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: I grew up in Bowmanville, Ontario, with a very active family. Music was always a big part of my life since childhood, but I was definitely more focused on sports as a kid. When I was in high school my dream was to go to the olympics as a competitive snowboarder, but that dream was crushed when I had a bad crash while warming up for a slopestyle competition in my senior year. I suffered some pretty serious injuries like a broken back, snapped collarbone, severe concussion, dislocated shoulder, and some cracked ribs. It was a long and difficult recovery and I was really depressed, but that’s also what lead me to focus more on music. Music was very healing and therapeutic for me during that recovery process, and when I came out on the other side of it, I felt like God had given me a new passion and purpose in music.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: I started taking singing lessons when I was 12, I studied opera and completed Royal Conservatory training as a vocalist. While I loved the challenge of learning this style of music and discovered the power in my voice through that training, I learned I wasn’t really passionate about it as a genre. I am grateful for the foundation and technique it gave me as a vocalist though.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: I would say some of my earliest musical influences were The Eagles, Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, Aretha Franklin and No Doubt (Gwen Stefani).
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Ours’. Is there a story behind it?
A: This song was inspired by a situation where you go through a breakup and your ex basically hits “copy and paste” from your relationship to the next one. They bring them to the same places and the same bar that used to be your spot, and then even have the audacity to dance with them in front of you, to a song y’all used to call “Ours”.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: All I can say is that you can expect a lot of new music from me this year, and it is the most “me” music I’ve ever made.
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: That’s a tough question to answer. Lyrics are very important to me and I always hope that the way I write them feels raw, relatable and authentic to my listeners…I hope that it makes them feel understood. As far as describing my sound, I would reference one of the best compliments I’ve ever gotten – someone told me once that they couldn’t quite put their finger on who I sound like. I loved to hear that because I took that to mean I sounded unique and like no one but myself… that’s what I strive for.
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: There have definitely been times where I’ve been too concerned with what other people thought I needed to sound like. I was chasing someone else’s idea of me, instead of digging deeper into who I actually am. I would say the new music I have already put out this year, and the music to come is without a doubt the most fulfilling music I’ve ever created. I am making music that is unapologetically me and delivering it with a confidence that has taken me years to build.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: The creative process never really starts or ends. I’m pretty much thinking about songs and music constantly. Whether I’m in conversation with friends, people watching, driving, or about to fall asleep, my brain is always searching for inspiration and songs. As far as actually writing the songs, the lyrics or idea usually comes first for me. Then I look for a vibe, profession, tempo , and then vocal melody. However, sometimes the melody comes first and the rest comes after. I try to be open to changing and shaking up my creative process as much as I can, to keep from getting stale, or getting stuck in a rut of writing the same thing. I also really love writing songs for other artists/bands who are outside of the country genre… it feels good to be able to step outside of the rules and parameters of writing country music and keeps me sharp.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: the pandemic. It felt like everything came crashing down on me and all my dreams were put on hold. I was in the process of leaving behind some very toxic relationships that were severely affecting my career and creativity. All of a sudden a year’s worth of shows and touring was taken off my calendar, and I was worried about how I would survive financially, but I was also missing my escape. Being on stage and singing to my fans makes everything feel like it’s gonna be ok while I’m up there. It’s a release… it motivates me, inspires me, and gives me so much joy, and suddenly my greatest joy was being taken from me. Though I would never want to go through that again, it did really force me to do some soul searching. It gave me time and space to challenge myself creatively and step outside the box a little more with my music. It gave me time to really think about not only the kind of artist I wanted to be, but the kind of person I wanted to be.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Even though it hasn’t happened yet, I am so proud and honoured to be making my Opry Debut next month. It is something I have dreamed about for a long time. I am of course very proud of winning my first Juno, and for my CCMA female artist of the year awards, but honestly my proudest moment was going on my first headlining tour. I was terrified to make that leap of faith in myself and my fans. I had nightmares about walking onstage to a near empty auditorium, but the first show of that tour put all those fears to rest for me. I saw so many smiling faces in the crowd, some I’ve been seeing in the front row since day 1. I’ve never felt more connected to my audience because I knew they came for me. I knew that they had spent their hard-earned money on a ticket to see Meghan Patrick, and I’ve never felt more grateful or proud of anything in my career.
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