5 Questions With... Michela Sheedy

1. What brought you to country/roots music?

Country music seemed to sneak up and bite me in the butt. But the reality is that, it was always in my veins. Surprisingly enough, as a child, I hated country music. I would beg my dad to change the radio station because country was all he would let me listen to. All I wanted to do was listen to was My Chemical Romance. But living in Calgary meant that country music would forever be a part of my life. Sooner than later, I found myself singing along to George Strait and the strangest thing was that I loved it. Country music has always been in my blood. I just had to embrace it and fall in love with it in my own time.

2. When did you write your first song - as an artist or with a band?

Songwriting was always a touchy subject for me. I remember being around 5 when I wrote my first song. It was about typical 5-year-old things like going to a dance party. I kept that piece of paper so secretive. I didn’t want anyone to read it. My mom found it and I was so embarrassed. I remember grabbing the piece of paper out of her hands and ripping it up. She took the pieces and taped them back together, reassuring me that my song was wonderful. But ever since that moment, songwriting scared the hell out of me.

Songwriting wasn’t a part of my life until about 4 years ago. I went through a really intense break-up. So I allowed my walls to come down, face my fears and let my inner Taylor Swift emerge. Today, songwriting is a part of my daily life. It is all I think of. I wouldn’t be able to function as a normal human being if I wasn’t able to sit down and work on songs.

3. If you could go on tour opening to any performing artist right now, who would it be?

If I could go on tour and open for any artist right now, it would definitely have to be Chris Stapleton. To me, he is the epitome of a living, breathing, musical god. His song writing is out of this world. His voice makes me feel things I shouldn’t be. And his sheer presence is something that blows me away every time.

4. What is the best trend in country/roots music right now?

I believe that the best trend in country/ roots music right now is how many people are collaborating. Some may say that the lines of country music are blurred and the foundations of country music are being strayed too far away from. But for me, I feel like country music is becoming more inclusive. Country music is breaking barriers and crossing genre’s in the most brilliant ways these days. Not only are artists expanding their creative horizons, collaborating with other insanely talented people, but they are allowing themselves to be heard by brand new, untapped audiences.

5. What part of Project WILD are you most looking forward to?

I am most looking forward to soaking up every ounce of knowledge I can at Project Wild boot camp. I feel like I will come out of that experience a better artist and with a ton of brand new friends. I think that the top 12 will really get the chance to bond and learn together as a cohesive unit. I look forward to getting to know them better and embracing the spirit of comradery that music is all about. It will be summer camp for adults. Can’t ask for anything better than that!