SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — She struts confidently in her cowboy boots onto the stage, grips the microphone and breathes out, “Three, two, one,” then begins to sing with confidence and concentration, as a hush falls over the cheering crowd.
Alli Walker has graced billboards all around Toronto, been selected as a model for various ad campaigns, and soared to fame as a Canadian country music star. But life wasn’t always "sunny" for this singer-songwriter from Summerside.
“My journey started with bullying in school that went all the way up to university,” said Walker, now a Toronto resident, who releases her latest single on Wednesday called "Sunny Day" to shine the light on mental illness.
“I had major stomach and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) issues since I was a kid, which led to a lot of eating issues and anxiety around food. It affected a lot of things including my mood, energy and hormones," she said. “I hid behind filters and makeup for many years trying to cover up my cystic acne.”
In the music industry, Walker’s self-doubt caused anxiety and she questioned her purpose in life.
But determined to overcome her fears, she coined her style "Mindful Music" and "Conscious Country" while turning her struggles into empowering songs.
“One day, I had enough of hiding and not feeling like I could be my true self on social media, so I posted a picture with a full face of acne and was blown away with the response. I got hundreds of messages of people sharing their stories of being ashamed or hiding their true selves,” she said.
“That set me free. I shared my struggle with anxiety, food, all things mental health, and ultimately it helped me find my purpose, which is 'Mindful Music'. I’ve been on a personal development journey for a long time now, so these songs are like my own personal journal entries.”
“I’ve been on a personal development journey for a long time now, so these songs are like my own personal journal entries.”
- Alli Walker
"Sunny Day", which has been released during Mental Health Week and Mental Health Awareness Month, is a song about how people cope with anxiety.
“It's the thoughts that run through our minds, thinking everyone else must have it all figured out,” said Walker. “And this song means a lot to me because of what I’ve discovered with being so vulnerable with my own story and music.”
A long-time friend, Mike Allison, who directed Walker during a Summerside Feast Dinner Theatre production in 2009, called "Summer of ’69", said the country star worked hard to overcome obstacles.
“She is a multi-instrumentalist with a keen musical sense. On top of that, she works harder than anyone I know, so it’s not surprising she has done so well with her career, and I look forward to hearing her latest single,” said Allison, the head writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes and playwright of the latest Summerside Feast musical comedy, "We Are the Champions".
Walker hopes to spread the message that no one is alone.
Her first official single is "Fight till the End", which tells the story of the raw and emotional struggle of watching a family member battle cancer. The song celebrates the bravery found deep in every person. "Sunny Day" is her second single. Walker has four more single releases, and her album comes out Sept. 13.
To learn more visit, alliwalker.ca or follow along on Instagram and Facebook.
