Q: Congratulations on being awarded the grand prize recipient of The SOCAN Foundation’s Her Music Awards! How does it feel to receive such recognition for your contributions to the Canadian music industry?
A: Receiving the recognition was a huge honour. Everything I do is always through a filter of thought: what would my mentors think, how am I honouring their sacrifices, their teachings. I feel like the award is a celebration of all of the amazing, talented and strong mentors who have accompanied me along my journey.
Q: Your career spans over two decades, during which you’ve captivated audiences worldwide with your powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence. What initially inspired you to pursue a career in music?
A: I never even considered being a singer, I thought I would be a language interpreter or a teacher, but I had THE BEST theatre arts teacher in high school. Her name was Mrs. Marly Kodak, – she started the theatre arts program in Ontario high schools – she was constantly championing me and she told me that I needed to go to school to become a singer. Her advice became the rule book that I followed for the next 5 years or so: “Mrs. Kadak told me to be a singer, so it must be my destiny”.
Q: Can you tell us more about your latest album, “Hold on to Love,” and the creative process behind it? What themes or messages were you aiming to convey through this project?
A: I started writing new material about 2 years after my Time album, but touring was really distracting for me, so I wasn’t able to get most of the writing done until I took time off – thank you 1000x to the Toronto Arts Council. I wrote for a month in Martinique and would send music back and forth with Donna Grantis. We figured out the foundations for the music and when I returned Donna and I nailed down the form and basic arrangements. Donna did a great job on music arrangement and leading the band through the recordings. I was never aiming to convey anything other than truth and ultimately I discovered that my truth was all about love – love of community, love of self, destructive love, selfish love, romantic love and unconditional love.
Q: You’ve received numerous accolades throughout your career, including the 2023 Folk Music Ontario Award for Album of the Year and a 2023 JUNO Award nomination. How do these recognitions impact your approach to your craft?
A: The recognitions are wonderful and very much appreciated, but they only impact my approach in the sense that they remind me to follow my heart and stay authentic always.
Q: From your acclaimed tribute to Nina Simone in “The Nina Project” to your roles in hit series like Schitt’s Creek and Batwoman, you’ve showcased remarkable versatility. How do you navigate between music and acting, and do you find similarities in the creative processes of both?
A: I love acting and thought that was something creative I could pursue, but Mrs. Kadak said that I “would always be an actor, but I needed to sing!”, so I do think that I use the storytelling skills that I have learned while I am onstage singing. I haven’t yet learned how to use my singing skills as an actor, but that’s probably just a lesson for another day.
Q: The Her Music Awards aim to honor outstanding female-identifying Canadian music creators. In your opinion, what are some of the unique challenges faced by women in the music industry, and how do initiatives like these awards contribute to addressing those challenges?
A: Women are still invisible in many ways in the music industry. Sometimes because people refuse to see us, other times maybe because we know the way to stay in the business is to try not to make any waves- don’t be seen. Our voices may be existing in more spaces, but it still seems sometimes that we have to shout first in order for that space to not only open, but to stay open. The more that we are supported, acknowledged and invited into new rooms, the more opportunities we will have to make real and significant changes.
Q: Collaboration seems to be a significant aspect of your career, as seen in your collaborations with industry luminaries on “Hold on to Love.” What do you enjoy most about collaborating with other artists, and how do these collaborations influence your artistic growth?
A: I absolutely love finding connections and enlarging my community. That’s how I think of collaborations – community connections. I have yet to speak the same musical ‘language’ with any two artists and it’s exhilarating figuring out what our ‘secret language’ is and then creating art through it; musical art that then becomes a new language for others to hear and connect to. This is ultimately my goal as an artist and working with others helps me to achieve it.
Q: As an artist who has experienced success both nationally and internationally, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians looking to establish themselves in the industry?
A: My advice to all musicians is the same that I give to myself everyday and sometimes more than once on the difficult days: Stay true to yourself, determine and always remember what your endgame is so that you don’t sway from your path and surround yourself with good people who will always tell you the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it.
Q: Looking ahead, what are some of your goals and aspirations for the future of your music career? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re particularly excited about?
A: I’d like to do more workshops and mentorship with young artists. I was blessed to have women and men like Salome Bey, Jackie Richardson, Archie Alleyne and Joe Sealy to guide me when I was just starting out and it really made a difference in who I became as a bandleader, musician, as an artist, really. They did not hesitate to let me know how to be better, stronger, smarter…even when I was stuck in my own head. Thanks to the Her Music Awards, I am most excited about being about to take some time to write for my new album
