Celine Simard’s development as a musician is characterized by a spirited sense of purpose, which defines her story.
She grew up surrounded by music — her mother is a singer, and her Francophone roots have their own musical heritage — but Simard (who goes by the name Celin on stage) credits joining the Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede in 2009 as when it all began.
“They were my home; they were my family for six years,” says Simard. “They gave me a lot of performing opportunities and stage time. I learned how to dance and put on a show. It definitely changed my life.”
Born in the “Honey Capital of Canada,” the northern Alberta town of Falher, Simard moved to Airdrie as a child. She graduated from George MacDougall High School and has travelled abroad and lived in Vancouver, but she has always found her way back here.
“This is where my family is, and I just keep coming back,” Simard says.
She was with the Young Canadians for six years, during which time she performed to large crowds at Disneyland, Banff and, of course, the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
“I made so many great connections and mentors,” says Simard. “All of these experiences made me a better vocalist and performer and made me more comfortable on a stage.”
Now 26, Simard plays guitar and piano and has dropped the “e” from Celine to create her stage name. It’s all part of her strategy to create a brand and to make music more than a side gig.
“The opportunities are endless today,” she says. “Whether it’s live shows, co-writing or building a digital catalogue, there are so many ways to make a living at this.”
Simard has kept in touch with many of the instructors and directors from her Young Canadian days. One of them is co-producing her upcoming first album, Red Eye, while another provided the home studio where she recorded most of the vocals.
It’s these connections, she explains, that have given her the foundation to be confident to pursue a career in music and to see the benefit of collaboration. Many of the songs on Red Eye are co-written with other songwriters.
The album’s first single, “Purely Chemical,” is available on streaming. It is a rhythmic pop song with insightful lyrics, co-written by Airdrie’s Steve Jevne.
“I love to write songs and melodies. In the silence, I will just write. I write in my car when I’m driving,” Simard says.
“Purely Chemical” began with a few words and a line of melody.
“I had the whole first verse written, and I took it to Steve and said, ‘This is what I have,’” Simard recalls. Four hours later, the two of them had written the entire song and even recorded a demo.
“Purely Chemical” is about introspection, Simard explains. Within a cleverly written pop framework, it’s an immensely listenable song with a personal message.
“I love to write about mental health,” she says. “It’s very much a song about feeling like your life is going wild, like everything’s out of control — but, at the end of the day, what you’re feeling is just a chemical imbalance in your brain. It’s good to have that perspective.”
Simard’s songwriting explores the complexities of the “grime and the struggle of where I live,” as she puts it.
She recently attended a five-week professional-development program in Edmonton put on by the nonprofit Canada’s Music Incubator.
“I was super-blessed to go through that program,” Simard says. “I’m learning to treat my career as a business. It’s not just a hobby; it’s the financing side, the booking, the touring, all the things that an artist should know.”
Songs from Red Eye are being released throughout 2025 on all streaming platforms. Check her out at celinmusic.com.
