Q&A with Rising Country Star Trinity Bradshaw

Trinity Bradshaw‘s musical career has been extraordinary. Not so much in its progression, which has all the usual checkpoints – talent shows, musical theatre, leaving her hometown, various failed bands, breaking out solo with an astute new manager – but in its neck-snapping acceleration.

With her 22nd birthday approaching in June, Bradshaw is scant years removed from being derided by her junior-high schoolmates for choosing singing over playing sports and hanging out. But since moving to Calgary less than two years ago and connecting with manager Trey Mills, whom she knew of through a mutual friend, the Summerside, P.E.I., native has been riding a runaway rocket-sled – destination: stardom.

Her single “Big Town” has been picked up by country radio across North America, and its video (which features Calgary) is racking up plays on YouTube. I sat down with the extroverted singer, musician, songwriter and closet Led Zeppelin fan to talk about how it all happened and what it all means.

It used to be that musicians had to leave Calgary to find success. You’ve flipped that around.

Oh. Is that weird? … After my last band broke up, I contacted Trey Mills on Facebook and said, “Listen, we haven’t spoken in so long, but I need your help. I don’t want to give up, but I’m broke; I have nowhere to go.” He said, “You move to Calgary, you prove that you want this, and I’ll introduce you to the right people.” Three days later, I ended up driving to Calgary, and six days later I was at Trey’s front door. And I said, “I’m here. I need your help. It’s time to do this.”

Do you consider yourself a Calgarian?

Yes, I do. Home is always home, but I lived in P.E.I. a long time and I had done as much as I could. But moving here and achieving as much as I did in the past not even two years … this is the place for me.

You’ve gone from winning a Calgary radio-station contest and playing local clubs to doing media appearances and industry showcases in Nashville, Los Angeles and Toronto, all since January. Have things really happened as fast for you as it seems?

It was pretty quick. It’s kind of crazy. The travelling – it’s so much fun, but it’s also draining at times. I don’t want to get entwined in the industry and all its formulas and standards. Sometimes I think you’d just lose the love for it if you go, go, go and you don’t remember what it’s really about.

Your new songs fit firmly into the country genre. Is that where you’re most comfortable?

I think it just found me. I grew up singing a lot of rock music and R&B, but as soon as I picked up a guitar and started putting music to my lyrics and my melodies, it was just country. There was nothing that I could do about it.

You’ve got 20-plus songs recorded. Are they all album-worthy?

I think so, because I wrote … you know, them. I love my songs. They’re like my diary. The ones we have recorded, a lot of thought went into them. They’re ready to be mastered, and we can release them, but I want to be 100 per cent sure that they’re the right ones.

Where do you see yourself at age 30?

I hate saying this, but I’ve always had this vision that I would inspire the world in some way. I don’t know how I’m going to do it; it’s definitely going to be through music. By 30, you know, I’m hoping that I have a good, stable living playing music and inspiring people around the world with my lyrics.

Do you have a backup plan if this all comes to an unscheduled stop?

A backup plan! No, no – never even thought about it. I know what I want to do.

What’s next for you?

We’re heading out. Back to Toronto for radio visits, Alberta radio visits, the Cavendish Beach Music Festival in Prince Edward Island, the Big Valley Jamboree and a bunch more shows.

Trinity Bradshaw’s latest EP is available on iTunes.