Get To Know: Ontario Country Singer-Songwriter Paige Rutledge Releases New Single ‘Sunshine Sunday’

When it comes to her newly begotten music career, Ontario country singer-songwriter Paige Rutledge has one request: “I want my songs to be relatable to my listeners and have everyone find a piece of them in it.”

The 23-year-old has been chasing her dream of making music for much of her life, and she’s actualizing this dream with the release of her latest single, “Sunshine Sunday”, which hit streaming services on August 27th.  

Although autumn is fast approaching, “Sunshine Sunday” can make it feel like a sunny mid-July day no matter the season. Taking songwriting inspiration from heavy hitters like Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves, Rutledge’s clever lyrics work with the rhythmic guitar and plucked banjo to create a track that’s fun, charming, and warm- the perfect accompaniment to an ice-cold poolside beer…or, like Rutledge, you could opt for a redneck margarita.

Rutledge grew up spending a lot of time with her grandfather, listening to the classics of country music such as Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Shania Twain, and Dolly Parton. At the age of 9, she lost her grandfather and, since they shared a deep personal connection through music, she decided to sing at his funeral.

It was then that Rutledge knew she wanted to create music for the rest of her life. “In that moment I realized that music is something that can get you through the best and worst times in your life and it is something that can connect us all to a moment,” she told The Country Note. “And that is really special, in my opinion.”

Releasing her first single at just 16, Rutledge began playing gigs at local bars and restaurants. Now, seven years later, she has played all over Ontario, with notable performance highlights including Toronto and Muskoka Ribfest, Top 20 at Magna’s Hoedown Showdown, showcases in collaboration with the CMAO, Winterfolk Music Festival, Hillside Inside Festival, and several others.

Rutledge values legitimacy and authenticity within country music and hopes that audiences are able to connect with her music. In “Sunshine Sunday”, she hopes for audiences to get a taste of her edgier and sassier side, taking a page out of Shania’s book and making a song that feels like summertime year-round.