In the Country with Dave Woods (September):

My parents have always told me that I’ve had a guitar in my hands since I was a little kid, and it seemed glued to my hands at all times. After endless home basement concerts, my parents finally decided to set up guitar lessons. After being lucky enough to find someone who would take on a little five-year-old me with fewer strings on my guitar than there should have been, I started taking lessons and quickly fell in love with it. This gave me the opportunity to play live in front of a crowd, and from that time on, it has been something I couldn’t imagine not doing.

Over the years, I have had many inspirations that have woven through my own music and live shows. As a kid, I looked up to artists like Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, and many more who were constantly in the background of my childhood. Right now, I am feeling super inspired by electric performances put on by artists like Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, Zach Bryan, and amazing lyricists like Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson. All of these artists have given me the chance to write and perform more creatively and have strengthened my own sound and live performances.

If I had to pick one favourite part about writing songs, it would be the fact that it happens differently every single time. You never know when that idea is going to float into your head and make you frantically reach for your phone to try and record it before it leaves. Whether it’s a tattoo on someone’s arm as they walk by, something someone quickly said in conversation, or even a person or place, the idea behind the song can come from anywhere. With that, there are so many incredible writers that I’ve had the privilege of working with who have shown me that there is always something new to learn about writing.

Being fairly new to writing, I am still trying to figure it all out myself. However, one of the best pieces of advice that I have received is to love and believe in what you’re writing, because if you aren’t into the song, you’re not going to put your best foot forward in the writing room, and you might not end up with the best song you could have written that day.

If I could record a duet with any country artist, it would have to be Ella Langley. I would pick Ella because her writing is incredibly unique, and her vocal tone is something that I believe is very different, raw, and authentic to her. She sings with so much passion that it bleeds into the songs she sings, and for that reason, if I could pick anyone, it would be Ella Langley.

For me, the most challenging part is being able to take a step back and not be so adamant about getting to the next step. I’ve been so lucky to have some amazing opportunities to play music and do the things I love most, and sometimes it’s hard when you’re caught up in it to step back, look at everything that has happened, and fully appreciate the incredible things I’ve been a part of.

Some of the stages I would love to play on in the future are at bigger festivals I’ve been a huge fan of for years. Stages like Boots and Hearts, Lasso, and Sauble Beach Party are all examples of venues that have hosted incredible artists, and I love working toward being able to play on them.