"My dad used to sit me in front of the Hi Fi and play me all the songs he wanted to hear.. and I was not allowed to leave! My mom would tell us stories of when she saw Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath before we came along.  I learned so much from listening to all the different stories, styles of music, techniques, emotions and timing. This is where I learned that I loved 'mastering my craft', so to speak, and that I wanted to be on stage, singing for people."

My mom said I was humming melodies before I could speak! My grandfather would push us on a broken lawnmower to the park and sang old Polish folk songs to me and my two sisters, then as we played and ran around he would play a  blade of grass using his mouth to create the beautiful notes I still hear today. My grandfather had a voice that could be heard from a mile away, and he was my first teacher.. teaching me that music comes from your heart and soul and I am forever grateful for finding that through him. That’s how it all started!

My childhood was built around music, both my parents had music playing constantly and it was everything from rock, folk, motown, classical; it was all there and I cherish it. My dad used to sit me in front of the Hi Fi and play me all the songs he wanted to hear and I was not allowed to leave! My mom would tell us stories of when she saw Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath before we came along.  I learned so much from listening to all the different stories, styles of music, techniques, emotions and timing. This is where I learned that I loved 'mastering my craft', so to speak, and that I wanted to be on stage, singing for people.  I knew from a very early age that this is what I loved and wanted to do.  I performed in school choir and musical theatre, learned about country music through Caitlin Hanford and Chris Whitley, my old neighbours, and I thank them for introducing me to the heart of blues and country – it took me to a whole new level in developing my craft.

I started writing and taping lyrics and poems seriously at age 12, and still to this day, the majority of my songs are developed through those tapes of ideas that I share with collaborators.  My uncle Rick taught me a lot about music and I looked up to him as a kid. He took me to a shitload of concerts, my first ever being the Police. He introduced me to reggae, ska and what was then underground “New Wave.”  He worked for Q107, a radio station here in Toronto, and would take me into the studio and let me sing a long to my favorite songs and tape them for me.  I was 8 at the time and was ready to record my first album then and there!  I went on to record jingles and commercials for the Mighty Q, lending my voice whenever they asked.

The highs would have to be playing live and the reception from the crowd, listening to people sing along with my tunes and the fan base that grows everyday. Also creating your own product, funding it, promoting it and the support system behind you - that really is a total high!

My lowest point was about five years ago, while I was completing my first EP and ran into a medical road block. I was diagnosed with a benign tumor in my left inner ear. It was a one in a million kind of thing, and I had surgery to have it removed. With the surgery I developed some hearing loss, and this was the lowest point for me, because all I really wanted to do was finish my EP, and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.  I got through it only because of my strong support system and all those songs waiting to be finished. I went back in the studio two months later, instead of the suggested five months, and completed all the back-up tracks to 10 songs. I figure now if I got through that I can get through anything and nothing will stand in my way.

I would have listened to my parents more!

On this project I wrote 4 of the 5 songs with Jeff Lantorno, and we did some of the pre-production at his studio, Studio 8, in Toronto. I took what I had and when Jeff’s band, The Sea Inside, became very busy, I continued the recording and production with Andrew Lauzon at DC Music. Andrew, Santino DeGasperis and I wrote “Stuttering.”  Andrew played main guitars and bass while Jeff shared in some of the guitars for this EP, with Vince Peck on drums.

I am always writing lyrics and storing melodies either in my head or on my voicemail. I am currently writing with Ron Bechard, Dave Carreiro, Santino DeGasperis, Andrew Lauzon and whoever else calls that day and wants to jam!

I love them all the same!

While writing: voice, guitar, piano, Sony IC Recorder or voice mail.  When I’m in the studio, well then it depends where I record.

Vocal cords!!! My instrument of choice would be a violin.

My first stage experience I will never forget; I was 4 and in junior kindergarten singing Hani Kuni, an old Native song I learned in school. We performed in a talent show at Etobicoke School of the Arts and the stage was huge. We walked on and the class sung, then I sang my solo. I remember being so nervous, but the lights were so bright that I just looked at them and forgot about the audience and sang my heart out, with feathers in my hair. I walked off that stage and wanted to get right back on it!

Fleetwood Mac – Rumors
Led Zepplin – Early and Later Days compilations
Guns ‘n’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
Bob Marley and The Wailers - Exodus
Michael Jackson – Thriller .

The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd, I remember always looking at my Dads copy as a kid!

FleetWood Mac – Rumours, Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape, Cowboy Junkies – Trinity Sessions, Sinead O’Connor – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, Basia Lyjak – Writings on the Wall.

The last movie I watched was “An Inconvenient Truth.”  Everyone should see that!

I would love to borrow a bag of sugar from Maynard Keenan of Tool, that would be a trip!

White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane.

World peace, a clean planet, and to be on tour and recording an album!

I seriously can’t remember, haven’t been able to for a while!

Since I am in the transition of finding a new job, I get up at 9:00am, get on the computer, return e-mails and take care of MySpace stuff, network as much as I can (always on the phone), then get in my car and drive to my old neighbourhood and see some peeps before getting my ass downtown to see Ron and Emy, my guitar player and his girlfriend, to write some tunes or rehearse. 

I went to watch some of the best 80s hair metal musicians rehearse for a book release on American East Coast Hair Metal.  It was flippin’ cool to hang out with the twin brothers of Helix and the many others performing at the book release party!  The rehearsal was like being at a musicians’ clinic, these guys Rock!!!

Clothes, shoes, writing book, pen, all my CD’s, hand recorder, pictures of loved ones and my pillow!

Visiting my best friends and their daughters Zoe and Rayana.  These 2 little girls always make my day brighter!

To write a full album and get on the road and play all over the world… but I’ll take it as it comes and leave it at “Whatever will be will be…”