Windsor has always been a city that punches above its weight class in the music industry. But Christee Palace is doing something different than the usual garage rock or indie folk exports we see coming out of the 519. She is leaning hard into the pop machine with a visual identity defined by electric teal hair and a sonic profile built on hooks that refuse to leave your head.
The trajectory is steep. Since her 2016 debut EP *Alive Today* started picking up steam on Canadian airwaves, Palace has been playing a strategic game. She traded the familiarity of Windsor for the grind of Toronto, a move that separates the hobbyists from the professionals in this country. It paid off. Her latest four-track effort, *Harden My Heart*, is putting up numbers that most indie artists would kill for, with the title track and "Love Me in the Dark" both clearing the 100,000 stream mark on Spotify.
And now, the hometown hero returns. This month, she takes the stage at Caesar’s Windsor and a sold-out venue in Kitchener opening for Walk Off The Earth. It is a massive look for an artist who is still technically independent but moves with the polish of a major label signee. We sat down with her to discuss the mechanics of her rise and why she had to leave home to find her voice.
**519: You’re having a very good year and it’s great to have a chance to talk to you about that and also to talk a bit about you personally for people who may not know you. You come from a very musical family; your dad is fairly well known in the Windsor community. Are there others besides your dad who encouraged you and when did you realize music was going to be your career?**
Christee Palace: "Yes, I definitely come from a VERY musical family. Pretty much everyone in my family is involved in music in some capacity. My dad’s experience and expertise definitely rubbed off on me when I was really young. He introduced me to everything that I know now. I would say he’s my biggest influence and he is the reason I am where I am today, hands down. I have always had such an encouraging support system around me since I was young, but especially once I made it known that I wanted to pursue this as a career. My mom has always been my go-to person whenever I have had any doubts about my choice to do this, and I always have her words of encouragement in the back of my mind throughout this entire process. It really wasn’t until University that I knew I would be doing this as my career. I always knew since I was younger that I wanted this, but I never thought it could happen. As I started taking more opportunities and realizing what I am capable of, I knew I had to give it a shot."
That realization usually hits during the university years when the safety net of adolescence starts to fray. But for Palace, the musical foundation was already poured. Her father, Pete Palazzolo, is a staple of the Windsor scene, and that kind of proximity to the craft strips away the mystery of the business. It makes the dream feel like a job, which is exactly how you survive in pop.
The influence of her mother provides the emotional ballast. In an industry that thrives on rejection, having a "go-to person" for the low moments is not a luxury; it is a requirement. Palace is clearly operating with a solid psychological infrastructure, which explains her confidence on stage.
**519: What musicians or bands inspired you? You do a 90s pop medley; is that a clue or is there a lot more to your influences?**
Christee Palace: "Aside from the obvious, my biggest musical influence has always been Avril Lavigne since grade 4. Throughout the years, there were others like Hayley Williams from Paramore, Kelly Clarkson, Fefe Dobson, Demi Lovato, Sara Bareilles and many others that I would practice my singing to, or get songwriting inspiration from. There are so many artists/bands that I have always looked up to. I find my influences are ever changing in the pop realm throughout the last five years. I am a proud 90s baby for sure! That medley was sort of a cool way of highlighting some of the music I grew up listening to that are some classic throwback tunes. I wouldn’t say any of those songs/artists/bands particularly inspired me, but they definitely take me back to when I was younger when music first started meaning something to me."
The Avril Lavigne mention is telling. Lavigne was the blueprint for the Canadian pop-rock girl who could actually play and write. You can hear that DNA in Palace's work—the slight edge to the vocals and the refusal to be just another synth-pop mannequin.
But the 90s medley is more than just a nostalgia trip. It’s a tactical tool for a live performer. When you are an opening act, you have 30 minutes to win over a crowd that is there for someone else. Dropping a medley of hits people already love is a shortcut to engagement. It shows an awareness of the audience that many young artists lack.
**519: Things seemed to really pick up for you with your EP *Alive Today*. Your songs from that EP are great, particularly "Light It Up" has a great energy. Did you do all the writing for that yourself?**
My dad’s experience and expertise definitely rubbed of on me when I was really young. He introduced me to everything that I know now. I would say he’s my biggest influence and he is the reason I am where I am today, hands down. ... It really wasn’t until University that I knew I would be doing this as my career. I always knew since I was younger that I wanted this, but I never thought it could happen. As I started taking more opportunities and realizing what I am capable of, I knew I had to give it a shot.
Christee Palace: "Thank you! *Alive Today* was my first EP ever, and it was produced/engineered by Marty Bak of SLR Studios, and my dad did the initial demoing at the Canadian Conservatory of Music on the tracks. That project means a lot to me to this day, because it was the beginning of this entire journey. I LOVE Marty!!! He really helped bring my creative vision for those songs to life, and really made me aware of my potential as a songwriter/artist. What is even more special is the fact that I wrote all of the songs myself. It was the beginning of me figuring out exactly who I am as an artist, and I am proud to say all of those songs were 100% written by me. 'Light It Up' was actually not a part of this EP, but it was a follow up single. That song I think was the turning point of my career—I really just reached a point where I said 'screw it' and decided to go for this with everything I have in me. 'Light It Up' to this day is my very own personal anthem that helps me believe in myself."
Writing solo in the pop world is increasingly rare. Most tracks today have a dozen names attached to them. By keeping the pen to herself on *Alive Today*, Palace established a specific creative identity before letting outside producers in.
