Shaina Hayes unveils sun-drenched new single Timid

Following the release of recent single Flourish and a short European tour supporting The Barr Brothers, singer-songwriter Shaina Hayes is back with shimmering new song Timid, out now via Bonsound. Blending breezy indie pop textures with the melodic warmth and intimacy that have become signatures of Hayes’ songwriting, Timid is a sparkling ode to introverts and quiet thinkers; a song that celebrates the richness of the inner world while gently encouraging vulnerability and self-expression.

Driven by live instrumentation and an effortless sense of movement, the track introduces a slightly rougher-edged energy than some of Hayes’ previous work, while still retaining the softness and emotional clarity that defines her sound. Recorded live in Montreal alongside a band of acclaimed collaborators including Francis Ledoux (drums), Étienne Dupré (bass), David Marchand (electric guitar), and Lysandre Ménard (upright piano), Timid balances looseness and precision in equal measure. Cascading layers of Hayes’ silky vocal harmonies glide over the track’s sunlit instrumentation, creating something that feels both intimate and expansive; indie pop with dirt beneath its fingernails and warmth in its bones.

Timid came about during a period when I was listening to a lot of Julia Jacklin and Billie Marten. Lyrically, I wanted to explore the idea that even at our most articulate, the way we express ourselves is just a tiny glimpse into what’s actually going on inside us - that we contain whole, unseen universes. Ultimately, Timid is a song about everything we feel but rarely manage to express, Shaina explains.

Best experienced with the windows rolled down and summer beginning to settle in, Timid captures a lightness that feels instinctive rather than forced. There’s a quiet confidence running beneath the song; one that encourages stepping outside yourself without abandoning the comfort of introspection entirely.