Tricia at the Landmark Showcase Event
"Do what makes you happy. Everytime you make a decision, think if it's going to make you happy in the long run."
In the cozy back room of Le Cagibi café, located in St-Laurent, fans, friends, and family gathered to hear local talent while supporting Jam for Justice. Jam for Justice is a showcase for local talent, where the ticket proceeds go to fund charities. Tricia Fitz, an aspiring Montreal artist graciously agreed to meet me before her set, to chat about music and life.
Tricia Fitz has been to school in three different countries (Brazil, United States and Canada) and is pursuing a Bachelor in Education at McGill University. She used to work as a vocal instructor and spends her free time with her fiancé and two cats.
This past summer Tricia Fitz made it to the final round in the Landmark Showcase Event, where she played for record labels such as Sony and Warner, at Club Soda. She's also played for the Nuit d'Afrique Festival and has collaborated with other musicians in Montréal. Her voice is accompanied by a guitar and bass duo. The bass is played by her fiancé Francois Dumouchel.
At the Jam For Justice Showcase she captivated the audience with her stage charisma; hypnotizing her audience with her dancing and folk voice. Her songs tackle dark themes but have an uplifting message.
The past:
What are your fondest musical memories?
In 2008, I was part of a band while living in Brazil. At one of our shows I did a stage dive. It was really memorable and is probably the last time I will ever do a stage dive. I'm glad they caught me.
Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?
Florence and the Machine- Shake it out. When I'm not feeling very confident and questioning life in general, it always helps me get back on my feet again. It helps to balance me out.
How has your background influenced your music style?
Brazillian music doesn't influence me style wise. However, I do go for a similar vibe, like the charisma, happ, and festive feelings; that is what I want to give off on stage.
Music and creativity:
Which famous musicians do you admire? Why? What is your favourite album?
Devin Townsend, he is god, even though his genre is metal and not like my own. I really admire him since he does everything himself. It's his expression on stage that I'm highly influenced by. He has a very intense look and is really into his music. I want to be like that, performance wise. My favourite album of all time is his album Addicted.
What is your creative process?
When it was just me, I would come up with a melody first. I would have drafts and recordings of me humming on my phone. That's how the songs would get born. Then the lyrics would come and I will polish them for about 5 months before I perform the songs.
Recently, Francois has joined me on stage and sometimes comes up with a bass line to a new song first. Then we would create something on top of it. The process is a lot more dynamic now, which I like since I can't imagine some of the songs without the bass.
If you hadn't been born in this century, when and where would you have like to have lived and why?
The future, like 2092, so that we can be passed this twerking age and cats will finally rule the internet. I love virtual realities, so if I could live in one, that would be awesome.
Performance and life:
What are some of your pre-performance rituals?
I'm sorry if people think this makes me sound crazy, because I actually have a super intense ritual that I follow religiously.
My basic rules: no chocolate, dairy, or nuts - anything that creates mucous.
I have tea or rather a hot water ritual, where I chug four cups of boiling hot water and then have nothing to eat or drink four hours prior to the show. My throat is so dry right now, because I don't feel like I can sing without a dry throat. Maybe the difference is only apparent to me, but it's there.
Which language do you prefer to write or perform in?
English, because it's the language I'm most comfortable in. But I like to throw in one Portuguese song in every show. The cover I usually perform is by a joke band in Brazil. It's my inside joke with any other Brazilians in the crowd. Usually, it's just a little joke for myself.
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
I make it really obvious that I've messed up, which I have been criticized about. People usually say, "to just let the show go on," but I feel guilty if I don't address it. So you will see it on my face when I make a mistake. I make it apparent to put it in perceptive, that I am aware of the mistake I just made.
What do you do to relax?
Video games, currently I'm playing Animal Crossing, I have two towns, so I just visit myself and it helps me de-stress. I also play The Sims, my childhood friend.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I'm a surprisingly good bowler. I do trick shots, like doing a somersault, throwing the ball and getting a spare. I didn't even need any practicing. I'm just Lucky. I must have done something really great in my past life, to have the luck that I do. I have really good karma and I feel that a lot of my talents are based off of luck.
