Kingston’s Abby Stewart Coming To The CNE – Interview with Abby Stewart

Written by Stuart “Roadie” Roberts

Kingston, Ontario is like an entertainment mill when it comes to finding music artists that are making a name for themselves. We all know about The Tragically Hip, Sarah Harmer, and The Glorious Sons and their rise to fame in the Canadian music industry, but the Limestone City also has some undiscovered gems that are worth letting the world know about.

Abby Stewart is one of those amazing female artists that from a young age, bit the country music bullet, and hasn’t seemed to look back. I’ve known Abby for a while, watched her grow up on stage in the last ten years, and maturing into an artist that seems to know her musical path. So when I heard that Abby is playing the CNE Country Music Stage on August 31st for the fourth time in recent years, I thought we should sit down with Abby and let the rest of Canada learn a little more about this musical jewel, and be sure to check out her videos below the interview.

Abby Stewart hits the CNE Country Music Stage – August 31 between 8 to 11 p.m.

1. You’ve shared the stage with Dallas Smith, Rascal Flatts, Tim Hicks and other household names in country music; are there any musicians that inspire you and how?

There are countless musicians who inspire me, but if I had to choose, my first answer is always
Bryan Adams. He was my childhood music hero—I listened to him non-stop, and he was the first concert I ever went to when I was just three years old. In the world of country music, Taylor Swift was the first artist who truly captivated me. Her incredible talent for storytelling and connecting with people through lyrics is something all us songwriters aspire to achieve. This is also the case for the legend that is Dolly Parton. She has such a gift for story-telling, and her music is beautiful. There has also never been a bad story I’ve heard about Dolly, and her levels of kindness throughout her incredible career full of fame and success is inspiring and beautiful. I want to be a good and kind person like her. Vocally, Carrie Underwood is a major inspiration. Her powerful belting range pushes me to constantly practice and improve. Her powerhouse performances always remind me to keep honing my skills and finding healthy ways to sing with that kind of strength.

2. What media strategies do you think are essential in promoting music as an
independent artist and what’s changed since you’ve started out?

Honestly, this is something I’m still figuring out myself. I’ve been performing my whole life, and
back before social media became such a big deal, the best way to promote yourself was by
playing as many gigs as possible—something I still do today. But now, social media offers
incredible platforms to showcase ourselves in a polished way!
It’s important to post about your work and upcoming events, but I’ve found that sharing personal
content about your life is just as crucial. It really helps you connect with your audience on a
deeper level.

3. As we watch your videos for “I’m Still Faster”, “Waste The Weekend” and “Bless Your Heart”, these are all songs you’ve had a hand in creating; How do you stay inspired and motivated to produce new music?

I’ve always believed that inspiration for writing a song can come from literally anywhere! I make
it a habit to jot down every little idea or observation throughout the day—it’s amazing how those
small moments can turn into some of your best songs. I keep a folder on my laptop full of hooks
that come to mind (and trust me, some of them need a lot of work). But I think the key is in the
tweaking—refining those ideas until they’re just right! I also have multiple notebooks dedicated to song ideas. There’s something about putting pen to paper that feels more organic and inspiring to me—it helps me connect with the idea on a deeper
level!

As for my songs “Waste The Weekend” and “Bless Your Heart,” I didn’t actually write those—
they were pitched to me! “Bless Your Heart” was written by my producer Jeff Dalziel, along with
producer Karen Kosowski and artist Alee!

4. What’s the best piece of advice that another musician has ever given you?

The best piece of advice I’ve received from incredible artists like Deric Ruttan and Billy
Currington is to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE! They both emphasized the importance of
jotting down every idea, even if it seems like a horrible one at first. Just refine those
ideas, either on your own or bring it to a co-write. If you truly believe in something, it has
the potential to shine through! I have definitely appreciated this advice throughout the
years I’ve been following this path.

5. You’ve participated in music competitions sponsored by the likes of Sirius XM,
Kingston Fair, CNE Rising Star with respectable finishes, is there any competition
that you’ve been in that holds special memories for you?

