Where were you at in your music career when you had your first child? Was there much discussion about how that life choice would affect your career within the music/entertainment industry?

“When I got pregnant with my first child, my music career was in a really great, high-momentum space. I was doing a lot of shows and had just been featured in an article by Exclaim! highlighting me as an artist to look out for. Locally, I was deeply embedded in the scene, working with many different organizations in my city like the Art Gallery of Hamilton and receiving an Honorary Arts and Culture award presented by the Mayor of Hamilton, through Sisters in Sync, for inspiring young girls in the community.

I was so committed to that momentum that I was still showing up heavily pregnant right until the very end. I distinctly remember doing a show with Collective Arts in Toronto just a couple weeks before having my son.

There was definitely a lot of discussion about how motherhood would affect my career. I knew deep down that I would have to take a little pause, because within my heart I know I’m a person who always wants to be present with my child and show up in the best way possible. It was just about taking that time to find myself and figure out how I show up in this industry as a mother.”

What is one change, big or small, within the industry that can make a positive impact for working parents?

“One of the biggest changes would be making things easier when a parent has to travel with their child. The industry needs to make that more sustainable, whether it is providing the budget to cover child travel and care costs, or finding ways to create different opportunities where we can actually work with kids.

Additionally, as parents we develop firsthand techniques and unique ways of connecting with children. If that is part of your art journey, there should be ways to incorporate those parenting techniques to create youth programs. Letting us come in as artists firsthand to design and build these programs for kids allows our parenting and our art to work together instead of competing.”

How do you find support and community with other working parents in or out of the music industry?

“For me, finding support really comes down to asking other artists you know who are parents how they’ve gotten support over the years. By having those direct conversations, you learn what they actually do to continue to sustain their artistry while also sustaining being a parent. Building that network of other music moms gives you a real space to share advice and resources.

Outside of the industry, it is about connecting with the everyday working parents around you who are navigating the exact same logistical hurdles. Whether it is through local community circles or parenting groups, those spaces keep you grounded. Ultimately, you find community by being open, asking how others do it, and building a village that understands the journey.”

What’s one specific example of an organization, venue, or company doing something great to help support working parents?

“A great recent example for me was during JUNO weekend in March. I had a performance sequence inside the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Atrium on a Friday and a Saturday, and the environment was just so kid-friendly.

As a working mother, you are always trying to figure out the logistics of childcare and wondering if you need your partner or someone else to watch your child just so you can go do a gig. But performing in that atrium, there was none of that pressure. I knew that all were welcome, from babies on up to any age. It didn’t feel like a rigid music venue, where a child would be out of place, and having that kind of welcoming setting makes a huge difference for parent artists.”

What kind of accommodations can a music event, festival, or conference provide to make it easier for you to participate as a working parent?

“It definitely comes down to giving me the physical space to have my child and my accompanying support team with me on the day of the show. Whether it is a partner or whoever is helping me that day, we need the ability to have actual space behind the scenes to gather and get ready together.

When you have performance gear, strollers, and diaper bags, squeezing into a tiny, cramped backstage room adds so much extra stress. Venues and festivals can make things incredibly seamless just by providing a dedicated, quiet space where a parent-artist can handle their business, keep their support team close, and focus entirely on putting on a great performance.”

Can you shout out another music mama doing great things?

“I absolutely want to shout out BLK Orchid!”