What's the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I've ever gotten was from my father -one my heroes- he's always told me to do what makes you happy. So if you're doing something that isn't making you happy or will make you miserable later, just nip it in the bud. It's always in the back of my mind, and if I don't want to do something, I don't. Which is a piece of advice I've carried with me since I've been a little girl and that makes me happy and proud of what I'm doing.
However, very recently with adulthood, paying rent, bills and grocery it's hard to go back to doing what makes me happy. I have been working on gettin back to that point.
Also stay humble, always be humble, which is something that I'm working on too.
Le Cagibi Performance
Future:
You have been hinting at an album release on your social media. When can we expect it?
The main issue I'm having right now is money. I released the first single "Dance with me," last September. However, I keep changing my mind when I'm thinking about the album, which has delayed its production. I've been thinking about starting a funding campaign, like a Kickstarter. I'm just waiting for the right opportunity to do so, since some songs and other things need maturing.
I'm taking my time, which is good and bad. Bad, because people are waiting and expecting something and good since the album will be more polished and something that I can be proud of.
What influenced the album?
I love the idea of creating an ensemble of my works and setting a theme. This is my first album as a solo artist and I want to present dark themes in a light-hearted way. I believe that there are different ways to explore the darker corners of society and I want to present those dark themes as if they came out of a cartoon. Not in an oversimplified or naive way; more like in a fun and silly way. I want people to trigger their inner weirdo while at the same time make weirdoes feel like everybody else.
And finally:
Have you faced and conquered any challenges in your life that you would be willing to share with your fans?
I'm the kind of person who will say something and realize that it sounded much better in my head. I am aware of this and I have learned to be more careful, but I still face this challenge constantly. As an entertainer, I have to communicate with people so this makes it more difficult for me. I find it easier to express myself through lyrics than actual sentences. Sometimes I like to imagine how quirky I would be as a politician. Mandatory musicals for all!
How does it feel to have a crowd at your feet worshiping you? What is it like having fans?
I'm not aware of this. I want to know where the crowd of people that worships me is. Now that you mention it, it would be cool.
What I'm really going for, as an artist is more like a cult following, like the one for Arrested Development or Firefly. They have a small and really dedicate, loyal fan base, which is what I want.
I remember playing at Club Soda, and after the show, a girl came up to me and asked for a picture, and I swear I was more excited than she was. I'm not used to that, I'll probably be more excited to see people excited about me than they are to see me.
So please don't be shy to come up and say hi :)
You can follow Tricia Fitz on facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, itunes, and Souncloud to find out more and listen to her music.
Sara, I love how you created headings for your set of questions. It really helps your readers situate themselves. You ask pertinent questions and overall you managed to conduct a successful interview :)
pine babyliss Bridge, adidas yeezy shoes after another ralph lauren polos difficulties, and beats by dr dre ultimately they coach outlet won. This is their pride and michael kors outlet the northface pride longchamp of our entire Chinese people! falcons nfl jersey This ray-ban sunglasses is ralph lauren a nike shoes outlet story on cheap oakley sunglasses the oakley sungalsses outlet way to michael kors outlet the bcbg max long oklahoma city thunder jerseys march - polo ralph a fourteen-year-old Red Army fighter who, fidget spinner on the jordan release dates long march, orlando magic jersey fainted swarovski jewelry by jordan hunger. At this nike time, again versace outlet to an burberry uk old Red houston rockets jersey Army, new york knicks jerseys see pandora charms the coach outlet child's nike store appearance, give the ray ban child prada irrigation cheap shoes water, nba jersey so timberwolves jersey wake up chargers nfl jersey after los angeles clippers jerseys the remaining omega watches little dry bottega veneta food true religion outlet store half of vans shoes the beats by dre headphones children to calvin klein eat, replica watches but nba shoes look at the hollisterco child is christian louboutin still full, longchamp handbags Hesitated