# Hayley Gene Penner

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Canadian singer-songwriter and author (born 1985)

Hayley Gene Penner Background information Born (1985-11-05) November 5, 1985 (age 40) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Genres Pop and folk Occupations singer songwriter instrumentalist author Instruments guitar piano Years active 2003–present Website https://www.hayleygpenner.com/

Musical artist

**Hayley Gene Penner** (born November 5, 1985) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and author based in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). She has written for artists including [the Chicks](/source/The_Chicks), [Sabrina Claudio](/source/Sabrina_Claudio), [Lennon Stella](/source/Lennon_Stella), [Charlotte Lawrence](/source/Charlotte_Lawrence) and [The Chainsmokers](/source/The_Chainsmokers).[1][2] Penner began releasing music under her full name in 2018. In September 2020, she released her debut album, *People You Follow*, with a memoir of the same name.[3]

## Early life and education

Penner was born and raised in [Winnipeg](/source/Winnipeg), [Canada](/source/Canada), the eldest daughter of Canadian [children's music](/source/Children's_music) performer [Fred Penner](/source/Fred_Penner) and Odette Heyn, a choreographer and founder of a [contemporary dance](/source/Contemporary_dance) school.[4][5]

At age 17, Penner was hosting [CBC](/source/CBC_Television) children's programming and lending her voice to commercials for companies like [Cheez Whiz](/source/Cheez_Whiz), [McDonald's](/source/McDonald's), [Kraft Dinner](/source/Kraft_Dinner) and [Hamburger Helper](/source/Hamburger_Helper).[6] She was the [Manitoba](/source/Manitoba) regional host for [Kids' CBC](/source/CBC_Kids#Kids'_CBC_(2003–2016)) from 2003 to 2005.[6]

Penner moved to Toronto, where she studied journalism at [Toronto Metropolitan University](/source/Toronto_Metropolitan_University) and formed the electronic dance band TuZO with a friend. After university, Penner worked at *[Châtelaine](/source/Ch%C3%A2telaine)* before spending six months writing restaurant reviews for a magazine in London.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Music career

### Songwriting

Penner moved to Los Angeles in 2011 to sign a publishing deal with [BMG Chrysalis](/source/BMG_Rights_Management) and [the Messengers](/source/The_Messengers_(producers)).[6][7] Penner writes for other artists, including 11 songs with Sabrina Claudio across her first two projects *[Confidently Lost](/source/Confidently_Lost)* and *[About Time](/source/About_Time_(Sabrina_Claudio_album))*, 7 with Alina Baraz, and other artists such as Lennon Stella, Charlotte Lawrence, and [Sinead Harnett](/source/Sinead_Harnett). Hayley wrote “Everybody Loves You” on The Chicks' 2020 return album, *[Gaslighter](/source/Gaslighter_(album))*.

Penner's songwriting partnership with [Charlotte Lawrence](/source/Charlotte_Lawrence) continued with her joining Lawrence on tour and as an opening act at New York’s Bowery Ballroom and Los Angeles’s The Troubadour.[8][9][10][11]

### Solo career

In 2011, Penner signed with [Universal Music Canada](/source/Universal_Music_Canada) and began releasing and writing music under the name W. Darling.[4][7][6] Penner released two [EPs](/source/EPs) comprising three songs each in 2015, *The Lost Girls Chapter One* and *Chapter Two*.[12][13]

In 2017, Penner split from Universal Music Canada and began releasing music through [AWAL](/source/AWAL) under her full name Hayley Gene Penner, moving away from the electronic pop returning to her roots as an acoustic, folk singer-songwriter.[14] Penner released five singles in 2018, two in 2019, and five in 2020.[15][14] A memoir, *People You Follow*, was scheduled for release in late 2020.[16][17][18]

## Memoir

Alongside her debut album, Penner wrote a memoir, also titled *People You Follow*, about her experience as a female songwriter in the music industry and the hidden, toxic side of the business.[16][17][18] The book, released in fall 2020, was described by [Lena Dunham](/source/Lena_Dunham) as "a fucked up Alice in Wonderland journey down the rabbit hole of LA’s most subtly toxic industry, and it’s also funny. brilliant, coy, playful and wise." [Cindy Crawford](/source/Cindy_Crawford) called the book "both heartbreaking and humorous" depiction "of how we, as women, struggle to find our value through the eyes of others".[3]

## Discography

### Albums

- *People You Follow* (2020)

