Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Music has always been a part of my life. My dad loves music and shared a lot of his favourite artists with me growing up. We would have dance parties in the living room to Bruce Springsteen and Poison and we would sing every word. I think that is how my love for music and performing came about. I performed every chance I had as a kid and started recording music in my bedroom at the age of 11. Music was always my career, I never knew how to do anything else so continuing to pursue music was never a question for me.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: Yes and no! I studied classical voice starting at the age of 11 and continued my studies at the University of Western Ontario. Afterwards, I went to study audio engineering and music production at Harris Institute of the Arts here in Toronto. Along with my vocal training I learned how to accompany myself on piano. However, I never had any formal training in guitar, I taught myself to play at 12 years old after my older sister showed me how to play G,C and D. From there I picked up the harmonica by ear and learned how to play it along with my guitar.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: Guns N’ Roses was probably my first musical influence, I remember begging my friends to sing “Sweet Child of Mine” at our school talent show at 8 years old. I was mesmerised by the music and eventually ventured out into the different glam metal bands of the 80’s and 90’s. In my teen years Cinderella’s Heartbreak Station album became a monumental album for me and pushed me into country music. I have also been an avid Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp fan my whole life. So I would say I’m lyrically inspired by the likes of those guys, and musically influenced by the glam rock of the 80s.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Legends of the Summer’. Is there a story behind it?
A: “Legends of the Summer” is the story of teenage love and the rose coloured world that comes along with teenage freedom and first loves. This song reminisces on the feeling of being legendary and feeling on top of the world with no responsibilities. We look back at those years and miss what we once felt – we were legends in our own world.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: It is definitely in the talks for the near future. I think there is a lot of pressure on when the right time to release a project like an EP or an album is and we are holding on until the time is right!
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I feel as though my lyrics are what I hope listeners will resonate with. I try to write truthful and meaningful songs that make people think or question something in their lives. I also hope that listeners can also hear my wide range of influence and pick out those little details. I think I would describe my sound as nostalgic country-pop. I say this because I build my tracks with nostalgic influences and then layer with a country pop sound we all know and love today.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: I would say yes, just completing a project is very fulfilling in itself. However, the love I get from listeners is truly amazing and does push that fulfilment further. I do music because I love it and the fans that listen to it are just a bonus. Of course I hope my music grows and reaches more and more people, but if that never happens I would say that I am fulfilled just creating.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: I personally am always in my notes app. I write down everything in my day that pops into my head, things that I see and things people say to me. From there if something sticks I will start writing around that idea, writing verses usually first and the chorus last. Sometimes the songs come out fast and other times I just can’t get it right. When that happens I will usually pitch those ideas in co-writes and get some help in fully shaping my vision. Once we have a song completed I will record a demo and add it to the vault to pitch for upcoming projects!
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I think being a young woman in this industry has been the hardest for me. Sometimes because of my age, the way I look, and being a woman some people don’t take me seriously. I have had men in this industry tell me to give up and just be a woman, that I’m not good enough or I’ll never get far. For a long time comments like this made me feel really hurt. I have now turned that hurt into motivation. Whenever someone puts me down these days I use it as fuel to show them what I am really made of.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: I think a really proud moment in my career was headlining Lee’s Palace here in Toronto. Everyone who has ever supported me came out and we all just had a blast. The people who watched me write my first song, my childhood best friends and so many more were all there singing along. To me it felt like my “this is happening” moment. I felt on top of the world.
