In the Country with Dave Woods:
Angelica Appelman

This month, the spotlight is on Angelica Appelman. Born & raised in Kitchener, Angelica released her debut single “Happy Place” in 2022. Anyone who knows her knows that music is indeed her happy place. She jokingly refers to “Taylor Swift-ing” her way through High School.

“Happy Place” was included on Angelica’s 2023 EP A Reason Or A Season, which also included “U-Turn” & “Guilt Trip”. She headlined a sold-out release show for the EP at Toronto’s iconic Rivoli.

Shows she has performed at include Toronto’s CNE, Boots In The Creek, the CCMA Country Crawl & Cavendish Beach Music Festival.

Angelica loves 90’s country and draws inspiration from 90’s female icons like Shania & Martina McBride.

In addition to navigating a busy music career, Angelica serves as an Ambassador for the Canadian Mental Health Association, using her platform to champion wellness through music.

Welcome to the Spotlight, Angelica. I wanted to start by asking how 2025 was musically for you.

Hey, hey, Dave! Thanks so much for having me! 2025 was a whirlwind year musically. I played Sauble Beach Party, the CNE, opened for The Reklaws, and had so many unforgettable show opportunities. I also released Finding My Feet and Cutting Corners, which kept me busy in the best way.

Finding My Feet opened the door to some really meaningful work as an ambassador and spokesperson for the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo-Wellington, where I shared my story and performed at the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women in front of 1,500 people. Then Cutting Corners gained strong editorial support across Amazon, Apple, and Spotify, and hit #1 on the A-Break Indie Playlist — a global, industry-voted chart — which was a huge honour.

I wrapped the year in Vancouver, recording Half Hearted with the Renaissance team, and that experience unlocked a whole new level of artistry for me. It really defined this new era of my music — confident, emotionally grounded, and creatively bold. I took a step back from social media to focus on my craft, branding, songwriting, and even pushed myself to play more guitar live. I’m feeling more connected than ever to my sound and storytelling, and I’m so excited to see this next chapter unfold.

You’re about to release your brand new single “Half-Hearted.” Congratulations! Tell us a bit about the song – the meaning, the writing of it, etc.

Thank you! I am beyond excited for this song — it truly feels like a game-changer for me. Half-Hearted comes from a very real place of being in a healthy, serious relationship for the first time and not knowing how to fully trust something so good. I had done so much work learning how to love myself and be independent that opening my heart without losing who I am felt terrifying.

I spent a lot of time journaling through those emotions, and many of the lines in Half-Hearted came directly from those journal entries. The word “half-hearted” kept coming up — that feeling of wanting to love fully but holding back out of fear. That same night, I had a write with Patrick James Clark and Ali Dutton during Patrick’s 24-hour song-a-thon, and I brought those raw, honest thoughts into the room. We shaped the song to feel conversational and relatable, with quick, simple verses and a chorus that says everything my heart and head were feeling.

After living with the song, I brought Patrick and Ali back in to refine it and really make it hit. I then shared the worktape with the Renaissance team, who loved it and made a few key melodic tweaks that pushed it over the line and made it feel undeniable. That excitement led me to Vancouver to record it with them — and that’s when I realized this song was defining a whole new era for me.

What do you enjoy most about writing songs?

What I enjoy most about writing songs is creating something people can truly relate to and feel seen by. I love sharing minds with other writers, learning new ways to approach a song depending on where it’s headed, the genre, or the strengths everyone brings into the room. Building off each other’s strengths and weaknesses and turning nothing into something meaningful — something that might help someone or become their favourite song — is the most rewarding part for me.

If you could write a song with any other writer, who would you choose & why?

Oh goodness, there are a lot of people I would want to write with but, I keep going back to Ms. Lainey Wilson because for one, I think it would be such a hoot and half the write is all about the hang! I also think she is so versatile and can write hit after hit, whether it be a ballad or an upbeat banger. I love who she is as a person, and everything she stands for, and I am so inspired by her story, her perseverance, and how she holds herself with such grace and humility. I would love to hear how she would turn my life stories into something only Lainey would say. I think our way of life and how we were raised would really help us be on the same page, making things easier and more comfortable in the writing room. I would just want to be there to listen and learn, though. She has so much wisdom to share on and off the stage! I just love her to bits!

What advice would you have for a new artist on the country scene that could help them get a good start on their career?

I’d tell a new artist to really focus on honing their craft, writing songs that feel authentic to them, and developing their live show. The music industry is always changing, so trying to chase what’s “popular” is a losing game — you want to focus on being the best version of yourself.

Build genuine relationships with other artists because you never know where they’ll go, and find a mentor who truly cares about you and your career. Having someone like Dani Strong guiding me was incredibly influential. Network, network, network — you are your own best advocate. The people who move the needle in this industry want to know you, not your team.

Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance, sit in on a writing session, or learn as much as you can about the business so you don’t have to pay someone to do it for you. Be strategic with your money — not every song needs to be pushed or marketed the same way. And finally, stay humble, be patient, and keep your next move close to your chest.

It can be tough working on a career in music, as there are highs and lows. What would you say to someone who is feeling discouraged in their career?

Honestly, we’ve all been there. Even the people who look like they have it all figured out are probably struggling in their own way. Just because it looks a certain way from the outside doesn’t mean that’s what’s really going on — this whole business can be smoke and mirrors. Feeling discouraged doesn’t mean you’re failing; it usually means you care. This career is full of highs and lows, and no one talks enough about the quiet seasons where it feels like nothing is moving, even though so much growth is happening behind the scenes. I’ve learned that progress isn’t always loud or visible.

Don’t waste your energy or money trying to keep up with the Joneses. Focus on your own path, your craft, and your “why,” and keep showing up. And make sure you have a small, trustworthy support system you can lean on — especially people outside the industry who really know you and have your best interests at heart. That support, perspective, and grounding make all the difference when things get tough.

What goals do you have for your music career in 2026?

Well, 2026 is all about Half-Hearted and growing from there. I’m excited to get back on the radio with Steve Coady, do a full national tour, play as many stages as I can, and keep improving my live show along the way. I’m especially looking forward to the Hollyrood Jamboree opening for Jade Eagleson and connecting with fans both in person and online.

I also have concrete goals for growing my audience — reaching more people with my music, sharing my live shows, continuing to play guitar live, and building genuine connections with fans. I’m aiming for 500,000 streams, 10,000 Instagram followers, and 20,000 TikTok followers. Wish me luck, haha! You know what they say, aim high! Contests and showcases are part of it, too, but this year is really about keeping the focus on the music and the people who show up for it!