### Songs

Title Year "Olive Juice" 2018 "Sleep at Night" 2018 "White Stripes" 2018 "Smaller" 2018 "Talking to Myself" 2018 "Silver Lining" 2019 "Two Birthdays and One Bad Christmas" 2019 "somethingyouneverhad" 2020 "The Longer It Hurts" 2020 "Great Advice" 2020 "Alone Together" 2020 "Until I'm Back to You"[19][20] n/a

### Songwriting credits

Year Artist Album Song 2012 Cody Simpson Paradise "Paradise" 2013 Victoria Justice Single "Shake" 2014 Catey Shaw Revolution "Revolution" The Brooklyn EP "Human Contact" Bassnectar Noise vs. Beauty "You & Me" (feat. W. Darling) 2015 Jem And The Holograms Jem And The Holograms (The Official Motion Picture Soundtrack)| "We Got Heart" "Alone Together" 2016 Snow Tha Product Halfway There...Pt. 1 "Nights" (feat. W. Darling) Catey Shaw The Ransom (EP) "Tell Everyone" MAGIC Primary Colours "Red Dress" 2017 Virginia to Vegas Utopian "Wasted" "F*** Me Up" Marcus & Martinus Moments "Get To Know Ya" K.I.D Single "Happy When I Cry" Single "Elevator" About Time Sabrina Claudio "Wait" "Everlasting Love" "Wanna Know" "Frozen" "About Time (Intro)" Confidently Lost (EP) "Tell Me" "Too Much Too Late" "Runnin Thru Lovers" "I Don't" "Orion's Belt" 2018 Sabrina Claudio Fifty Shades Freed (Official Motion Picture Soundtrack) "Cross Your Mind" Charlotte Lawrence Single "Everybody Loves You" Single "Young and Reckless" Single "Keep Me Up" Why Don't We 8 Letters "Talk" 2019 Amaal Black Dove (EP) "Later" "Coming & Going" "Not What I Thought" Lennon Stella Love me (EP) "Feelings" Dinah Jane Dinah Jane 1 "Fix It" Sinead Harnett Single "Pulling Away" (feat. Gallant) Cyn Mood Swing "Angel" Ekali Single "Be Fine" (feat. Wafia) TRACE Like Hell EP "Missing Me" Eric Nam Before We Begin "How'm I Doing" Fabolous Summertime Shoutout 3: Coldest Summer Ever "Time" The Chainsmokers World War Joy "See The Way" 2020 Charlotte OC Single "This Pain" Lennon Stella Three. Two. One. "Save Us" Leah Kate Used To This (EP) "Bad Idea" "Used To This" Alina Baraz It Was Divine "My Whole Life" "The Beginning" "Memo Blue" "More than Enough" "Off the Grid" feat. Khalid "Endlessly" "Morocco" feat 6LACK Eric Nam The Other Side "How You Been" The Chicks Gaslighter "Everybody Loves you" Aluna Renaissance "Off Guard" 2021 Epik High Epik High Is Here (Part 1) "Lesson Zero" "True Crime" Surf Mesa Single "Carried Away" (with Madison Beer) Alina Baraz Sunbeam[21][22] "If You Let Me" Sinéad Harnett Ready Is Always Too Late "Anymore" (feat. Lucky Daye) Wafia Single "Wide Open" (feat Ta-ku & Masego) Mallory Merk Counterparts "Switchblades" 2022 Claire Rosinkranz Single "123" Fitz and the Tantrums Let Yourself Free "Good Nights" 2023 Sara Kays Single "Bored" Del Water Gap Single "Losing You" 2025 Lily Allen West End Girl "West End Girl"

