Jess Moskaluke Is Defining Country on Her Own Terms

Canadian singer Jess Moskaluke’s latest single “I Ain’t Country” reclaims the genre with fearless honesty and a fresh, modern voice.

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Stream: “I Ain’t Country” – Jess Moskaluke

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In her latest single, “I Ain’t Country,” Jess Moskaluke confronts the long-standing criticism that she doesn’t fit the mold.

With lyrics that invoke the late, great outlaw Merle Haggard, the song is an unapologetic anthem that claims her space in country music – not by conforming, but by being undeniably herself.

“I never want to release the same album twice,” she says. “It’s a more honest representation of where I am right now. For me, it’s about pushing the genre and challenging what people expect from country music.

Trap beats in the truck bed
Way too rebel for a redneck
Too up north to be down south
Too Nashville to be small town
My boots are too bright
Tapping away to these 808s
I won’t walk the line
But let me shoot you straight

I Ain't Country - Jess Moskaluke — I Ain’t Country – Jess Moskaluke

“People used to say I needed to add a banjo or a fiddle to be country, they didn’t think I was country enough,” she adds, looking out the window of her home in rural Saskatchewan at a green tractor on one side and a red barn on the other. “I think that we’re pushing the genre. Shania Twain did that, and I think that it’s up to us to create music that feels good.”

The comparison to Twain comes easily: Two Canadian women from small towns, redefining what country music looks and sounds like. And Moskaluke has already joined Twain in the record books, becoming the first Canadian female country artist since the Timmins, Ontario native to go platinum with her single, “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes” on her debut studio album.

“It’s a really cool comparison because she was one of my favorite artists of all time growing up, so it’s such a full-circle moment being compared to her,” she says. “It’s just the ultimate compliment. I’m just trying to do what feels right for me. You just have to be yourself. And if you think you’re Country, then you are.”

It’s that grounded confidence that adds to Moskaluke’s appeal.

She’s somehow both dynamic and completely relatable; belting out her own songs with conviction, dressed in her signature cutoffs, cowboy boots and T-shirts repping her favorite artists – some of whom have become collaborators and fans themselves.

At her shows, packs of young fans nudge up against the stage, looking up at her with equal parts fascination and admiration; soaking in the possibility of becoming who they want to be – just like she did.

“I’m not perfect, and I’m just being honest and real,” she says. “It sometimes scares me that something I do or say might not be the perfect ‘role model’ thing – it’s a lot of pressure. But it’s also really cool to see these little girls looking at me the way I looked at my role models.”

It wasn’t so long ago Moskaluke was one of those kids. Growing up in Langenburg, Saskatchewan – with a population that barely scratches above 1,200 – she started singing around the age of 14, never imagining it could become a full-time career. But the dream snowballed into reality, and she embraced every opportunity that came her way.

Now in her early 30s, Moskaluke has been a fixture in Canadian country for over a decade, released multiple albums and EPs, and racked up a long list of awards. Her trophy case includes a JUNO (the Canadian equivalent to the Grammys), Canadian Country Music Association and Saskatchewan Country Music Association (SCMA) honors – all while helping pave the way for the next generation of artists with the Jess Moskaluke Youth Award presented through the SCMA.

And she was recently part of the famed Whiskey Jam showcase in Nashville – a coveted milestone for emerging and established country artists.

Next up, she’s preparing to hit the road this fall for The Life For Me Tour – her first major coast-to-coast Canadian tour. Known for her powerhouse vocals and energetic live shows, Moskaluke promises this tour will be her most interactive yet. “We’re building something that feels brand new,” she says.

For now, she’s right where she wants to be – forging her own path in country music, on her own terms.

“There are massive hurdles all the time,” she says. “Being a woman in this industry wasn’t always easy. It’s still something we could work on, but it’s getting better.”

Still, she has no regrets. “Whether it was a success or a failure, everything got me to where I am now,” she says. “If I could say anything to my 14-year-old self, I’d just tell her to enjoy the ride – maybe slow down a little bit.”

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