ArtsHub McLuhan House x Highlandia Ft. Celeigh Cardinal
We sat down with Ceiligh Cardinal, JUNO award winning singer/songwriter, to talk about her song-writing project studio space at ArtsHub McLuhan House. Ceilidh will be performing at the Highlandia festival on June 13th. Learn more about Celeigh, and her song-writing process, through our quick Q&A:
Q&A With Celeigh Cardinal
Q: You have performed on stages across the globe – How is it different performing closer to home?
A:
There’s something really special about performing close to home. When I play a festival in Edmonton, I get to invite the people who’ve been in my corner since the beginning — folks who supported me when I moved here in 2011 and watched everything unfold from there. That history means a lot. Performing abroad is its own kind of thrill, but there’s no replacing the feeling of looking out into a crowd and seeing familiar faces.
Q: How important is having your own studio space and how does a space contribute to/influence your creative process?
A:
It’s been more important than I expected, honestly. For a long time my musical partner Brennan Cameron (who I share the space with) and I would rent cabins to escape the distractions of daily life and write for a week straight – which worked, but it wasn’t sustainable as a regular rhythm. Having a dedicated space at McLuhan House has given us something better: a real routine. Work-life balance isn’t something artists talk about enough, and having somewhere that isn’t my living room to go create has genuinely changed how I work.
Q: What do you enjoy about having space at McLuhan House?
A:
I only moved in this March, so I’m still relatively new, but I’ve already started writing my second album since being here – which says something. There’s something about having a space outside of your home that lets your brain shift into a different gear. I’m grateful for it.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you would give someone making music in a non-traditional studio space?
A:
Make sure wherever you are gives you the freedom to express yourself fully. That’s really it. The gear and the room matter a lot less than whether you feel free in it.
Q: What is the most crucial element a space needs to make you feel comfortable and welcomed as a performer?
A:
Honestly? Just that it feels like somewhere you can make it your own. I need to be able to walk in and feel at home – put my things where I want them, settle in, make a little mess and not feel like a guest. Comfort is what lets you be creatively vulnerable, and you can’t manufacture that in a space that feels cold or borrowed.
Q. How important are DIY/community art spaces in the development of a musician’s career?
A:
They’re everything, especially in the early stages. Most of us didn’t come up in fancy studios – we came up in church basements and living rooms and borrowed rehearsal spaces. Community support is what makes it possible for people without a lot of resources to develop their craft and find their people.
Q: Is there anything you would like to share about upcoming projects?
A:
I have a Christmas album on the way – It’s A Very Celeigh Cardinal Christmas – which has been one of the most genuinely fun projects I’ve taken on. And as I mentioned, I’ve already started writing what will be my next full-length record, which is my main focus right now. There’s also some fun summer festivals and touring dates taking me to Ontario and the Yukon, which I’m really looking forward to.
Q: We are so excited to see you perform at Highlandia! What do you enjoy most about playing at festivals?
A:
People show up to festivals already open – they’re outside, they’re together, they’re ready to feel something. As a performer, that energy is a gift. You don’t have to work as hard to bring people in because they’re already there with you.
Q: Any favorite memories from the last time you played Highlandia?
A:
I played Highlandia for the first time back in 2018 — completely different band, completely different chapter of my life. Everything that’s happened since then, the Juno, the growth, the changes — none of that had happened yet. So coming back feels like a bit of a full-circle moment. That 2018 set is a beautiful memory just because of how much has shifted since.
Q: If you were to cover one song from another artist on the Highlandia lineup, which song would it be?
A:
Jade Elephant’s “Don’t Bring Me Down” – it’s a fun, laid-back rock song and the chorus harmonies are just very Celeigh vibes. It would be a blast to sing. Plus, we share a bass player, so we’re already halfway there!