## Notes

### Footnotes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Apple_1-0)** ["Hayley Gene Penner's Songbook"](https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hayley-gene-penner-songbook/pl.3b46871a5bcd4f2db12597b5f0d446bd). *Apple songbook*. Apple Music. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Variety_2-0)** Willman, Chris (16 July 2020). ["The Chicks' 'Gaslighter': Album Review"](https://variety.com/2020/music/news/the-chicks-gaslighter-album-review-dixie-1234708281/). *Variety*. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Dundurn_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Dundurn_3-1) ["People You Follow"](https://www.dundurn.com/books/People-You-Follow). *Dundurn Press*. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Uniter_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Uniter_4-1) LOEWEN, DEREK. ["LOCAL SINGER HAYLEY GENE SHARES MUSIC FOR A GOOD CAUSE"](http://uniter.ca/view/local-singer-hayley-gene-shares-music-for-a-good-cause). *Uniter*. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Scholfield, Anna (November 1, 2018). ["Hayley Gene Penner Copes with Getting Ghosted in Introspective "Talking To Myself" \[PREMIERE\] / Ones To Watch"](https://www.onestowatch.com/blog/hayley-gene-penner-copes-with-getting-ghosted-in). *Ones To Watch*. Live Nation Worldwide. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WFP_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WFP_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WFP_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-WFP_6-3) ["New CBC kids' host called Fred's Place home"](https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/historic/31377604.html). *Winnipeg Free Press*. 7 August 2003. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Vice_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Vice_7-1) Rosenzweig, Mathais (20 July 2015). ["Go to Bed as Two, Wake up as One: Here's W. Darling's Video for "Nights Like This""](https://www.vice.com/en/article/w-darling-nights-like-this/). *Vice.com*. Vice Canada. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Hayley Gene Penner @ Bowery Ballroom"](https://www.bandsintown.com/e/1012316066-hayley-gene-penner-at-bowery-ballroom).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Charlotte Lawrence's Style🦋 on Instagram: "Char talking about "If you love me"🥺❤️""](https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOxcbZhqCN/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Hayley Gene Penner on Instagram: "The last night of the tour that started a year ago today. Who's sentimental 🙋🏼‍♀️ @charlotteslawrence ❤️you so much""](https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PXvXpA3AA/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Hayley Gene Penner"](https://www.jambase.com/band/hayley-gene-penner/tour-history).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-One_12-0)** ["Lost Girls: Chapter One - W. Darling | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-girls-chapter-one-mw0002868891). *AllMusic*. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Two_13-0)** ["Lost Girls: Chapter Two - W. Darling | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-girls-chapter-two-mw0002898565). *AllMusic*. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Heir_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Heir_14-1) Courtland, Abigail (5 February 2019). ["Hayley Gene Penner is Finding Freedom in Authenticity and Radiating Unapologetic Honesty in Songwriting"](https://heirwavesonline.com/2019/02/05/hayley-gene-penner-is-finding-freedom-in-authenticity-and-radiating-unapologetic-honesty-in-songwriting/). *heirwaves*. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Spotify_15-0)** ["Hayley Gene Penner"](https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ytHo44bNtIESiArfclJPe). *Spotify*. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Book_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Book_16-1) ["People you follow"](https://www.hayleygpenner.com/people-you-follow). *HAYLEY GENE PENNER*. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CBCBooks_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CBCBooks_17-1) ["40 works of Canadian nonfiction to watch for in spring 2020"](https://www.cbc.ca/books/40-works-of-canadian-nonfiction-to-watch-for-in-spring-2020-1.5428506). *CBC Books*. CBC. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Quill_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Quill_18-1) Porter, Ryan (6 April 2020). ["Canadian publishers announce postponed publication dates"](https://quillandquire.com/omni/canadian-publishers-announce-postponed-publication-dates/). *Quill and Quire*. Retrieved 25 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** A dedicated song for Ayana Bali resport. Not published for public yet.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Pete Seaward (2013-01-20). [*Ayana Resort and Spa, Bali*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmQilhnCJ8Q). Retrieved 2025-10-18 – via YouTube.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Sunbeam - EP by Alina Baraz"](https://ratedrnb.com/2021/09/alina-baraz-shares-new-ep-sunbeam/). *Rated R&B*. September 25, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Sunbeam - EP by Alina Baraz"](https://music.apple.com/us/album/sunbeam-ep/1585072555). *Apple Music*. September 25, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-25.

### References

- ["Hayley Gene Penner Credits"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hayley-penner-mn0001362817/credits). *AllMusic*. Retrieved August 17, 2020.

- ["Hayley Gene Credits"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hayley-gene-mn0000604559/credits). *AllMusic*. Retrieved August 17, 2020.

- ["W. Darling Credits"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/w-darling-mn0003277344/credits). *AllMusic*. Retrieved August 17, 2020.

- ["Hayley Gene Penner Songbook"](https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/hayley-gene-penner-songbook/pl.3b46871a5bcd4f2db12597b5f0d446bd). *Apple Songbook*. Apple Music. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hayley Gene Penner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayley_Gene_Penner) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayley_Gene_Penner?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.