EPK – Famous Strangers – Self-Titled (2026)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Halestorm, Nothing More, Sevendust, Godsmack, Evanescence, Butcher Babies, Bad Omens
“We feel like this debut album will take fans on a journey, feeling many different emotions. Some may not understand what we are trying to do, but by the end hoping that they are surprised, refreshed, and feeling inspired. We hope the lyrics dig deep into parts of them they didn’t know existed or hid away. Opening up their heart and soul, feeling unstoppable and worthy. Whatever they may be doing while listening, we hope this album captivates them, moving deeper into themselves through our music. Feeling the emotional pull through each track. Moments of inspiration and grit to complete surrender of self. With a touch of silliness and definitely some seduction.” – Amanda Kiernan – Vocals – Famous Strangers
Famousstrangersband.com | Facebook.com/FamousStrangersBand | Instagram.com/famousstrangersband
Tiktok.com/@famousstrangersband | Youtube.com/@Famousstrangersband
Spotify | Apple Music | Famousstrangers.bigcartel.com
Add to your Spotify playlist – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/famousstrangers/ghosts-of-men
“Amanda has a Lee Aaron vibe about her.” – Richard Amery – LA Beat
“Canada’s Famous Strangers return with an incredible new single, a fierce one titled ‘Ghosts of Men’. Right out of the gate, the riffs are lethal and the vocals are up to the task with a mean disposition that fit perfectly. Famous Strangers is a seriously talented band and ‘Ghosts of Men’ is a shining example of their creativity at work with an extended jaw dropping 6-string solo, a wonderful slow down to catch our breath only to come out on the other side finding ourselves in a choke hold of epic proportions. This is modern metal done right, catch it on your Home for the Best New Rock…W-J-O-EEEE – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll
“Haunting, Stirring and Impactful…those words just keep going through our mind as we take in the new single “I’ll See You In The Stars” from Famous Strangers. This one is quite unique with a powerful intensity that is full of rhythm and achieves the rare feat of fury as a pure form of beauty. We really dig this one and you can catch it on your Home for the Best New Rock…” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll (Single – I See You In The Stars – 2025)
““George” by Famous Strangers is not just a song—it’s a full-throttle, unapologetic metal anthem that grips you from the very first crushing drumbeat and refuses to let go. Heavy. Relentless. Unstoppable. This track is a ferocious sonic onslaught, packed with blistering guitar riffs, bone-rattling drums, and a vocal performance that will leave you breathless.” – Switching Styles (Single – George – 2025)
Band: Famous Strangers
Album Title: Self-Titled
Release Date: August 21, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Genre: Hard Rock
Location of Band: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Track Listing:
1. Fire Inside – 4:06
2. Ghosts of Men – 4:54
3. Please Her – 4:34
4. As Your Leader – 3:49
5. Desires – 3:50
6. Far Away from Home – 4:18
7. Rain – 9:23
Album Length: 34:57
Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Famous Strangers
• All songs written by: Famous Strangers
• Produced by: Jeff Kittlitz, Phil Anderson, and Famous Strangers
• Mixed by: Joel Wanasek
• Mastered by: Maor Applebaum
• Album Artwork by: Art Szabo Creative
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content – MAPL
Album Band Line Up:
Jeff Kittlitz – Guitar, BackUp Vocals
Amanda Keirnan – Vocals, Lyrics
Braden Sustrik – Bass, Back Up Vocals
Brian “Beej” Jolly – Drums, Back Up Vocals
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About the Album Artwork:
We are blessed to have our graphic designer, Art Szabo, working with us. He does a lot more than just our artwork, so we are lucky to have him. For the single “Ghosts of Men,” he put his take on a woman bending down into her reflection, or even a mirrored effect. It looks ominous and ghostly. Even though our video is a very different, separate take on the song, the artwork goes deeper into the lyrical side of things. The isolation. The struggles you feel alone… being “ghosted” when really you yourself almost feel like the ghost! Alone in wonderment and torture of the mind.
The album artwork for the vinyl is a recreation of our very first promo video, which we put out. Made in an incredibly artistic way. It’s the shot in the video where Braden has his hood on, and he has smoke coming out of his mouth. It’s all black and white, which has been our color scheme. It honestly doesn’t mean anything… I just had the idea and thought it would look cool. Now that everything is said and done, you could definitely put your thoughts on it on what it could represent, and every idea is the correct one. That’s the beauty of art.
About the album:
The album centers around the theme of “knowing your worth.” Much of the songwriting draws from personal experiences, delivering messages about self-love, growth, and moving forward. At its core, it’s a reminder that no matter what you face, you’ll be okay and come out stronger on the other side.
While a couple of tracks explore completely different ideas, like aliens, the overall journey is about where you’ve been and who you can become once you break free from what holds you back, and to get out of your own way.
Musically, it is a diverse journey into heavy grungy riffs, explosive moments, fast pace, and energetic. Leading you into epic breakdowns that bring you into softer atmospheric moments. It’s a taste of everything and takes you all over the place. Pushing boundaries and rules of genres. Definitely thinking outside the box.
Track-by-Track Descriptions
1. Fire Inside
Fire Inside began as a simple progressive metal riff but evolved right up to the studio, where the chorus and ending were finalized. After extensive preproduction, the song truly came together. Lyrically, it’s about grounding the listener in the moment and embracing mistakes to honor the journey that shaped you, while holding onto the peace within.
2. Ghosts of Men
Ghosts of Men began as one of the earliest songs written with the band and was later completely rewritten. Originally shelved, it resurfaced when we wanted a raw rock ripper and quickly morphed into its final form, coming together almost instantly and earning its place on the record. Lyrically, it’s a new and deeply personal track, drawn from real experiences and recurring patterns in my life. It’s raw, vulnerable, and unfiltered, but that’s the point.
