The singer/songwriter spoke with us about her inspirations for her upcoming new album, Comet, and her favourite part about creating her “gritty wildcrafted-folk.”
How did you get your start in music?
My love for songwriting started with words. I grew up writing poems and short stories and had always dreamed of being a writer. As I became older, I started listening to the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and other songwriters - I was inspired to try it on my own. Eventually, I worked up the confidence to perform my songs in high school and became the frontwoman for several bands.
Can you talk about your style of country/roots - you meld rock, old country, and folk, how did you develop your sound?
My sound has certainly changed and developed over the years, and I suspect it will continue to transform as I am influenced by different things in my life. My sound is heavily inspired by roots, rock, and lyrically-driven artists. Much of what I listened to as a teenager was from my dad's record collection, and this informed much of my songwriting. The music I play has been described as "gritty wildcrafted folk".
Can you talk about your upcoming new record, Comet? What can people expect from it?
Comet will be my sophomore album and is being released on October 19th. I'm really excited about this collection of songs! I had a great team of folks helping me create this album, and we put a lot of work into arrangements and thoughtful production. The songs speak to wild places, heart places - they are not afraid to highlight both the light and the dark places. Much of the album features a backing band arrangement, and more banjo and electric guitar than my debut album!
You’ve been a musician for quite a few years now, what are some of your favourite highlights?
Performing at the 2017 Winnipeg Folk Festival on both Main Stage and the banjo workshop were major highlights for me. Also having the chance to perform in the Canadian North has been incredibly moving for me - communities like Inuvik, Iqaluit, Whitehorse, Dawson City, Atlin. I have also enjoyed sharing my music with folks overseas, and seeing how my music is received in countries where language and culture are quite different from my own.