Toronto Native STACEY Discusses Her Newest Music, Favorite Artists And More!

Indie Buddie notes that STACEY has “hints of Lana Del Rey, charm and beauty” and is a “must listen” while Ladygunn, who premiered “First Move,” the single from her upcoming EP of the same name, states the track is “such a well-crafted love song that you can’t help put it on repeat.” 

The Toronto native recently has had her music featured on Degrassi, MTV Scream, Lucifer and Orphan Black. “First Move” is currently in rotation at CBC Radio in Canada. She also recently opened for Cameron Avery of Tame Impala in Toronto Past TV.

Learn more about Stacey in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! So where does this interview find you today? Is there music playing in the background? If so, what is it?

Thank you! I’m sitting in my vintage-style living room in Toronto that I’ll soon be moving out of. Since I learned I’d be moving, I enter the room with a lot more nostalgia lately. It’s late at night and I have my Virgin Suicides soundtrack record by Air playing.

How is 2017 treating you so far? Did you approach the start of this year any differently than you did last year? What have been some of the highlights for you this year?

2017 has been good to me. I knew I’d finally be releasing music this year; I got the final mixes right after New Years. I don’t think I approached things intentionally differently, I was just in a different place. At the beginning of 2016 I had just found my producers and was about to go into the studio to start recording this EP. It’s been a long process of getting everything together, so I’m really excited to share the work!

The highlights have been opening up for Cameron Avery (of Tame Impala) in Toronto, playing with my newly formed band, shooting a music video, and overseeing all the final pieces of this upcoming release come together.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your first musical memory? Could you see yourself doing anything else today?

100%. I was always obsessed with playing piano and performing from a young age, making VHS music videos, performing at school talent shows, piano recitals, etc. Writing my own songs and singing didn’t come til my late teens though.

I have a few early music memories but my favorite ones are from my piano lessons. My teacher was a sweet English woman named Helen. She lived in a beautiful house in the woods and there were always tons of animals around (she had dogs, cats, an iguana, ducks, etc.). I would go to her house for lessons after school and she’d have tea and cookies ready and let me choose what songs I wanted to learn. She was basically the real life Snow White of my childhood. She is a huge reason why I fell in love with piano.

As for doing anything else, I’d actually love to curate & run my own vintage store.

Let’s talk about the first single from your upcoming EP, “First Move.” What was the inspiration for this track? How does it prepare listeners for the rest of the EP?

“First Move”(the song) was born out of new love interest purgatory: the unknown moments of being so close but so far all at once. I think of this song as the north star of the EP since it was the first one we recorded. “First Move” treads a few emotions simultaneously, but is relatively even keel in terms of temperament. The other tracks explore really intentional/focused emotions at various extremes. Songs to come explore darkness, sadness, hopefulness/comfort, with longing and nostalgia and as a throughline.

Do you have any shows coming up? Where can people see you perform next?

I have a few things in the works but nothing I can share just yet! Some showcases in NY, LA, and Toronto towards the end of the summer & September.

Where do you think you are happiest- on stage performing, recording music in the studio or elsewhere?

I love those places but it’s also so dependent on the vibe of that day, space, my headspace, and the people around… I think my happiest moments are when I’m at home alone writing and I sing-stumble into a hook or lyric that didn’t exist the second before. It’s a really euphoric feeling and sets off a very specific kind of excitement in me that I don’t get from anything else.

What has it been like having your music featured on TV? Can you remember the first time you heard one of your songs on TV?

Honestly it’s been the most exciting element of my career to date. It can be easy to lose confidence in your work sometimes as an artist and those TV placements are like someone raising their hand, saying “we like this!” On top of that I’ve always been a big lover of soundtracks. When the Orphan Black placement was in the works (my first placement of my own song), the clip was sent to me and my eyes welled up. Suddenly I was on the other side of things and I was totally blown away.

Photo Credit- Laura Lynn Petrick

What artists have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

Inspired by: Feist, Tame Impala, Tennis, Diana Krall, Carole King, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Andy Shauf, Lana Del Rey, Grimes, Alvvays, Coldplay, Death Cab For Cutie, Brand New.

I would love to work with: Kevin Parker, Emile Haynie, Frank Ocean, Mark Ronson, Father John Misty, Rick Nowels, Calvin Harris, Tobias Jesso Jr., Jonathan Wilson, Phoenix, Air, Washed Out.

What advice would you give to a young person who is considering getting into this music career path?

Trust your instincts, work hard, write as many songs as you can, be patient.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music? What do you hope is the message of your songs?

Music has always played a role of comfort and connection for me as a listener, particularly as a lover of sad songs. I hope my music checks a number of personal boxes but above all I hope it plays that same role for others, as if to say “hey it’s okay, look, I feel these things too”.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

Everyday is a special occasion.