Calgary country artist Alex Hughes has released her debut EP, “Take Me Home,” marking a milestone in a career that continues to gain traction across Canada’s country music scene.

The six-song project, released through Phase Entertainment Group, arrives as Hughes surpasses 500,000 global catalog streams while preparing for a summer festival schedule that includes a debut appearance on the Calgary Stampede Coca-Cola Stage.

The EP combines several of Hughes’ previously released singles, including “Take Me Home,” “Break All The Way” and “Steal It From Me,” while introducing new material that reflects her experiences navigating relationships, heartbreak and personal growth.

Leading the release is “Slow Dancing In The Kitchen,” a new focus track produced by three-time Canadian Country Music Association Producer of the Year nominee Kyle McKearney. The song was written by Hughes, Lydia Sutherland and Fran Litterski.

For Hughes, the collection serves as a reflection of her early adulthood and the emotions that accompanied it.

“It moves through falling hopelessly in love, wanting to know every little thing about someone, learning how to let your walls down, holding onto relationships you know should’ve probably ended already and dreaming about the kind of love that lasts forever,” Hughes said.

The singer said the project balances emotional highs and lows while remaining rooted in the storytelling traditions that drew her to country music.

“There’s heartbreak in this project, but there’s also warmth, confidence, nostalgia and a little bit of sass too,” Hughes said. “Sonically, the EP pays tribute to the traditional country music that first made me fall in love with storytelling, while blending in the pop influences that shaped me growing up. Every song feels like a different piece of my heart, and together they make up the most honest version of who I am as an artist so far. I hope when people listen, they see pieces of themselves in these songs too.”

The release highlights Hughes’ blend of country storytelling and contemporary pop influences, a sound shaped by a variety of musical traditions from her South Asian and Filipino heritage. Raised in Calgary, Hughes grew up listening to music ranging from Bollywood and Hawaiian melodies to hip-hop and R&B.

The project arrives during a period of growing recognition for Hughes. Earlier this year, she earned Country Music Alberta Award nominations for Horizon Female Artist of the Year and Fans’ Choice and was selected to perform during the awards program.

Hughes has also shared stages with artists including Brothers Osborne, Ashley McBryde, Josh Ross and Babyface. Her performance résumé includes appearances at venues such as the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip, Nashville’s Tootsies and Calgary Stampede’s Nashville North.

The singer will celebrate the release of “Take Me Home” with an EP release party June 12 at Calgary’s King Eddy before embarking on a summer run of festival appearances across Western Canada.

Upcoming performances include the Calgary Stampede Coca-Cola Stage on July 5, the King Eddy Rooftop Stampede Party on July 10, Penticton Peach Fest in British Columbia on Aug. 6 and Feast At The Beach Festival in Cold Lake, Alberta, on Sept. 5.

The EP’s six tracks are “Take Me Home,” “Until This Fire Dies,” “Break All The Way,” “You Got Me,” “Steal It From Me” and “Slow Dancing In The Kitchen.”