tommy hilfiger for puma shoes a vans while, and nike shoes outlet the last little roshe run dry food to coach purses outlet the ravens nfl jersey children adidas schuhe to ray bans eat. adidas To the occhiali ray ban road, ferragamo shoes he new balance shoes let the children go first, said jimmy choo he michael kors was waiting, kate spade outlet in fact, he ray ban is true religion to michael kors outlet die, suns jersey no fred perry outlet dry food, dsquared2 outlet no michael kors water, cheap jerseys death will polo ralph lauren outlet come in his body. air max Accidentally, thomas sabo he hilfiger fell nike roshe into ferragamo the cheap nfl jerseys quagmire, spurs jersey struggling, polo ralph lauren but adidas deeper puma and hilfiger outlet deeper, ray ban sunglasses outlet but michael kors he air max 2015 still packers nfl jersey continue oakley sunglasses to kate spade encourage themselves reebok to stick air max to it, trail blazers jersey someone cheap jerseys will save him. pandora jewellery When people dsquared2 come, nike he has left christian louboutin outlet his tommy hilfiger outlet head alone. People call him, juicy couture but he long champ has nike huarache ... michael kors ... hilfiger online shop this barbour jackets is a how christian louboutin chilling nike mercurial story cheap mlb jerseys ah. In the process charlotte hornets jersey of oakley outlet online the Long ralph lauren uk March, hunger, cold, michael kors uk swamp, philipp plein outlet disease ... longchamp threatening the cheap nike shoes lives nfl jerseys of every mcm handbags Red titans nfl jersey Army officer. softball bats Do not oakley outlet eat, tommy hilfiger the air huarache mules swarovski crystal and horses to kings jersey kill; mules nike free run and stone island horses nike do polo outlet not, dig mcm handbags wild roshe runs vegetables, eat bark grass; valentino vegetables mlb jerseys eat, coach outlet online cook the ralph lauren online shop belt to michael kors eat. bengals nfl jersey Imagine, chrome hearts outlet if this fitflop generation ray ban of people if patriots nfl jersey the swarovski canada growth in that hollister clothing era, jordan retro the burberry outlet online number bottega of fred perry people vikings nfl jersey will lose hermes birkin their lives? coach outlet Looking back the north face jackets has always coachfactory.com/shop been replica handbags the wind and nike store rain, hogan shoes thousands ralph lauren factory store of miles of nike air temporary louboutin drive. If oakley black friday there is no victory of versace outlet the timberland boots Long March, hollister which coach factory outlet will timberland have ed hardy the victory of ralph lauren the War of pelicans jersey Resistance cheap jerseys Against horloges Japan? polo ralph lauren Which nike air max will true religion jeans outlet have a broncos nfl jersey new democratic victory? Which burberry outlet will be full michael kors outlet of coach factory outlet online vitality longchamp black friday of our cheap jordans vitality, ecco shoes thriving, adidas shoes to the longchamp handbags outlet prosperity nike canada of today's journey seahawks nfl jersey in the hollister last nike free century michael kors handbags 30's hermes outlet red detroit pistons jerseys march, five finger shoes Meandering burberry twenty baseball bats thousand philadelphia 76ers jersey five wizards jersey thousand oakley vault miles soccer outlet of red hogan ribbon, iphone cases with prada shoes its unparalleled celine handbags gorgeous, christian louboutin shoes dancing over the age huarache of the nike shoes outlet devastated coach outlet online Chinese eyeglass frames land, dancing oakley sunglasses outlet over adidas the wind pandora jewelry and rain cheap true religion of ray ban sunglasses the michael kors outlet online 20th bears nfl jersey century, ralph lauren elegant ralph lauren polo with marc jacobs our nation's new burberry handbags hope. The chiefs nfl jersey Red cleveland cavaliers jersey Army coach black friday Long atlanta hawks jersey March woolrich outlet twenty burberry uk thousand five north face jackets thousand, chicago bulls jerseys iron mk outlet online flow, ray ban where there nike air max is dolphins nfl jersey no beats by dre moving hermes a strong ray ban song? Red christian louboutin shoes Army michael kors across cowboys nfl jersey 11 provinces, wherever michael kors bags he jordan shoes went, burberry canada where ray ban wayfarer there nike roshe run is coach black friday no penetration omega watches of nike the oakley sunglasses outlet Red soccer shoes Army polo ralph lauren outlet online soldiers nike air max blood? new balance What oakley is nike free 5.0 the lions nfl jersey strength adidas tracksuits of the beats headphones Chinese ralph lauren outlet nation thousands air max shoes The young