Marty Bak at SLR is a local legend for a reason. He knows how to polish a track without stripping away its character. But "Light It Up" is where the shift happened. You can hear the "screw it" attitude in the production. It is aggressive, bright, and unapologetic. It was the moment she stopped asking for permission to be a pop star.
**519: You also have great videos! A lot of independent artists will ruin a good song with cheap hastily produced videos. You had Gavin Michael Booth and Ryan Brough produce "Out Of Time" and "Light It Up." How did you hook up with that talent?**
Christee Palace: "Working with Gavin was so incredible. I had heard of him for years around Windsor for his incredible film directing, and I had been hoping to work with him for a long time. Gavin and I actually started talking and saying how we wanted to work on a project together, so we made it happen! 'Out of Time' was my FIRST official music video and I wanted it to be something light hearted, funny, and obviously great quality. It was amazing working with him and he did such a great job. He was living in LA at the time, so I was so grateful for the opportunity to work with him, and he came to Windsor just to film it. I knew that one day he was going to be a famous film director even though in my mind he already was, so I did NOT want to pass up that opportunity. SO talented."
Christee Palace: "Ryan is a great friend of mine and obviously a fantastic videographer. I had known of Ryan since high school, and started working with him on a few photoshoots, and shortly after a few music videos. He is SUCH a cool dude with a strong creative vision for all of his projects. Ryan just gets me, and understands the type of person that I am and wants to make sure that he helps to showcase that in all of my videos. He conveniently also lives in Toronto, so working with him is a breeze. He has now directed and shot my last three music videos."
In the era of TikTok and YouTube, the visual is the song. Palace understands that a low-budget video can actively harm a high-budget song. Bringing Gavin Michael Booth into the fold was a power move. Booth is a visionary who understands narrative, and "Out of Time" benefited from that cinematic eye.
And the partnership with Ryan Brough is the kind of director-artist relationship that defines a career. If you look at the last three videos, there is a consistency in the colour grading and the framing. It feels like a cohesive brand. That teal hair needs the right lighting to pop, and Brough clearly knows how to capture it.
**519: You decided to move to Toronto after the success of *Alive Today* and to work with a new team and it appears to have really paid off. What has this new team brought to your music?**
Christee Palace: "Thank you! I can definitely say that I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for making the move here a year ago. SO much has happened in just one year.. it’s so crazy! My team is my family. They look out for me and want what’s best for me as an artist, and for my career. My songwriting, live performance, and overall branding have just reached a new level since moving here. I’m so grateful for them!"
Toronto is a meat grinder for musicians. You either get better or you get out. Palace chose the former. By surrounding herself with a professional team in the 416, she has tightened the screws on her live show.
But there is a risk in the big city move. Sometimes the "branding" can become too slick, erasing the grit that made the artist interesting in the first place. On *Harden My Heart*, the production is massive, but there are moments where the synth layers threaten to swallow the unique rasp in her voice. It is a delicate balance.
**519: "Love Me In The Dark" and "Harden My Heart" have both gotten a lot of listens on Spotify. Where are your fans geographically and have you ever toured outside of Canada or considered it?**
Christee Palace: "They have done really well! It’s so humbling to know that many people have heard my songs and are continuously listening. Geographically, most of my fan base is in Canada. I have always wanted to tour outside of Canada (and other places in Canada that I haven’t been to yet, too). I am definitely working on accomplishing that very soon."
The Spotify numbers are a legitimate metric of success. Breaking six figures on multiple tracks without a major label push is proof of life. Most of that base is domestic, which makes sense given the radio play she’s garnered here.
But the ceiling in Canada is low. To really make this work, she has to look south or across the pond. The pop-rock revival currently happening in the US and UK is the perfect window for her sound. If she can translate those 100,000 streams into ticket sales in markets like New York or London, the game changes entirely.
**519: You opened for Walk Off The Earth in Windsor and Kitchener this month. You must be really excited! How did that come about?**
Christee Palace: "Oh, I am SOOOO excited. You have no idea! First off, Caesar’s Windsor has blessed me with so many incredible opportunities since I was 19. I’m just so grateful to be able to perform on the Colosseum stage in my hometown. I’ve been dreaming of that for years. The Kitchener show I recently found out is SOLD OUT! Isn’t that crazy?! I’m so pumped for both of the shows!! This all came about through a combination of the buzz I had created in Toronto and some connections. It’s honestly just proof that moving to Toronto was the right thing—that, in combination with working hard and constantly pushing myself forward with opportunities."
Opening for Walk Off The Earth is the ultimate litmus test. They are an act known for high-energy, technically proficient performances. Palace has to match that intensity. Performing at the Colosseum at Caesar's Windsor is a full-circle moment. It is the biggest stage in the city, and for a Windsor kid, it is the equivalent of playing Madison Square Garden.
The Kitchener sell-out is another feather in her cap. It proves the "buzz" she mentioned isn't just industry talk—it’s actual bodies in rooms. Palace is no longer just a local curiosity with bright hair. She is a professional pop artist with a trajectory that is getting harder to ignore.
But the real work starts after the final encore. The momentum from these shows needs to be channeled into the next project. If *Harden My Heart* was the introduction, the next release needs to be the statement. Palace has the team, the visuals, and the hooks. Now, she just needs to keep her foot on the gas.
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