SoB: Wow, and you played at Cavendish Country Music Festival a few years back, correct? AW: Yes! I have a whole history with Cavendish, so it felt very full circle to be on stage there a few years ago. I went to the first few festivals when they started years ago, and I was very inspired by the artists and wanted to be up there on the stage in front of the crowds at Cavy. When I moved to Toronto, I applied to be a server for the Cavendish Beach Music Festival in their VIP Sections because Taylor Swift was performing, and I was sure I could meet the right person and get a chance to go backstage and meet her. I got the job, I talked to the right person, and I got to go backstage and meet Taylor Swift in person. And then it was like, “ok, now I want to get on that stage.” Fast forward several years and I found the right contacts and was able to play at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival on the side stages. I was the first act on the smallest side stage, but it was such a cool moment for me because it was my first time playing on stage at home. It’s tough to be the first act but lots of people came out and it was an awesome experience, but then I knew I wanted to get back to Cavy and play the mainstage. So, this past summer, I got the opportunity to come back and play on the big stage at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival which was so awesome. Now the next goal is to have a better slot on the main stage because I was the first person to take the stage last year at Cavy but it was still so cool to be there and live that moment.
SoB: You mentioned Taylor Swift having a huge impact on your career and also, playing the lead role in Footloose in high school as changing your life. Is there any particular person or people who have influenced you to get into songwriting? AW: I think one of the best songwriters and most successful women in the entire music industry is Taylor Swift, so I think I would just keep falling back on her as a major influence for me. I love so many other artists, too: Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, Gretchen Wilson – they’re all artists who I have loved and related to over the years. I’m also inspired by Kacey Musgraves; she has such a unique and fresh perspective on songwriting that I find so interesting. Maren Morris brings a totally badass approach to things, so I’m inspired by her. Probably my favourite artist right now is Morgan Wallen. He is a great songwriter, but he also cuts outside songs from incredible songwriters too, because there are just so many amazing songwriters in Nashville that send millions of songs that never get heard. So, I guess you could say I’m inspired by artists, but I’m also really inspired by songs. Sometimes, I’ll hear a song and I think, “Wow, that was so well written”. It’s special when a song hits you a certain way.
Photo Credit - PJ Brown
14 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 24 ISSUE 2
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