{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Tanika Charles | image = Tanika Charles in Nilvange.jpg | caption = Charles performing in 2018 | image_size = | birth_date = | birth_place = | origin = | instrument = Vocals | genre = Soul, R&B | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 2008–present | label = | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|tanikacharles.com}} }} '''Tanika Charles''' is a Canadian soul and R&B singer, who released her full-length debut album ''Soul Run'' in 2016.<ref>"Tanika Charles on a Soul Run". ''Edmonton Journal'', May 17, 2016.</ref>
== Life and career == Born in Toronto, Ontario and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. Charles is a first generation Trinidadian Canadian.
She moved to Toronto, Ontario in the early 2000s after an opportunity to sing backing vocals for Bedouin Soundclash was offered.<ref name="heart">"Heart and soul; Musician Tanika Charles gets personal". ''Ottawa Citizen'', May 12, 2016.</ref> Since then, Tanika has performed as a backing vocalist for Johnny Reid, Serena Ryder, Emmanuel Jal, and many others. Tanika performed as a solo artist under the stage name '''Ms. Chawlz''', before releasing her debut EP ''What! What? What!?'' in 2010.<ref>"On The Run; Tanika Charles heads back to the Prairies with music that chronicles a personal journey". ''Saskatoon Star-Phoenix'', May 17, 2016.</ref>
She released "Soul Run", the title track from her full-length album, as a preview single in Fall 2015,<ref name="exclaim">[http://exclaim.ca/music/article/tanika_charles_gears_up_for_her_soul_run_premieres_two_steps Tanika Charles Gears Up for Her 'Soul Run,' Premieres "Two Steps"]. ''Exclaim!'', April 13, 2016.</ref> and followed up with "Two Steps" in April 2016.<ref name="exclaim" /> Both singles were playlisted on CBC Radio 2, and charted on the ''Radio 2 Top 20''. The full album was released on May 10,<ref name="exclaim" /> and was supported by her first extensive toured concert<ref>"Love comes, goes on Soul Run". ''Victoria Times-Colonist'', May 19, 2016.</ref> and an advance appearance on CBC Radio One's ''Q''.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/a-q-tribute-to-prince-1958-2016-1.3548143/tanika-charles-covers-prince-and-takes-centre-stage-with-soul-run-1.3549071 "Tanika Charles covers Prince and takes centre stage with 'Soul Run'"]. ''Q'', April 22, 2016.</ref> In June, the album was named to the longlist for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize,<ref name="edmontonjournal">[https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/polaris-music-prize-unveils-long-list-of-albums-in-whitehorse "Polaris Music Prize unveils long list of albums in Whitehorse"]. ''Edmonton Journal'', June 15, 2016.</ref> and in 2017 it was shortlisted for the Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2017.
Charles has also appeared on television, both as a reoccurring guest on CBC Kids, and as a lounge singer on the Global drama series ''Bomb Girls''. Her music has been featured on HBO Canada's ''Less Than Kind'', CBC's ''Workin' Moms'', Global's ''Rookie Blue'', Citytv's ''Seed'', and CTV's ''Saving Hope''.
In 2019, Charles released her second album, ''The Gumption'', on Record Kicks.<ref name="recordkicks.com">{{Cite web|url=http://recordkicks.com/index.php?/site/releases/The-Gumption|title=The Gumption - Record Kicks|website=recordkicks.com|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Albums === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Title !! Details |- | ''Soul Run'' || * Released: May 10, 2016 (Canada)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/tanika_charles-soul_run_review|title=Tanika Charles Soul Run|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> * Released: April 7, 2017 (International)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://recordkicks.com/index.php?/site/releases/Soul-Run|title=Soul Run - Record Kicks|website=recordkicks.com|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> * Label: Tanika Charles Music, Record Kicks * Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming |- | ''The Gumption'' || * Released: May 10, 2019<ref name="recordkicks.com"/> * Label: Unique Applause, Record Kicks * Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming |}
=== EPs === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Title !! Details |- | ''What?What!What?!'' || * Released: May 8, 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tanikacharles.bandcamp.com/album/what-what-what|title=What!What?What!?, by Mz.Chawls|website=Tanika Charles|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> * Label: Self-released * Formats: Formats: CD, digital download, streaming |}
=== Singles === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Title !! Year !! Album |- | “Silly Happy Wild” || 2010 || What?What!What?! |- | “I Am Your Woman” || 2012 || What?What!What?! |- | “Soul Run” || 2015 || Soul Run |- | “Two Steps” || 2016 || Soul Run |- | “Endless Chain” || 2017 || Soul Run |- | “Love Fool” || 2017 || Soul Run |- | “Love Overdue” || 2019 || The Gumption |- | “Tell Me Something” || 2019 || The Gumption |- | “Look At Us Now” || 2019 || The Gumption |}
===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Video !! Year !! Director |- | I Am Your Woman || 2012 || Mark Valino |- | Soul Run || 2017 || Taha Muharuma & Shanik Tanna |- | Endless Chain || 2017 || Taha Muharuma & Shanik Tanna |- | Two Steps || 2018 || Michael Warren |- | Cadillac Moon || 2019 || Aline Helmcke |- | Love Overdue || 2019 || V.T. Nayani |- | Tell Me Something || 2019 || V.T. Nayani |- | Look At Us Now || 2019 || V.T. Nayani |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Award !! Category !! Nominee/Work !! Result !! Ref |- |2016 |Polaris Music Prize | |''Soul Run'' |Longlist |<ref name="edmontonjournal" /> |- | 2017 || Juno Awards of 2017 || R&B/Soul Recording of the Year || ''Soul Run'' || {{nom}} ||<ref>{{cite web|title=Here Is the Full List of 2017 Juno Winners|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/here_is_the_full_list_of_2017_juno_winners|website=Exclaim!|accessdate=April 14, 2017}}</ref> |- |2019 |Polaris Music Prize | |''The Gumption'' |Longlist |<ref>{{cite web|title=Here's the 2019 Polaris Music Prize Long List|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/heres_the_2019_polaris_music_prize_long_list|website=Exclaim!|accessdate=June 20, 2019}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://music.cbc.ca/#!/play/artist/Tanika-Charles/album/Soul-Run Tanika Charles] at CBC Music
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Charles, Tanika}} Category:Canadian soul singers Category:Canadian contemporary R&B singers Category:21st-century Black Canadian women singers Category:21st-century Canadian women singers Category:Musicians from Edmonton Category:Singers from Toronto Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Canadian songwriters Category:Singers from Alberta Category:Canadian people of Caribbean descent