3. Please Her
Please Her started as a single rock riff and evolved through preproduction as arrangements shifted, especially once Amanda’s vocals came into the mix. The song eventually came full circle, landing as a straightforward hard rock ‘n’ roll track. The title seems to give it all away… It’s playful and confident, about staying true to yourself, knowing your worth, and making sure your cup is overflowing, because every person deserves to feel that way.
4. As Your Leader
As Your Leader is one of the earliest songs written for the band and has been with us since the beginning, taking on new life as the lineup came together. While it carries a lot of anger and frustration, at its core, it’s about community, connection, and the belief that we’re stronger when we come together, all wanting the same things in the end: peace, health, and the freedom to live fully.
5. Desires
Desires was born from Jeff’s first Bloodstock Festival in the UK, a very rock ‘n’ roll, Motley Crue-style night that sparked both the riff and the story behind it. Written by Jeff Kittlitz, the song captures that instant connection you feel when you lock eyes with someone special.
What started as a wild night turned into something deeper, a love song with a bigger meaning. Bringing it to life has been a blessing, and after taking the time to find the right vocal approach, it finally feels like Amanda is delivering the song the way Jeff intended.
6. Far Away from Home
Far Away from Home was written early on while we were still finding our sound. It started with a punk riff that everyone ran with, keeping the song fun and energetic, a tribute to punk. The chorus evolved significantly from preproduction to recording. Lyrically, it’s about being abducted by aliens! It came from a playful place, and having full creative freedom helped the song come together in a way that felt natural and true.
7. Rain
Rain was written in a small town in England on a rainy day, born from a quiet moment on the couch with an acoustic guitar. What started as a simple blues idea came together back in Canada, becoming the first song that truly pulled Amanda in; her lyrics completed it in a way that felt almost magical. Lyrically, the song digs deep into fear, pain, and feeling trapped, and finding the strength to finally let go and choose yourself. It’s one of our softer tracks, showing another side of the band, and we’re excited to share it on the new record.
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Fun Facts:
1. The name Famous Strangers came from Jeff driving through the city, listening to Deep Purple’s “Perfect Strangers” on the radio, and passing a restaurant called “Famous Donair.” The two words slammed together and never left.
2. Some of the guitar riffs on the album have been living on Jeff’s hard drive for over a decade. They finally found the right band and the right voice to bring them to life.
3. We record every single jam session. Some of the best moments on this record started as loose ideas over beers that nobody expected to become real songs.
4. Ghosts Of Men was written 3 days before entering the studio and was completed in the studio
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L-R – Drums – Brian Jolly, Vocals – Amanda Kiernan, Bass – Braden Sustrik, Guitar – Jeff Kittlitz
Photo by Taryn Leanne
Famous Strangers is a heavy rock band from Sherwood Park, Alberta, rooted in the classics and built for today. Drawing from the fire of Dio, Maiden, Judas Priest, and W.A.S.P. and channeling the intensity of Halestorm, Jinjer, Spiritbox, and Unleash the Archers, the band blends raw power with emotional depth and a sound that refuses to sit still.
The lineup: Amanda Kiernan on lead vocals, Jeff Kittlitz on guitar and backing vocals, Braden Sustrik on bass and backing vocals, and Brian “Beej” Beejerson on drums and backing vocals, brings together over 20 years of collective experience across the Alberta music scene, with roots in bands like Pugnacious, Compromise, This Is War, and The Order of Chaos. What started as a casual jam session turned into something nobody expected… a full creative force with a hunger to share it with the world.
With four singles out, Deep Star, George, I’ll See You in the Stars, and LSC, all recorded in-house and mixed and mastered alongside Phil Anderson, Maor Appelbaum, and Joel Wanasek, the band has been steadily building momentum. Every single release has been accompanied by a music video, filmed and edited by Brad Thompson at Brad Thompson Photography, with George edited and post-produced by Art Szabo Creative. Their Deep Star music video is generating serious buzz, and their debut self-titled album with a vinyl release, lead single, and new music video will be released August 21, 2026
Famous Strangers doesn’t follow a formula. They follow the feeling. Every song lives in its own world… moody, haunting, heavy, honest. Whether they’re on stage or in the studio, it’s about connection, energy, and making music that means something.
Discography:
Self-Titled (LP – Release August 21, 2026)
L.S.C. (Single Release June 3, 2025)
I’ll See You In The Stars (Single Release March 7, 2025)
George (Single Release November 15, 2024)
Deepstar (Single Release (Sept 13, 2024)
Shared Stage with: Three Inches Of Blood, Riot City, Danko Jones, Into Eternity, Revocation, Havok, Born Of Osiris, The Browning, Gravemass, Glyph, Valley Of Despair, Shackled To The Throne, Unending, Per Velum, Squid Hammer, Insurrection, The Devils Sons, Western Death Ballads, Barb Wire Choker, Black Friday, Quietess, Cambie Krostch, Bogue Brigade, Creature Conspire, The Cutoffs, Ditch Pisser, The Myopia Condition, 2L Superpunk, Catapult, Godfall, Oceans Under Stars, Repulse Reprise, Darkend Skies, Amonalyptic, Femme Voyous, and more…..
Tours and Festivals:
2026 – Decimate Metal Fest (Direct Support)
2026 – Western Canadian Album Release Tour Aug of this year
2025 – Decimate Metal Fest
2025 – Armstrong Metal Fest
2025 – Loud As Hell Open Air,
2025 – Grassmass Western Canadian Tour,
2025 – Kittos (Shackled To The Throne) Alberta release tour
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