Tanika Charles is a Canadian soul and R&B singer known for her powerful voice and captivating performances. Her debut full-length album, Soul Run, was released in 2016, marking a major milestone in her career.

Originally from Edmonton, Alberta Tanika moved to Toronto in the late 2000s after being offered the opportunity to sing backing vocals for Bedouin Soundclash. From there, she went on to work as a backing vocalist for a wide range of artists, including Johnny Reid, Serena Ryder, and Emmanuel Jal. Before establishing herself as a solo artist, Tanika performed under the name Ms. Chawlz and released her debut EP, What! What? What!?, in 2010.

In 2015, she released the title track from her debut album, Soul Run, as a preview single, followed by the single “Two Steps” in 2016. Both tracks were well-received, earning spots on CBC Radio 2’s playlists and charting on the Radio 2 Top 20. Her full album dropped on May 10, 2016 and was supported by her first extensive tour, along with a notable appearance on CBC Radio One’s Q show with Tom Power. Soul Run was longlisted for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize, and in 2017 it was nominated for the JUNO Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.

Tanika’s presence extends beyond music. She has appeared as a recurring guest on CBC Kids and performed as a lounge singer on the Global drama Bomb Girls. Her songs have been featured in several television shows, including Less Than Kind (HBO Canada), Workin’ Moms (CBC), Rookie Blue (Global), Seed (Citytv), and Saving Hope (CTV).

In 2019, Tanika released her second album, The Gumption, through Record Kicks, continuing to solidify her place as a standout talent in Canadian music.