Alberta's Michela Sheedy isn't new on the scene, but her brand new single Lost could be the track that brings her farther than she's ever been.
In years past we've been able to catch Michela up on stage at Country Thunder in Calgary, she's been in front of fans at the Stampede, and recently we saw her on our TVs when she opened for Dean Brody and Dallas Smith for their Bud Stage at Home concert. She's a powerhouse vocalist, a great follow on social media, and she's good people.
To celebrate the release of Lost, we caught up with Michela for a Q&A to learn about the song, her career, and more. Plus, we got her to turn on the camera for a round of 5 Quick Questions.
First, hit play on Lost, and then scroll down to get to the rest!
Michela Sheedy - Lost
Okay, now that you're listening, let's learn a little more about Michela Sheedy in our Q&A!
Michela Sheedy Q&A!
Q) How does it feel to have Lost ready and out to listeners?
Michela Sheedy) To have Lost finally out in the world is a really amazing and equally terrifying thing. As an artist and songwriter, you spend years working and chasing the right song to send off to the world with the hopes that people will love it as much as you do. It's like sending a child off to their first day of school. This song is a literal extension of who I am and a really personal story for me. I feel so relieved to finally have it out for the world to have for their own.
Q) Can you tell us about what the song means to you, or what you hope people take away from it?
Michela) The process of writing this song was so healing for me and I can only hope that it can have that same impact on people as they listen to it. I wrote it about my experience of heartbreaking loss in terms of my career and my personal life. It was during a time when I was being very unkind and hard on myself and this song was a way to make peace and get reacquainted with gratitude and happiness. It's a song about finding joy at the other side of a painful road and I think we've all been through our fair share of pain these days.
Q) You are super real on social media, not afraid to crack a joke, but also tell truths about life and its ups and downs - why do you feel it's important to share that side of things with your fans as an artist?
Michela) I think being legitimately authentic on social media is really important. I see so many people preaching being "real" and yet they are afraid to show the lighthearted, sometimes goofy sides of themselves or talk about polarizing topics online. I think that's a damn shame. Why not show all the wonderful sides of your personality online? We are all complex human beings so why not embrace all the beauty that we are?
For me, I think it's a disservice to my audience to pretend to be something that I'm not. I think people are craving something personable and approachable online instead of being bombarded with this perceived perfection that a lot of people display. I want my social media to be a place where people can feel empowered and enough. If I can do that by showing that I snort when I laugh sometimes or how it's ok to have bad days, then I will continue to do so until the internet blows up.
Q) You've had the chance to perform at the Calgary Stampede - can you use a few words to describe what it's like to get up at a legendary exhibition like that and play for country fans?
Michela) I have grown up at the Calgary Stampede. It is such a huge part of my life and it has been such an honour to play some of their biggest stages at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. As an independent artist, it's sometimes a pipe dream to think about hitting big stages with thousands of people partying their faces off. Because of the Stampede, I have had this dream come true a time or two. Last summer I got to open for Aaron Goodvin on the Nashville North stage and it was definitely a highlight of my career.
Q) More recently you were the opening act for the Dallas Smith / Dean Brody, Bud Stage at Home concert. What was the experience of recording your performance like, and then knowing it went out coast-to-coast with two big stars like Dallas and Dean attached?
Michela) Covid has crashed so many parties this year but it has also presented us with really unique opportunities. This was one of them for me. I have always admired and looked up to both Dallas and Dean. So it was such a cool opportunity to open for them on the Budweiser Stage. Regardless of if it was all done remotely, it was so much fun. Recording that show made me feel a glimpse of normalcy and it was such a treat. It blows me away that this show was broadcast coast to coast and I am so humbled to be able to be a part of things like this.
Q) Last one for a little something extra, can you tell us all something that we wouldn't find on your social channels or in a Google search. (example: a hidden talent)
Michela) I have many quirks about me! I am honestly such a weirdo. I don't know if this is a talent, but I cry on cue every time I watch Disney movies. If you look really close, one of my eyes is bigger than the other and I am also a HUGE musical theatre buff.
Thanks to Michela for taking the time to answer our questions AND thanks for her for sitting down for a round of 5 Quick Questions! Hit play to find out which album she's reaching for, where she dreams of playing, who she thinks you should be listening to - and more!
5 Quick Questions with Michela Sheedy
Thanks again to Michela for playing along. Hit play and listen to Lost again now!
