Lindi Ortega (born May 28) is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. Now living in Tennessee, her voice has been described as a blend of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Emmylou Harris.[1] She spent nearly a decade as an independent artist in the Toronto music scene,[2] releasing two albums and an EP in that time. She has been described as "Toronto's best kept secret"[3] and nicknamed "Indie Lindi".[4] Ortega is currently signed to Last Gang Records where she has released three albums, most recently Tin Star in October of 2013.
At the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011, Ortega toured extensively as a backup singer for Brandon Flowers, the lead singer of The Killers, in support of his solo album, Flamingo. This tour included dates in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Mexico, as well as televised live performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Later... with Jools Holland and at Abbey Road Studios. There were also a number of festival dates in the United States and Europe, including Coachella, T in the Park and Oxegen.
On February 7, 2012, Ortega was nominated for two Juno Awards - New Artist of the Year and Roots & Traditional Album: Solo.[5]
On June 14, 2012, Ortega's album Little Red Boots was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2012 Polaris Music Prize.[6] In June 2013, her album Cigarettes & Truckstops was longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.