After a minute-long clip of an unreleased, in-progress track sparked an explosive reaction on TikTok, Robyn Ottolini today releases the demo version of “Growing Down” to all streaming services along with an accompany music video, giving fans the same raw version they connected with – a reflection of the song’s core message of authenticity – to meet overwhelming demand. What began as a quiet, personal moment has turned into a full-scale connection, with new and longtime fans sharing their own stories of letting go and embracing their truths. Since Ottolini first posted the snippet in late December, fans have used the audio in more than 17,000 of their own videos, while her teasers have accumulated over 2.5 million views and 200,000 likes – and counting.
It’s not the first time a breakthrough moment has shifted the course of the Nashville-based, small-town Ontario-born country artist’s career. In 2020, Ottolini’s breakout hit “F-150” experienced similar virality, helping launch a run that now includes Platinum and Gold-certified hit songs, CCMA Award wins and nominations and a career stream count approaching 200 million. The impact also cemented her reputation among fans, fellow artists and the industry on both sides of the border for her distinctive style and authenticity. Last year, Ottolini continued that momentum with new music, including the fan-favourite radio hit “Airplane Bottle,” and her second career headlining tour. And now, with “Growing Down,” Ottolini is seeing early momentum already outpacing the first-month numbers of “F-150.”
Ottolini released her EP Growing Up To Do in 2024, but soon after felt lost amid the uncertainty of… now what? She left her record label, switched management and prepared for a creative reset. When asked by her new manager where one goes after growing up, Ottolini wrote a note to herself: I guess I’m growing down. With “Growing Down,” Ottolini enters a period defined by a deeper understanding of who she is, a theme she explores throughout the track.
“You grow up to try new things, figure out a new version of yourself and be someone that you never thought you would be,” she explains. “Growing down on the other hand comes after you grow up. It’s digging deep into who you are, who you’ve always been, the things you stand for, what scares you, what used to frustrate you, and now doesn’t, and deciding to look at the world in a different way, like it’s a bottomless well. It’s also learning there is more than one way to grow and that’s ok.”
“Growing down is almost better than growing up.”
The clip’s rapid spread highlights why Ottolini writes the music she does: to create songs that speak honestly to her own journey while giving listeners something they can relate to. People who have discovered the clip have shared that “Growing Down” captures emotions and experiences they’ve struggled to put into words themselves.
“Healing is messy and choosing to go deeper into yourself is a big decision to make and I feel a delightful calmness in knowing people are connecting and recognizing themselves in this song,” Ottolini says. “I write music to have a song that says exactly what I’m feeling and what I’m going through and to understand why I feel certain ways. I feel very at peace that I put this feeling into words and in the process have given people a song they can run to and a safe place to land that feels like a steady resilience against what they were told was ‘the only way to do things.’”
Ottolini remains at work finishing the studio version of “Growing Down” and on to more new tracks for her eventual debut album release. With the upcoming releases and major festival appearances this summer, 2026 promises a year of lasting impact.
“Cheers,” Ottolini proclaims, “to growing down.”
2026 TOUR DATES:
May 9 Owen Sound, ON Dirt Road Revival
June 14 Nanoose Bay, BC Boots ‘N Boats
June 19 Lake Country, BC Boots ‘N Boats
July 3 Winnipeg, MB Princess Auto Stadium
July 10 Craven, SK Country Thunder Saskatchewan
August 1 Camrose, AB Big Valley Jamboree
