Presented in partnership with Mississauga Music and Modern Mississauga Media.

In conversation with Mississauga’s own award winning Canadian country singer songwriter Alessia Cohle. Her honest lyrics, catchy melodies, and dynamic stage presence have contributed to the country music landscape and captivated listeners one heartfelt song at a time.  

Rob Aguiar: Hello Alessia! Thanks for taking the time to connect with me to add your heart to this new Glimpse journey. You’ve been a special part of the Glimpse family for many years now. I’m extremely grateful to be able to hang out with you for a bit and talk about lyrics and songwriting. This is going to be special!

Alessia Cohle: I’m so happy to be a part of the Glimpse journey and community! Thanks for having me back!

RA: What typically inspires your songwriting, and how do you channel those inspirations into your music?

AC: I try to take inspiration from my life, whether it be a big or small moment. I’ll also sometimes overhear someone in a coffee shop or store or restaurant, and think “that would make a great song”. I generally start with the exact truth of the inspiration, and then let the song go where it needs to.

RA: Can you share a specific moment or experience that directly influenced a meaningful lyric or the creation of one of your songs?

AC: In 2018 while I was on a writing trip in Nashville, I was involved in a freak accident where a very large oak tree fell and crashed onto the house where I was staying. Myself and a few friends were inside while it happened, and one of my friends got hurt. Everything turned out to be ok in the end, but while it was happening all I could say to the first responders were, “It’s all good. I’m all good. We’re all good”. The next day at a writing session with my friends Victoria Boland, Andrew Rudd, and Brian Melo, I continued to say “it’s all good” in my state of shock. So we wrote about it, and that’s how “All Good” came to be. 

RA: What rituals or habits do you have to nurture your creativity and maintain a connection with your inner artistic voice?

AC: Quite honestly, it’s hard to constantly stay inspired and maintain that connection. When I feel like that “spark” is starting to dim, I take a moment to remove myself from that “space” and reconnect with why I fell In love with music in the first place. Once that happens, I feel like I come back stronger and more motivated.

RA: How do you handle moments of self-doubt or uncertainty in your songwriting process, and what helps you push through those challenges?

AC: I don’t think I’ve ever had a moment in the songwriting process without self-doubt haha!! I usually leave the song for a day or two before going back to it and tweaking if necessary. And if the song genuinely sucks, I use it as “creative fertilizer” haha. 

RA: When it comes to emotions and vulnerability in lyrics, how do you balance personal authenticity with creating relatable content for your audience?

AC: I, personally, find the most relatable songs are the ones that are the most vulnerable. I try to create lyrics that remain as honest as possible and stay conversational - almost like you’re having a chat over coffee with your listeners. I also feel like as a listener, you can find a way to relate to a song and put your own meaning behind someone’s lyrics. My main goal is to make the listener feel something. Anything. If I’ve done that, I’ve done my job as a songwriter.

RA: When collaborating with others, how do you balance your own artistic vision with the input and ideas of others involved?

AC: It can sometimes get hard trying to maintain artistic integrity when collaborating with others. That being said, I believe in leaving one’s ego at the door and letting the song go where it needs to. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve never had to compromise my personal artistic vision!

RA: We’re just a few short months into 2024. How do you see this year playing out for you? What do you hope to accomplish?

AC: I can’t confirm anything yet, but I envision new music (yay!) and performances throughout the summer!

RA: I have really enjoyed connecting with you Alessia! You’ve been a great friend and support to all things “Glimpse”. Thanks so much for giving our community and beyond a glimpse into the heart of a singer songwriter.

AC: I’m beyond happy to be a part of the Glimpse community! Thank you for including me, and continuing to support us Indie arts and live music!