Singer/Songwriter Kym Simon returned to her hometown Stettler after a few years to play at the West Stettler Park earlier in the month.
Simon said that she was happy to be back and see familiar faces that she knew way back when she was starting out.
“It was really fabulous to see so many faces that I knew back then,” Simon said. “I’ve had many family and friends support me for the past 20 years in the music industry and I truly loved being back singing for them and sharing my music!”
According to Simon, although she loves performing in any city and town, Stettler has that “small, soft place in my heart, as it’s where it all began.”
“It was pretty cool to have Mrs. Willis come up to me and say ‘Wow, I remember when you won the singing contest back in Grade 3 and I still have it on video! You still have that same sound!’ You won’t get stories like that in any other town but your hometown!”
Simon has played in different venues across North America, and has a crowd appeal that is next to none.
Mixing up the numbers between classic country covers to some of her originals like her latest single, “Mirror,” she was able to narrate the stories behind her songs, as she sang through the evening with her daughter, Martina Dawn, making the evening even more special.
Speaking about how she got into music, Simon said that her parents, Dale and Debbie Simon had a band for years, which was one of her first musical influences. Simon’s grandparents, Harold and Mabel Simon were musicians too, playing the guitar, piano and saxophone.
“That really led me to a love for the piano at a young age, as well as being a vocalist,” Simon added. “Music has always been at the centre of every family event and get-togethers we’ve had, so it really is in my blood!”
It was her trip to Nashville, however in 1998, when her real music business began.
Simon mentors many young artists through her music school in Devon, where she lives now.
“It really is such a crazy business, this music business, but I’ve always been lucky to have people support me,” Simon recalled. “When I think back through the years though, I think I could have listened to myself more. All artists need to do what’s right for them and need to walk their own path, just like anything else in life.”
Simon thanked everyone who had come out in Stettler to support her.
“I hope to be back to doing a show again very soon!”