SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Alli Walker is riding a wave of success.
After crashing onto the Canadian music scene at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival this summer, the P.E.I. singer-songwriter is celebrating the release of her debut album.
“I’m so excited and relieved because I’ve been writing, developing and performing – getting all my ducks in a row – for 10 years,” Walker tells me.
That’s because, as an artist, she’s taken time to find herself, while learning how to present herself and her music.
“So, the journey has been long.”
A decade later, she’s happy with the recording results.
“So, for me to finally have this album out is like I’m finally coming out of the water, saying, ‘hey this is me and this is what I’ve been working on’ ”
Entitled “The Basement Sessions: What I’ve Learned So Far” the album is Walker’s personal journey over what has been “a transformative past few years".
The songs on the album deal with everything from mental health issues, described in “Sunny Day”, and gratitude, described in “Little Things”, to rising past adversity and accepting one’s truth, as she does in “Love Yourself”.
Five fast facts
- Alli Walker is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Prince Edward Island.
- She moved to Toronto when she was 19 years old to “chase the dream” and has never looked back.
- Last year she returned to Three Oaks Senior High to film her video, “Raise Your Head”. It was the location of her first public performance – as the female lead in her Grade 12 musical, “Footloose”.
- Being given that opportunity at high school changed her entire life. “For that I am so grateful,” she says.
- Learn more at www.alliwalker.ca.
“Every song speaks to the lessons I’ve learned and my hope of empowering listeners to dive deeper into themselves and to be mindful of the power of their own thoughts,” says Walker.
“Fight to the End”, is dedicated to her uncle on P.E.I., who is battling cancer.
“I could have written songs about partying, boys and breakups, but others were doing it and doing it well,” says the Summerside native, during a telephone interview from Ontario, where she now lives.
Instead, Walker wanted to talk about what was happening in her own life.
“My songs are about finding your purpose, finding your passion and how social media can sometimes wreak havoc with your mental health.”
Now with the album released to all platforms, Walker is focusing her attention on gigs.
“I’m doing little performances. And, very shortly, I’ll be going back into the studio to record some more songs.”
In her spare time, she’s having interviews and meetings with music industry officials as she builds her team.
“I’m pleased that I have the album to show what I’ve been able to do on my own.”
And she’s got one more thing on her wish list.
“I would love to play the Cavendish Beach Music Festival again and, maybe this time on the main stage.”
Sally Cole is an entertainment writer with The Guardian. She welcomes comments about her column as well as suggestions for future columns from readers. She may be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 902-629-6000, ext. 6054.
