Having found his stride at the intersection of hip-hop and R&B, K-Riz packs his syllables and vocals with power. A rare, multifaceted artist who can rap and sing with equal aplomb, on his forthcoming third full-length album, One Way Ticket, set for release on September 15, 2023 on Birthday Cake Records, he enters his self-described “Off the Wall era.” Much like Michael Jackson’s masterpiece of liberation, One Way Ticket pulls from an assortment of influences and showcases the Edmonton-bred, Calgary-based dynamo at his apex, glowing with confidence, embracing new experiences, and living in the moment. Where The Room EP (2020) captured the inner thoughts of K-Riz recovering from a near-death car accident, and Peace & Love (2021) traversed the deeply personal stages of grief and joy that came from experiencing love, heartache, and ultimately finding inner peace, One Way Ticket is a departure from all the pain; it’s a celebration – a victory lap ­– for making it to the light on the other side. Since the release of his debut entry, 2016’s Fresh Air, K-Riz has earned admiration from audiences and critics alike for his emotional vulnerability and chameleonic versatility, chronicling his search for pockets of peace while navigating life’s bumps in the road. He’s received praise from outlets including Complex Canada, Exclaim, and CBC Music and, in 2022, he landed a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Best Rap & Hip Hop Artist.