Chambers/Deslauriers featuring Annika Chambers & Paul Deslauriers

Bio

Chambers DesLauriers embodies love, resilience, and the stirring power of blues, soul, and rock ‘n roll. Fronted by the magnetic duo Annika Chambers and Paul DesLauriers, this band unites two celebrated artists whose music and story inspire audiences worldwide.

Their love story began in 2018 with a moment straight out of a movie. During a busy music conference in Memphis, TN, in a jam-packed lobby at the Orpheum Theatre, “we immediately locked eyes,” Annika muses simply about their first magical meeting. But fate had other plans—they wouldn’t cross paths again for another year, and their connection was undeniable when they did. A whirlwind romance, quick engagement, and marriage followed, and now, six years later, their love continues to shine—on stage and off.

Their new album, Our Time to Ride, was recorded at Studio MixArt in Montreal by producer Eric Corne (John Mayall, Sugaray Rayford, Joe Louis Walker), with further recording at Eric’s Forty Below Studios in L.A. and Sound Arts in Houston, TX. It blends deep blues roots, soulful R&B melodies, and riff-driven rock with heartfelt storytelling, raw emotion, and dynamic musicianship. Rounding out their sound is their touring rhythm section, Gary Davenport on bass and Sly Coulombe on drums. Keyboard duties were handled by Sasha Smith and Jesse O’Brien, horns by Mark Pender and David Ralicke, and background vocals by Corne and Nicoya Polar.

The basic tracks for Our Time to Ride were tracked live off the floor in Montreal, capturing the raw energy and chemistry of a Chambers DesLauriers performance. “Eric made sure we were all super comfortable, and things flowed,” says Paul. “We had the luxury of feeling like we were just playing live.” Once the foundation was laid, lead guitar, vocals, keyboards, horns, and background vocals were layered in. Annika recalls Paul recording most of the solos for the album in one night. “He was in the zone. They were asking him if he needed to take a break, and I said, ‘No, just let him keep going, he’s on a roll!'”

The first track on the album and its lead single, “Love You Just the Same“, is a love letter set to music, capturing the depth of commitment through every high and low. It’s an upbeat, feel-good anthem that celebrates love in its truest form—not just in perfect moments, but in the struggles and triumphs that define a relationship. The song sets the tone for the entire album—one of passion, connection, and enduring love.

“People Gonna Talk” is driven by a steady, soulful strut while making a bold statement about tuning out negativity and staying focused on what truly matters.

The album’s title track, “Our Time to Ride“, pulls you in with a driving riff that makes you want to move and let go. The slide guitar work sings and soars, while Annika’s vocals glide effortlessly over the groove. The message is about freedom and embracing the road ahead. “Our Time to Ride” is the turning point.

“Sing” is a soaring, dynamic anthem for the voiceless, while “Temperature of One-O-Nine” takes you on a funk journey replete with sexy vocals and wild guitar. The moods are many, with “One in a Million” completing the album, a vocal call and answer between Annika and Paul about finding the one.

Annika Chambers cut her teeth singing in church as a child and led her first song at age 15. Influenced by Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Yolanda Adams, and Mavis Staples, she hit the stage in her hometown of Houston for the first time as a professional singer in 2008.

Her strength and determination stem from her 7 ½ years in the U.S. Army, where she served two tours of duty. During this time, she first discovered the blues, and from there, her musical path was set. Annika has cemented her place as a force to be reckoned with in the blues world, earning three Blues Music Awards for Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year (2019, 2022, 2024), with another nomination in 2025.

Hailing from Cornwall, Ontario, Paul DesLauriers picked up his first instrument at age five and never looked back. Studying the greats—B.B. King, Robert Johnson, Bukka White, and Peter Green—he immersed himself in their playing while developing his own distinct style. By 15, he was gigging professionally and, soon after, touring the world under his name. A  six-time Maple Blues Award winner, DesLauriers has earned his place as one of Canada’s premier blues-rock guitarists.

A survivor of a traumatic brain injury in 2018, Paul’s experience only reinforced one truth: music was his anchor. “No matter what life throws at you, when you pick up a guitar, it reminds you who you are. I’m blessed that it wasn’t taken away from me. I just had to keep moving forward through the fog.”

Paul and Annika’s previous release, Good Trouble (2022), debuted at #3 on the Billboard Blues Chart and won a Blues Blast Magazine music award for Soul Blues Album of the Year. “It’s absolutely fabulous!” raved Rock & Blues Muse.

Our Time to Ride is a reflection of life and love through the lens of music. It’s an album about staying the course, taking the wheel, and not letting anything derail the journey.