Rebecca Sichon Shares On Her Participation in 29th Annual Honey Jam Concert
Honey Jam, Canada’s iconic showcase of emerging female talent, returns for its 29th annual concert on Thursday, August 29, at Toronto’s TD Music Hall (178 Victoria Street), promising an electrifying evening filled with music, empowerment, and celebration. Tickets are on sale now. Honey Jam is also excited to announce that CBC Music will record the concert for a national broadcast airing later this year on CBC Music Live.
Kelowna’s Rebecca Sichon, known for her blend of R&B, soul, and jazz, unveils her new single “Right Here,” inspired by early 2000s R&B and crafted with Grammy-winning producer Earl Powell. This track marks a pivotal moment in Rebecca’s career as she embraces her authentic self, moving away from pop influences to create a soulful anthem that resonates deeply. “Right Here” captures a nostalgic, heartfelt sound, reflecting her journey and dedication to genuine artistry.
Hi Rebecca. First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hey! I’m Rebecca Sichon, an R&B/Soul artist based in Vancouver, BC, originally from Mission, BC.
Your music blends R&B, soul, and jazz with influences from artists like Yebba and Amy Winehouse. Can you share how these artists have shaped your musical style?
Growing up, I found myself drawn to classic jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. At the age of 9, I stumbled upon Amy Winehouse and her jazz-inspired yet gritty soulful-pop sound and was hooked. I remember singing her songs around the house at all hours of the day until my father encouraged me to post a cover of “Rehab” on YouTube. It’s funny because watching it back now, I still completely relate to the power and “sassitude” it let me express and I continue to incorporate that energy into my music today! I discovered Yebba a few years ago and immediately began studying her runs and vocal ability to improve my own, specifically singing along to every song in her latest album “Dawn” as a warm-up before a show or just for fun. However, it’s certainly challenging, she’s incredible!
Can you tell us more about the experience of working with Earl Powell on “Right Here”? How did this collaboration come about, and what was the creative process like?
My previous manager, Gary Taylor, connected the two of us after I expressed that I was itching to work with R&B-specific producers. Because Earl is based in LA, we started with a video call to chat about goals and what we essentially wanted to create. He ended up sending me a few beats and one in particular stuck out. I wrote the verse and chorus that very same day and sent over a phone demo for his thoughts. Once he gave me the green light, I finished writing the song after two days here in Vancouver and then hopped on a plane to LAX (literally) three days later to meet Earl and record the track. It was such an inspiring process as I had never been in an LA studio up until that point and it truly felt like a dream come true. We spent seven hours recording the song, adding harmonies, chatting and bringing what ended up being “Right Here” to life.
You’ve described “Right Here” as a pivotal moment in your career. How does this song differ from your earlier work, and what does it signify for your artistic direction?
I have been on a musical journey for as long as I can remember and have had endless amounts of inspiration from so many genres including jazz, blues, pop and even traditional Ukrainian music that I grew up singing with my father. When I began writing at the age of eleven, I immediately put myself in the “pop” category and figured that was what I was meant to do, despite being so inspired by Amy Winehouse and other early R&B artists such as Kehlani, JoJo and Jazmine Sullivan. After putting out pop music for six years, I never felt like that was the right direction but I couldn’t quite understand why. A couple of years ago, I began to realize that I am happiest when singing music that physically tugs at my heartstrings and makes me feel a certain way. I soon realized that it’s Jazz, Soul and R&B that does exactly that and makes me feel like I am nine years old again. “Right Here” was a pivotal step in my journey as it feels so authentic to who I am and the music I want to create and has paved the way for future tunes that feel just as good to share with the world.
Honey Jam is a renowned showcase for emerging female talent. How did you first hear about Honey Jam, and what inspired you to participate?
I have had my eye on Honey Jam for several years since many good friends have participated in the program and have spoken very highly about it! After visiting Toronto multiple times this year to songwrite and perform, I decided this was the year I would audition. These past 12 months have felt so productive and eye-opening in terms of my brand, artistic direction, and goals; therefore, it felt like it was the right time to try out for Honey Jam to see how it can elevate my career and further my understanding of who I am as an artist.
Honey Jam alumni include incredible artists like Nelly Furtado and Melanie Fiona. How does it feel to be part of such a prestigious group?
A total dream! I loved Nelly Furtado as a child and it honestly feels surreal being in the same spot as she was. As mentioned, this feels like the right time for me to be part of this incredible program and I can’t wait to see what comes of it!
What can fans expect next from you? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re particularly excited about?
I am currently releasing singles until the end of the year, the next one being “Paradigm” (August), a sassy track about following your dreams and not letting anything get in your way. I haven’t even publicly announced that yet so you are particularly special if you happen to be reading this! I am also planning to tour Western and Eastern Canada in Spring 2025, so be on the lookout for that!