Photo courtesy of Curtis Perry

It has been said before that you don’t choose music, but that music chooses you. For me, that choice became undeniable during my childhood in London, Ontario - a city so deeply rooted in melody that it became Canada’s first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) City of Music. Maybe it was the magic waters of the Thames River (!), or more likely the contagious passion of the local musicians who surrounded me.

My musical journey actually began at the piano, sitting for lessons with the wonderful Diane Edwards. It was during those early hours of practice at home that I first discovered the joy of creation; I would fall upon what I considered interesting chord progressions, and a melody would just pop into my head, asking to be written.

This foundational love for keys opened the door to the choral community, where I sang with the Amabile singers. This incredible family of choirs exposed me to world-class artistry early on. Performing alongside Denise Pelley, whose heart-filled jazz and R&B vocals permanently imprinted on my soul as a young girl, showed me the sheer power of human connection through voice. A definitive turning point arrived during a joint performance with the Antler River Project. Watching Stephen Holowitz, co-composer of the musical ensemble, at the keyboard, navigating intricate chord progressions and effortlessly improvising, made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t before. In that exact moment, my early piano roots and my choral experience fused together. Music shifted from something I merely practiced to something I actively felt, and a spark was lit.

This calling was nurtured beautifully at my high school, where a fabulous music program made it completely cool to be a self-proclaimed "music nerd". My music teacher, Linda Wharton, possessed a brilliant sense of humour and boundless support that helped shape my identity as a musician and artist. I threw myself into every opportunity, playing flute in the band, violin in the orchestra and serving on the Music Council.

Years later, that inner creative spark fully caught fire when I established myself in the Ottawa music scene as an independent singer-songwriter. Transitioning from those early classical roots into a vibrant blend of heartfelt indie pop, rock and storytelling, Ottawa became the canvas for my growth. Following my 2022 debut album, Starry Skies, I began to trust my creative instincts more deeply, writing anthems of empowerment like "Cloak of Fear".