Zach McPhee | |
|---|---|
 McPhee performing at the Mod Club in Toronto, Ontario, in August 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | March 5, 1993 Vernon, British Columbia, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 2023-present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | Official website |
Zach McPhee is a Canadian country music singer-songwriter from Vernon, British Columbia. [1] He has charted two singles, "Who Knew" and "Smoke", on the Billboard Canada Country chart. [2]
McPhee was born and raised in Vernon, British Columbia in the Okanagan Valley. [3] When he was a child, he suffered from a speech impediment and participated in speech therapy. [4] During this process, McPhee learned to sing, which was a technique that was designed to aid his progress. [5] He learned how to play the guitar at age 13. [3]
McPhee excelled as a hockey player in his youth. At age 17, he played one season for the Junior A Vernon Vipers of the BCHL, before progressing to major junior, where he played parts of four seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Tri-City Americans, Everett Silvertips, and the Kootenay Ice. [6] McPhee then played five seasons at the University of Regina, serving as an alternate captain for the final three seasons, while working on a degree in sociology. [6] [7] After university, he turned down a contract offer to play professional hockey in Sweden, electing to move closer to home to be near his family. [3] McPhee moved to Kelowna, British Columbia, where he completed a degree in Clinical Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Kelowna College of Professional Counselling, and began work as a hockey coach and player development coordinator. [6]
While playing for the Kootenay Ice, McPhee was encouraged by his teammates to take music more seriously. [3] He decided to create a YouTube account and post videos of him performing covers and original songs. [8] Fellow BC native Aaron Pritchett reached out to McPhee in 2013 and invited him to do some initial recording. [8] In 2019, he reached the top three of the "Denim on the Diamond" talent competition in Western Canada. [3]
In January 2023, McPhee released his debut song "Bring On" to streaming platforms. [3] On September 22, 2023, McPhee independently released his debut extended play Feels Country to Me. [9] On August 16, 2024, he released a deluxe version of the EP, which included the singles "Who Knew" and "Smoke". [10] [11] In September 2024, McPhee signed a management deal with RLive. [12] That same month, he won the 2024 SiriusXM Top of the Country contest. [13] In 2025, McPhee won the Emerging Artist Award and Album of the Year at the BC Country Music Association Awards. [14] "Smoke" became his first top ten hit at Canadian country radio, and his first single to be certified Gold in Canada. [2] [15] McPhee is nominated for Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Country Music Association Awards. [16]
McPhee and his fiancée Addie have a son, Mylo, who was born in 2024. [14]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Feels Country to Me |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country [2] | ||||
| "Who Knew" | 2024 | 35 | Feels Country to Me | |
| "Smoke" | 2025 | 7 |
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