That’s a tough question! One of the coolest competitions I’ve ever had the pleasure of
being part of the Emerging Artist Competition at Boots and Hearts in 2013. I was
chosen as one of eight artists from across Canada when I was just 12 years old, along
with Wes Mack and The Reklaws. It was my first time attending Boots and Hearts, and
getting to perform there was an absolute dream!

6. What’s your favourite original or cover song that you’ve written or perform, and
why do you feel connected with it?

I have a couple of favourite original songs. One is “Goodbye,” which I co-wrote with Alberta-
based artist Justin LaBrash. It was one of those songs that came to Justin and me so naturally
because we were both inspired by events and people from our pasts. With my band, we’ve put so much work into perfecting how we perform it live, and it’s become such a rocking tune that’s
incredibly fun to play on stage! It’s a song I’m really proud of.

The other original is called “Somewhere,” which I co-wrote with Phil Barton in Nashville. This
song also came together very naturally and is a much happier tune about having feelings for
someone and wanting to go absolutely anywhere and do absolutely anything with them. Though
it has a more positive theme than “Goodbye,” we gave it a darker tone using minor chords, and I
love the contrast it brings when performing it live.

7. You’ve played most of the best regional fairs and festivals that has Ontario has to
offer, is there a dream fair or festival on your hit list that you would like to play?

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have some amazing opportunities in my career, and I’m forever
grateful for them. Looking ahead, a couple of dream festivals I hope to be part of someday are
Nicole Rayy’s HarmoniaFest and Peterborough Musicfest.

HarmoniaFest is an all-women’s and non-binary music festival, and I just know the vibes would
be incredible—sharing the stage with women and people with similar stories and experiences
would be so empowering. As a woman in the music industry, there are unique challenges we face that often go unspoken. HarmoniaFest is such a beautiful concept, and I would love to be part of it someday.

Peterborough Musicfest is another festival on my radar. It’s a free music festival with a 37-year
history of incredible line-ups, featuring artists like Terri Clark, Kim Mitchell, Honeymoon Suite,
Lindsay Ell, and many more. I’d be honored to add my name to that amazing list! Plus, I think
free music festivals like Peterborough Musicfest are so important—they offer music lovers a
chance to support live music and have fun on a budget, which is something I fully support.

8. What’s the best thing that gives you satisfaction when you perform before a
concert audience?

When I’m performing, I always try to move around and engage with the audience as
much as I can. The most satisfying thing that can happen during a show is when I can
visibly see people having fun—dancing, clapping, and really getting into the music.
That’s when I know I’m doing my job right and giving people a good time! There are also
times when I have seen people singing along to my own songs, which is just such an
incredible feeling and makes me feel so thankful.

9. Love’s Gone was written by Nashville superstar, Kelsea Ballerini, if you could co-
write a song with any musician in music history, who would you choose and why them?

That’s such a tough question! I’ve been lucky enough to be able to write with some
awesomely talented people I’d dreamed of writing with like Patricia Conroy and Michelle
Wright, both of whom I would love to write with again! A person I would love to write with
would be Deric Ruttan so I can put his advice to action with him present, and Liz Rose,
who is the first writer I was ever introduced to when listening to early Taylor Swift music.
Another name that comes to mind is Dolly Parton. I think writing a song with her would
be an absolute riot. While I’d definitely feel self-conscious bringing any ideas to her,
given her status as a great songwriter and storyteller, I know I’d also learn so much from
the experience. Plus, getting to hear her stories and jokes would be an added bonus!

10. August 31st marks the fourth time that you will be on a CNE music stage. What
can a Toronto audience expect from the show?

A Toronto audience can expect a high-energy show packed with your favourite country
and rock covers, as well as new original music that I hope you’ll love. I’ll be bringing a
dynamic performance with engaging stage presence, storytelling, and a few surprises
along the way. My goal is to create an experience that resonates with you and leaves
you wanting more. Come ready to enjoy a night full of music, fun, and rockin’ out!

Abby Stewart – Bless Your Heart

Abby Stewart – Love’s Gone

Abby Stewart – I’m Still Faster