#MyMusicStory

Submitted by: Christee Palace (Spotify,Website,Twitter,Facebook,Instagram)

I was always bold. Growing up, I challenged my parents and pushed boundaries. I could never take “no” for an answer, and instead explored every other possibility. 

I remember always loving music. I grew up in a family of brilliant musicians—  my daddy was my first and most important musical mentor, teacher, and influence. I remember developing a love for songs when I was super young. When I was younger, the biggest names in music at the time were Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, the Spice Girls, and N’Sync to name a small bunch. I used to sing in the mirror and pretend I was the singer in each of the songs. I even wrote my own songs totally ripping off the melody to some Spice Girls songs (I thought I was soo clever). I specifically remember writing a song called “I Don’t Need No One” to the tune of “Wannabe”. I wrote that song when I was 7, and I remember writing it about being different than most girls my age (I was kind of a tomboy) and ironically enough, about wondering why all those musical influences (mainly female) had this soft, super feminine demeanour about them, when I was the complete opposite. At such a young age, I recognized this, and craved music that represented the type of girl that I was (which is part of the reason I started writing songs— I wanted to be represented). 

 And then came Avril. 

 Anyone who knows me, knows what she meant/means to me. She changed everything. She was exactly who I was, even as a kid in grade school. It’s almost like she came into my life at the perfect time— I was trying to figure out who I was and why the hell I was so different. When Avril Lavigne first came out, I fell absolutely in love with not only her music, but her entire being. I felt like I finally saw myself in an artist. It was that perfect harmony between incredible pop music, and a bold, edgy, STRONG attitude. She embraced her tomboyish, bad ass persona. She was confident in being the opposite of what was most popular in music. 

 She is the reason I wrote songs. I wanted to do what she did. I wanted to make people feel the same way she made me feel— accepted. Although there were many other positive musical influences that have affected me along the way, no one compares. 

To this day, she is my #1. Regardless of how much music has changed (particularly pop music), I still carry those early influences with me. I hope one day I can meet her and cry and laugh (and then pass out). Fuck I love music.

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Christee Palace is a pop singer/songwriter hailing from a large family of musicians in her hometown of Windsor, Ontario. Her father Pete Palazzolo, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer, and teacher, is a seasoned veteran in the music industry, having taught thousands of musicians across Canada, including Jeff Martin of The Tea Party. From being an international major label artist, to opening a music Conservatory, his skill set and experience influenced and instilled the love of music in Christee starting at age 4. Her family is well known for their musical ability around Windsor-- something she proudly shares with all who meet her