Chris Wemp Shares Long-Awaited Americana Single “Chops”
A Heartfelt Tribute to Family, Resilience, and the People Who Keep Us Going
Releasing October 29, 2026 — Ontario-based Americana artist Chris Wemp announces “Chops,” a long-awaited single that reflects on family, sacrifice, loss, and the unbreakable bonds that carry us through life’s hardest moments. Blending country storytelling with the grit and energy of Wemp’s punk-rock roots, “Chops” marks a new chapter in the artist’s developing sound and songwriting.
Written by Wemp and produced by Shawn Moore, “Chops” was inspired by a family whose closeness and resilience left a lasting impression on him. Spending time around them gave Wemp a deeper understanding of love, patience, sacrifice, and what it meant to grow up in a different generation, where people often had to “fight tooth and nail to get by.”
That experience became the foundation for a song about the lengths people will go to protect and love the people who matter most.
At the heart of “Chops” are lyrics that confront the possibility of losing the people closest to us:
“I said goodbye to my mother / held my brother so tight / told my father that I love him / only one last time”
For Wemp, the lyrics carry a deeply personal message for anyone who has experienced loss. The song is ultimately about continuing forward after losing someone you love, finding the strength to keep living, and recognizing that no one has to carry that experience alone.
“I have spent many years fighting the man in the mirror. Hating every scar he carries. Yet every morning, I meet him again — and choose, somehow, to make him better.”
“Chops” also represents a significant step forward in Wemp’s songwriting. The song had been sitting in his catalogue for some time, going through multiple versions before he finally found the sound he had envisioned. The recording process was anything but straightforward. After initially working with another producer and struggling to find the right sonic direction, Wemp eventually began working with Shawn Moore at Moore Music Inc., where the two were able to translate the ideas in Wemp’s head into the finished recording.
The final track features Dylan Shigwaja on keys, Tyler Beckett on fiddle, and Jake Widenhofer on lead guitar, with Moore handling production and mixing and Mike Monseur mastering.
Sonically, “Chops” sits firmly in Americana, drawing from folk and country while maintaining the raw energy and directness that have shaped Wemp’s musical identity. A major influence on the track is Shane Smith & the Saints, particularly their approach to storytelling and guitar tones.
That blend comes naturally to Wemp. Raised in a small Ontario farm town of roughly 1,400 people, he spent much of his childhood working on a pig farm, surrounded by country music and rock ’n’ roll. As he got older, his musical world expanded into punk, eventually leading him to form a garage punk band with friends and play shows while embracing the DIY spirit of the scene.
Over time, those influences began to converge. Wemp found himself drawn back toward the storytelling traditions of country music while retaining the passionate, catchy energy of his punk background. The result is an Americana sound built around stories of love, loss, friendship, distance, and everyday life.
Those themes are not simply songwriting subjects for Wemp. They are part of his lived experience.
Outside of music, Wemp works as a dozer operator at a gold mine in Northern Ontario, spending 14 consecutive days away from home before returning for 14 days off. Previously, he worked as a long-haul truck driver. The experience of constantly travelling, working long stretches away from home, and navigating the distance that creates in relationships has become another important part of his songwriting.
“I bust my ass every day working at a gold mine punching 14 hours in a clock knowing that isn’t what I’m meant to do,” Wemp says. “When I get home for my 14 off, I put every ounce of passion, love, anger, hatred, every story I’ve ever been told that has stuck with me into my music.”
That honesty is central to Wemp’s approach. His songs draw from the parts of his life he is proud of as well as the parts he is not, with the goal of allowing listeners to understand the person behind the music.
“Chops” arrives as Wemp continues building momentum around his independent project. He has accumulated more than 137,000 Spotify streams, with his catalogue also surpassing 25,000 Apple Music plays, while his audience continues to grow across streaming and social platforms. A short-form video for his song “I’ll Be Home Tonight” recently surpassed 70,000 views, highlighting the growing connection between Wemp’s songwriting and his audience.
The release also follows Wemp’s Nashville Takeover experience and his ongoing work with Evergreen Music Company, alongside songwriting collaborations including work with Montreal artist Theo Day.
With “Chops,” Wemp is entering what he considers a new era for the project: one that puts his songwriting, personal experiences, and evolving Americana sound at the forefront.
For Wemp, the goal is straightforward: make music that tells the truth, gives people something to hold onto, and reminds them that the people they love are worth fighting for.
“Chops” is available October 29, 2026.
For fans of: Zach Bryan, Shane Smith & the Saints, Whiskey Myers, Tyler Childers, and Dylan Gossett.
Media inquiries / interviews: Available for radio, podcasts, print, television, and live sessions.
