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?

In the fall of 2016, I gave birth to my daughter Effie. I was about five years into my career at Sony Music, had just entered my 30s and I was now a new mom. This was a moment of significance both in my professional life and personal one as I haphazardly figured out how to be a working mother in an industry known for its unconventional, and fast-paced rhythms. At the time, I lacked guidance from fellow moms in the field and as I made my return to work after mat leave, the double burden weighed heavy. It’s encouraging to see more and more conversations happening now about how we can better support working parents in music because even as recently as seven years ago there wasn’t much dialogue taking place.

As a working parent in the music industry, what are some of the biggest challenges you are facing?

Choosing a career path in music with its often irregular schedule and cadence has its unique challenges. As a single mother to a young child, every single day I work hard to balance my job and personal life. How can I be a strong role model for my daughter while prioritizing her as number one? How can I show her the importance of loving your career and working hard while being actively present in her life? I want to be there for her after-school activities, bedtimes, and our weekends together. I want to pick her up from school if she’s sick. It might mean logging in after bedtime and I’m fortunate I can be flexible in my current role at AWAL and swap hats on and off as needed. It can be overwhelming at times.

What is one change (big or small) within the industry that could make a positive impact for working parents?

What we’re doing here is a start in the right direction. Working parents industry-wide could benefit from greater flex hours to accommodate school pickups and extracurricular activities. On-site childcare would be another huge benefit for those with young children. More resources could be put in place to help parents navigate burnout and to help mothers balance the “second shift” without them needing to ask for help. I also think that the critical stretch of time when parents re-enter the workforce after maternity or paternity leave is heavy with change. Things like figuring out childcare logistics and all of a sudden spending long periods away from your child can be a jolting adjustment. And don’t even get me started on the barrage of daycare germs that seems to never let up.

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

For me, these connections happen in the grey. They are the words shared between the lines. Whenever I meet another parent in the industry, especially another mother, I instantly feel seen. And it’s felt in the grace that’s shown to me when I have to cancel a meeting to prioritize my daughter or have to answer a call in the car on the way home from school (this happens more often than I’d care to admit)... In my opinion, being a mom makes me part of the greatest club in the world and when I am supported by those who just “get it” it allows me to focus on the things that really matter instead of justifying my reality as a working mother.

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

Not surprisingly, many post-secondary institutions in Canada offer incredible support for working parents. For example, Simon Fraser University in B.C. has flexible work arrangements and several childcare centres on campus. The University of Toronto has a childcare benefit plan to reimburse childcare costs. While we wait (rather endlessly it feels like) for $10-a-day daycare to come to Ontario this can make a huge difference. I’m hopeful for the future given that parent-friendly policies are becoming commonplace for businesses and organizations. Day by day we’re seeing progress.

What could a music event (festival, conference, etc.), do or provide to make it easier for you to participate?

A music festival that had childcare or a kid’s club would be amazing. Imagine attending a weekend show with tots in tow, knowing you could drop them off, have them well-cared for and still be able to see the sets you need to see and meet the people you need to meet. I know “working” at a show or festival gets scoffed at sometimes by those who chose more traditional careers but for those of us who live and breathe music, it is just as important. In general making festivals more kid-friendly would be welcomed. And don’t get it twisted, “kid-friendly” does not mean “kid-tailored”. I still want my daughter to see all the cool bands, just in an environment where she’s comfortable and can get her face painted.

Can you shout out another music mama doing great things?

Samantha Taus at Sony Music is without a doubt a mom who is doing it all and making it look easy. She’s a powerhouse in the publicity world, and at the same time, my favourite mom-comrade to commiserate about packing lunches and drawn-out bedtime routines.