes has released her new single, “Timid.”
A gentle indie-pop track that celebrates the inner world of introverts, “Timid” features Shaina Hayes alongside a team of Montreal all-stars, including Francis Ledoux on drums, Étienne Dupré on bass, David Marchand on electric guitar, and Lysandre Ménard on upright piano. Recorded live, the track captures an organic warmth that complements its reflective spirit.
“Timid” is best described as breezy and gently noncommittal, drifting along with an easygoing charm that feels both effortless and inviting.
The echoing instrumentation and layered vocals give it a sense of etherealness, but without losing the rich warmth the track is imbued with. “Timid” is sweet, without being cloying – there’s a sense of melancholy in it, but that shouldn’t stop it from being on many listeners’ summer playlists.
“Timid was a track that came about during a time when I was listening to a lot of Julia Jacklin and Billie Marten,” says Shaina Hayes. “I was loving the way their sweet, folky vocals float above the instruments in their more indie-rock tunes, and I wanted to create something similar.
“I wanted to explore the idea that even at our most articular, the way we express ourselves is just a tiny glimpse into what’s actually going on inside us – that we contain whole, unseen universes.”