Ash & Bloom

Ash & Bloom was a Canadian folk pop duo from Hamilton, Ontario, comprising James Bloemendal and Matt McKenna. The duo first met while singing in the same choir about a dozen years before they began performing together. They both had early training in piano and later honed their musical skills, eventually leading to their partnership as Ash & Bloom. They came to prominence with their harmonic sound, which was influenced by their choral background and later shaped by learning pop music.

During their active years from 2013 to 2015, Ash & Bloom released several albums and EPs, including "Ash & Bloom" (2013), "Let the Storm Come" (2014), and "The Spark" (2016). Their music often captured the essence of life through folk and pop elements. In 2015, during the JUNO Award festivities in Hamilton, they released a video for "This Town (Hamilton)," featuring prominent local figures. Despite their promising start, the duo parted ways in the summer of 2015, with the remainder of their tour cancelled.