William Prince’s 2026 JUNO-nominated album, Further From the Country, is the latest step in a career shaped by steady, long-term growth. Hailing from Peguis First Nation, he has spent the past decade developing a body of work built on reflection, clarity, and a songwriting style that favours honesty over spectacle.
Behind the “incisive and enduring words” of his latest work is a long-standing partnership with Six Shooter Records, an independent label driven by the ethos “Life is Too Short to Listen to Shitty Music.” It’s a collaboration that came easily to President and Artist Manager Shauna de Cartier, who recognized Prince as a “world-class talent.”
With continued support from FACTOR, that collaboration has helped Prince evolve from a regional storyteller into an artist with a growing international presence.
Since his first JUNO win in 2017 for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, Prince has built his career through steady, sustained growth, turning early recognition into long-term momentum. What began with the gospel-tinged folk-country of Earthly Days has grown into a catalogue that continues to earn national and international attention.
Along the way, he has received honours including the John Prine Songwriter Fellowship, an Americana Honors & Awards nomination, and two JUNO Awards, while bringing his music to major stages around the world from The JUNO Awards and NPR’s Tiny Desk to the legendary Newport Folk Festival.
Further From the Country, introduces what William Prince calls “a little boogie and a little blood” into his arrangements, moving his sound from a solo performance to one powered by the energy of a full band. The result is a collection of songs that feel just as intimate as his early work, only now supported by a broader and more dynamic musical backdrop.
A career like Prince’s isn’t built alone. Throughout it, Six Shooter Records has played a key role behind the scenes, aligning the business side with the growth of the music. De Cartier describes the day-to-day as “very full-on,” with constant communication required to support an artist who spends much of his time on the road.
That level of coordination reflects the scale of the operation behind him, including label staff such as de Cartier’s business partner Helen Britton, along with booking agents, publicists, and international partners. As she puts it, it “takes a village.”
As Prince’s audience has grown, so has the scope of that support system, with a strong focus on building momentum outside of Canada through touring, showcasing, and international promotion. This includes hiring publicists and digital marketers in key markets to establish a presence on the ground, an essential but costly part of building an international career.
For de Cartier, the goal is to see Prince become a “blue chip artist,” one who can “penetrate the consciousness of Canadians in a deep way,” while also establishing a lasting global presence. She points to FACTOR as a critical part of that growth, supporting efforts to expand his audience at home and abroad. “We are extremely lucky in Canada that we have FACTOR,” she says. “They really understand the music business and how hard it is… I can’t even imagine a world without FACTOR.”
As William Prince heads into the 2026 JUNO Awards in Hamilton, Further From the Country stands as a strong addition to an already established catalogue. It reflects years of steady work, thoughtful writing, and a clear sense of direction. With the support of his team and FACTOR, Prince has built something lasting, not through sudden moments, but through consistency.
