Canadian country artist Nicole Sumerlyn put out her song “Hostage” a few months ago, and we caught up with her as she reflected on the release. “It has been a journey to get here. “The song was written back in 2017, and during that time, I was just starting out in the whole dating world. I had been seeing someone who simply wasn’t putting in the kind of effort that I was wanting. He was wanting something casual, and I wanted more. I didn’t want to lose him altogether, so I lied and said I was okay with what we were doing, when really, it was really hurting me”. Sumerlyn wrote the song alongside Chard Morrison. Nicole sat down for a writing session and ended up talking about her relationship before they started writing for the day. “I kept talking and talking, and eventually I clued in that he was typing the whole time. He had been writing down little things I was ranting about and putting them into song ideas. 10 minutes later, we had the bones for “Hostage”. The song came naturally for both of us in the best way”.
Hostage was written back in 2017, and it was no easy process to get the song where it is today, as It was revised three times! Nicole started adding the song to her show setlist, then came a revised demo, and then in 2021, it landed in the country rock side of life at Armoury Studios in Vancouver, a studio Sumerlyn had been dreaming of recording in. “My sound continues to develop each season of my life. I’ve branded myself to be an edgier, raw, country rock style. I have a voice rooted in blues with notes of jazz. However, I find it very important to keep the traditional country sound alive”. This song is Nicole’s first official radio release as an artist! While this is her first song at radio, getting to this point has been a journey. NicoleI grew up in Abbotsford, British Columbia which is a little town just about an hour outside of Vancouver, where she was raised by a very supportive and loving family. “I was always a creative kid; and my parents definitely nurtured that. Before I was in music, I did competitive dance, as well as attended an arts school. So I was always able to surround my life with my passions, which was awesome as I was growing up”. Her aunt and uncle are both successful jazz musicians in Toronto, and another uncle is a producer. The music does not stop their! Her parents and grandfather all played guitar and piano. “We didn’t have a family band or anything like that, but it’s really cool being able to do the same thing and stay inspired”. There was never really a time where Sumerlyn thought “hmm, I want to be a country singer”,It all happened very naturally. She had been in piano lessons since the age of 6. Then started writing songs when she was about 10 with friends for fun, and then it became an everyday thing to just to share her thoughts and feelings. Eventually, it just was a part of she I was. There was never a decisive moment on whether she chose music or not. It’s just who she is. When Nicole isn't writing music, she is performing! “The energy from performing for either 3 people or to a huge crowd is the same for me. I love entertaining and showing off what I love to do. It’s fun performing as a musician now, as I still get that same feeling that I had with dance back in the day, but this time I get to share my art, my voice and song”. Additionally, one of her favorite all-time shows she has played would have to be Sunfest, in 2019, where she played as a Main Stage artist opening the night headlined by Kip Moore! Sumerlyn wants aspiring artists to know that “everyone has their own path. Just because it worked for someone else does not mean that same pattern will work for you. Take the time to figure out who you are first and own it. Be original and always remember to keep your focus on the love for music first”. Stay up to date with Nicole on Instagram at @nicolesumerlyn and check out her website for all other information here.
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September 2024
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