Photo Credit: Denisa Rahma

Toddy – Five Questions With

Jenna Melanson·March 14, 2024

Vancouver Comedian/Opera Singer Toddy Redefines Pop Stardom on Debut Single “Wounded”

There are seemingly endless possibilities for self-expression, and Vancouver-based comedian and trained opera singer Toddy is out there breaking new ground. With a winning combination of drag, standup comedy, opera, classical, and pop music, Toddy (she/they) is redefining the very idea of pop stardom. Before they found national recognition by winning Season 1 of OutTV’s Call Me Mother, Toddy had been performing professionally since they were nine: singing in the Children’s Chorus and operas in Calgary; studying opera at McGill University in Montreal, and eventually segueing into the worlds of comedy and drag.

The debut single, “Wounded,” produced by Louise Burns and Kevvy Maher (Fake Shark), is very strategically written to be for several different types of relationships whether it be family, romantic, or friendship. Inspired by the abusive relationships Toddy has been in, they wanted a wide variety of victims to be able to put themselves into this song.

First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?

Hey hey Canadian Beats! I’m a singer-songwriter based in Vancouver. As an artist making a living, I have crossed many genres. I trained in opera at McGill, then went on to become a standup comedian, then started performing as a drag artist. I was one of the first “glamour clowns” to win a drag TV show called Call Me Mother in 2021. I am a high-energy performer and a prairie farm babe at heart.

Tell us a bit about your most recent release.

This is my first ever single released! Although I am trained in opera, this was my first step back into the music world. It is a heartbreaking power ballad set in an 80’s inspired ethereal music landscape. The bridge is a love letter to my opera background but the song itself is a side of my voice that people haven’t heard before. The song is a look into that period of time when you know there’s a relationship you have to leave but you don’t know how to yet.

How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?

I am a lyric first kinda person. I’ll get a certain line stuck in my head and then, when the inspiration strikes I follow through with the story. If a beginning line is stuck in my head, chances are it will stick in other people’s minds too. This particular song was a co-write with my genius producers Louise Burns and Kevvy Maher.

Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?

We have songs being released each month until the full album drops in the spring! Each song is so different in style while always living in this fantasy glam rock world that we’ve created. The next song has a highly anticipated video to come with it! I perform constantly and have festivals lined up for the summer. I’m always performing and would love to come to a small town near you! I find the smaller the town, the bigger the love.

Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?

Letting go of being an opera singer at 21 changed my life. It had been my entire life and identity since I was a child. I had to have my big heartbreak and come to terms with the fact that even though I loved opera so dearly, it was not the right path for me. I learned to let go of all control and just started learning everything I could! If it wasn’t for my opera, standup, and drag, I never would have landed this album deal. Never in my life did I think that this is where I would be but it’s amazing to see what happens when you let yourself be free.