Canadian singer‑songwriter Apryll Aileen returns with “Call Me Anytime,” a warm, uplifting pop/alt‑country single that captures the quiet strength of unconditional love across distance. Rooted in emotional clarity and narrative depth, the song follows a grandfather supporting his grandson as he leaves home to pursue a rising soccer career—balancing pride, longing, and the enduring promise of connection.
Told from the grandfather’s perspective, the lyrics offer simple yet deeply resonant reassurance: no matter how far the boy travels, he is never alone. “Call Me Anytime” becomes both a message and a mantra, a reminder that love remains steady even as life pulls people in different directions.
That emotional thread carries into the song’s visual world. Filmed in Toronto during JUNO Week, the accompanying music video stars youth soccer standout Malakhai Eaton, one of the top defensive players in the GTA (12 and under). The video mirrors the tension between ambition and home—capturing the bittersweet reality of leaving behind familiarity to chase something bigger, while still holding tight to where you came from.
The song’s creation unfolded naturally. “I was actually on a flight to the UK when I heard the chorus melody in my head,” Apryll recalls. “I didn’t want to lose it, so I recorded a voice note right there in my seat. As soon as the plane touched down, I grabbed my friend’s guitar and the song grew naturally from there; it wrote itself.” The track was later shaped with UK‑based producer Danny Lafrombe, blending simplicity with dynamic shifts that mirror the emotional arc of the story.
Apryll co‑wrote the lyrics with her friend Bill Eaton, who originally intended the song as a Christmas gift for his grandson Malakhai. What began as a personal gesture soon evolved into something they felt compelled to share more widely—an anthem for families navigating distance, growth, and change.
One of the most unexpected moments came during filming. While traveling between locations, 11‑year‑old Malakhai played “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman—a song that had subconsciously influenced Apryll during the writing process. “Keep in mind I had never met Malakhai until we filmed the video. This alone is mind‑boggling to me. I’m not sure which one of us felt the call to ‘Fast Car’ first, but I think we captured part of its intimate, raw, narrative essence and that driving, slightly melancholic rhythm.”
https://open.spotify.com/track/3SQIF5HhACrt8EeUE3eE4G
https://music.apple.com/ca/song/call-me-anytime/1890995378
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Where have you performed? What is your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
My favorite show was in Venice Beach, California during the Venice Sign Lighting. It was so magical being able to perform on a stage outdoors, with fake snow falling all around me, while opening up for a pair of Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers like Steve Ferrone’s band (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers) and Al Jardine (The Beach Boys). Venice Beach welcomed me with open arms. I love the community there!
I’m currently gearing up for an East Coast Music Award week showcase in Sydney, Cape Breton at the Breton crafthouse on Friday, May 22nd. I’ll also be involved in a special singer-songwriter event in Nova Scotia at Bentridge Winery on July 12th. Otherwise, I’m focused on promoting my new release “Call Me Anytime” and working on the new album 🙂
What about your music is rebellious, unconventional, or unusual?
I didn’t exactly arrive at music by sitting still. I tried to escape it multiple times, but the path kept leading me back to the melodies. I started playing piano when I was five years old and grew up classically trained, but even then, I was never someone who fit neatly inside the lines. I was stubborn, energetic, romantic — the kind of person who chased everything at full speed. I became obsessed with basketball and watched every single one of Kobe’s game tapes. I lived and breathed shooting hoops. Then a basketball injury stopped me in my tracks.
Years later, a shaman said to me, “Thank God for that injury. You were too stubborn to stop on your own and your path was meant for music.” Weirdly, that always stayed with me. That moment became part of my story. It felt like the universe had to trip me before it could redirect me toward what I was actually meant to do.
I think that same rebellion shows up in the way I write music now. Even with a classical foundation, I’ve never been interested in following formulas just because they’re technically “correct.” I trust feeling before theory. Sometimes I’ll choose a chord because it breaks the rules but says exactly what the emotion needs to say. I’m drawn to tension, unexpected turns, and melodies that feel alive instead of polished into perfection. I’ve always felt a little like a piano pop rebel — classically trained, but emotionally untamed.
A lot of my music comes from that idea: sometimes the detour becomes the doorway. I write about heartbreak, travel, desire, spiritual curveballs, reinvention — all the messy, beautiful moments that change you. My sound lives somewhere between soulful cinematic pop and alt- country, and I think my songs are for the woman who’s cried in airports, fallen for the wrong person in the right city, prayed for a sign, ignored it twice, and still somehow came out stronger and glowing on the other side.
Freedom is the greatest luxury, and life was never meant to be lived sitting still.
What sets your music apart? What is unique, or at least uncommon?
I’m a classically trained pianist, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter from Atlantic Canada, and I love creating music that feels lush, emotional, and cinematic — piano-forward songs that ache a little, but still have a sense of humour and movement to them. My music doesn’t like to sit and wallow. It feels the feelings… and then packs a suitcase. I think my sound lives where glamour meets growth — romantic but self-aware, sensual but soulful, vulnerable but never helpless. I’m drawn to making music that feels cinematic and intimate at the same time: like late-night conversations, hotel balcony confessions, ocean air on your skin, or that moment when you finally choose yourself. Vocally, I always want things to feel close, warm, and emotionally honest — like I’m singing directly to one person, even in a crowded room. My songs are emotional and raw, but there’s also a little rock-and-roll edge and bohemian drama woven into everything I do.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
I’ve definitely been influenced by artists like Stevie Nicks, Freddie Mercury, Alanis Morissette, Lana Del Rey, and Sia — artists who make vulnerability feel larger than life. But I’m not trying to sound like anyone else. I feel like I’m building my own world: soft-power alt-pop with warmth, wit, glamour, and backbone.
Are you creative in other disciplines?
I have recently started painting and have found so much joy in it – it’s become a bit of a meditative practice for me. At first, I thought I was taking too much time away from my songwriting, but I soon realized, when I get quiet and focus on mixing color palettes & weaving paint around a canvas, another dimension opens up in me. I hear songs & melodies; new ideas start to flourish. I decided to start painting the cover art for my new music and album. Check it out on my website or on my Instagram. It’s a brand new endeavour!
If you were to write an autobiography, what would the title be?
“Fear of Success”
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
I would say definitely 80’s mode Jennifer Grey from the movie Dirty Dancing.
Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other stuffed animal sitting on your bed at home?
I have my favorite teddy bears from childhood. They are twins! I used to call them Mimi & Denise – they are still holding strong. I took them to lots of “Teddy Bear Fairs” to nurse them back to health when I was younger 🙂
What makes you nostalgic?
Honestly – I’d say payphones. They remind me of a simpler time, when we didn’t need to have cell phones attached at the hip 24/7. We would somehow find our friends at the playground or the mall. If we were running late, somehow it always worked out. People left messages and you called when you got back in. Your whole life wasn’t recorded for social media. I miss those days. I grew up in the country in Atlantic Canada, so things took longer to reach us. I was on the cusp of the dial-up into the digital era transition. I lost my patience along with the flip phone! Haha
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