Armed with a guitar, Terra Lightfoot draws upon genres of yore to forge a soulful sound of her own. Her voice is proof enough of her versatility, from her ability to howl the high notes like all the best rock songs on the jukebox to singing with a lovelorn lilt that recalls the best Patsy Cline tunes. Add to that the electric chords she strums along with the instantly catchy lyrics she sings and Lightfoot's music sounds both familiar and nostalgic, like it's existed among record collections for years, but fresh at the same time. While undeniably rock and roll, Lightfoot manages to transcend genre by incorporating a curated blend of them all. 

Fresh from a desert road-trip, we talked with Lightfoot about the importance of her live show, her record collection, her history with the guitar and what's in her Netflix queue.

Hometown/Homebase: Hamilton, ON

If you were to creatively describe your sound, how would you?

A mash of rock, soul, blues, folk and country, simmered over a campfire of many colours, then distilled into a maple candy. Then someone would smash the candy into a million pieces and melt it all down and do it again. :)

How does a song take shape for you? What inspires you to write?

For me, a song often happens when I don't have time to give it enough attention, so I'm forced to sit down at the piano or guitar and hammer something out in five or ten minutes, then come back to it when I've got time. As a songwriter I'm inspired by my friends, my experiences — love, heartbreak — I'm also really inspired by other musicians doing their thing.

What's the best environment to listen to your record Every Time My Mind Runs Wild?

I'd say driving. A lot of that music was written for the car. I think it's the perfect accompaniment for a road trip with friends or lovers... or both!

What do you want listeners to take away from your music?

Anything they want to. I just want to make people feel something when they listen to it.

What music/artists have had the biggest influence on you and your sound?

I love old blues and gospel music, so people like Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Leadbelly come to mind. I also love Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Band....In terms of non-vintage sounds, I really LOVE the newest Dave Rawlings album, and I like what Jack White has been up to.