nike people gathered uhren together, nike roshe they know givenchy antigona that the swarovski journey is dangerous, north face but handbags outlet without fear, ralph lauren death, fought tommy hilfiger toward adidas a red bottoms goal? nike free Let us learn the air max spirit air jordans of ray ban sunglasses the Long March adidas shoes to steelers nfl jersey carry converse sneakers forward converse the spirit of nets jerseys the burberry Long pandora uk March. new balance Long burberry outlet March spirit, michaelkors.com a spirit of adidas eternal skechers shoes outlet pursuit burberry handbags outlet of rolex montre all ray ban sunglasses outlet mankind, burberry outlet will michael kors outlet continue to bucks jersey create brilliant with the miami heat jerseys Chinese children.The nike air max Red supra shoes Army mcm bags fought twenty coach outlet store thousand five north face outlet thousand 49ers nfl jersey miles, eyeglasses online and hoodies outlet finally from coach factory outlet the tn pas cher 1 saints nfl jersey million enemy mcm backpack outlet in rams nfl jersey the blaze a hugo boss online way out. giuseppe shoes To mizuno running write pandora a song barbour jackets outlet of ray ban outlet the "permanent struggle" rolex watches of longchamp outlet the revolutionary movement. air force The michael kors outlet following air max 90 is the Long ferragamo uk March spirit of mcm backpack high prada outlet school writing scarpe hogan 1000 dallas mavericks jersey words, hope converse shoes you iphone case like. The nike store little timberland outlet girl tory burch sandals naive birkenstock outlet to birkenstock ask air max 2015 his nike free run father: barbour jackets "Why did converse not ray ban black friday you jazz jersey eat supra shoes chocolate?" For oakley sunglasses cheap them, the prada sunglasses Long oakley sunglasses outlet March has air max become rolex watches a legend swarovski of denver nuggets jersey the oakley sungalsses outlet old nike factory grandmother. juicy couture outlet However, with fendi outlet the tory burch outlet passage azcardinals nfl jersey of armani exchange time, basketball shoes the kate spade outlet spirit of pandora the giants nfl jersey Long michael kors outlet March prada handbags to more swarovski and boston celtics jerseys more north face profound giuseppe zanotti charm, attracting many ralph lauren outlet online people jimmy choo shoes to texans nfl jersey the hollister Long coach outlet March designer handbags to bcbg dresses pursue, new balance outlet to longchamp outlet think. October north face backpacks 16, 1934 bills nfl jersey evening, coach outlet eight thousand raptors jersey Central Red lunette oakley Army due christian louboutin to buccaneers nfl jersey the the north face failure cheap nhl jerseys of the coach outlet online fifth anti-encirclement thomas sabo and forced to break the north face outlet westbound, began the north face the "thousands warriors jersey of miles only grizzlies jersey busy" michael kors australia the Long March. soccer shoes outlet In coach outlet usa the michael kors outlet Long March, there michael kors bags is cheap oakley a raiders nfl jersey story: oakley sungalsses outlet a Red nhl jerseys Army ray ban generals of asics outlet the michael kors uk mother, salomon when marc jacobs she burberry saw the ralph lauren soldiers colts nfl jersey who eat birkenstock the true religion outlet boiled bark, grass, hollister clothing store plus barbour jacket outlet a nfl jerseys cow instyler belt, she rolex watches for sale tears. She hollister clothing store poured retro jordans herself skechers shoes into salvatore ferragamo the browns nfl jersey pot. ralph lauren On this, eagles nfl jersey actually roshe run became philipp plein a rare meal of the soldiers watches meal. "Cowboy belt michael kors outlet online three michael kors feet nike air long, grassland dansko shoes wasteland skechers good mont blanc pens dry rolex watches food, boiled soup jaguars nfl jersey do not have new balance taste, panthers nfl jersey end jets nfl jersey to redskins nfl jersey the under armour mother oakley sungalsses outlet to flat iron taste." pacers jersey Old handbags outlet mother listening to the barbour soldiers self-sing vans "cowboy belt song", covered oakley sunglasses outlet with tears Revealing oakley vault a mbt shoes happy smile. ralph lauren outlet There was a levi's jeans grass salvatore ferragamo once, oakley sungalsses outlet a asics guards ray ban who cheap ray ban had womens clothing just michael kors outlet online sale joined nike the polo outlet online party in the chi flat iron battle, and gave a life ray ban of only 18 years old relojes in true religion jeans order to save lacoste outlet the file burberry outlet online in timberland shoes the los angeles lakers jerseys mud. When he michael kors usa