Sass
lives every moment to the fullest

Interviewed by Barbara Goodman
Editorial Director
Canadian Health & Lifestyle

This sweet, sultry, humble woman is passionate about music, hers and everyone else’s. Canada’s most famous female rocker and Canadian Idol judge shares how she lives her life to the fullest in a way that may surprise you.

Sass I was 10. I hadn’t been exposed to “popular” music; my parents only listened to classical. Then one night my brother and I discovered you could change the station on the radio by turning the dial.

The first song I ever heard was “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” by the Band. I’ll never forget it. I had this big revelation – I knew that’s what I wanted to do! My mother remembers me running up to her so excited, “I know what I’m going to do! I know what I’m going to do!” And from that moment on I was relentless – there was nothing else.

I had quit school by ninth grade to sing professionally at 14. The curriculum was so stifling, uninteresting, and I wanted to be a rock star (she affirms with absolute certainty) – I was very frustrated. So, much to the chagrin of my professorial Dad I quit – we have a good laugh about it today.

It was the best thing for me. I certainly wouldn’t recommend that to anyone else, especially today. Schools are much more advanced and humane than at that time.

H&L Was there music in your life at the time?

Sass Oh yes, classical. I played the flute and oboe. I sang with my family and could read music.

Sass It sure did. From that first song everything I thought, the way I did it, I lived my life like I was already a rock star. Of course I didn’t realize it at the time but looking back I see that it was creative visualization in action. I’d make believe things like, “I’m going to meet Steven Tyler and he’ll know who I am.” I’d have imaginary conversations with him or other musicians I worshipped. And it worked! I’ve met and worked with most of them.

Sass The Stones and David Bowie were my two favourites. I’ve never met Bowie or Mick but it doesn’t matter anymore because I’ve met so many interesting people. And I’ve even opened for the Rolling Stones.

Other singers, now remember I was a young girl – Steve Perry with Journey, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and Lou Gramm from Foreigner – I’ve worked with, sung with and hung out with.

Sass Absolutely. I imagined I was part of that gang, and one day I became part of it. But it wasn’t all imagination, I put action into it too – I played and wrote songs; performed with other people and was in my first band ‘the News’ by 17. It’s fun and inspiring to work with others, you feed off one another. For me creativity is a team thing. Someone gets an idea, others add to it and it blossoms.

Sass I never became the kind of rock star I was thinking, and I’m glad.

Sass To me a rock star filled huge arenas with people just for them. Now, I’ve performed in those venues but they weren’t there just for me, I was supporting a big act.

Sass Yes, it would have been limiting for me. I don’t think my spiritual side would have grown which is gigantically, enormously important to me. That intense, constant Mariah Carey type career is time and soul consuming. Not good for me. I didn’t know that at the time, but I do now.

Sass So many. My parents of course. A musical impresario in Montreal, who believed in what I was doing, encouraged and introduced me to many people who have really helped in my career.

Timothy Leary. He was such an American icon. He took a shine to me. It made me feel important that this fascinating character I had read about was actually interested in me. He was in my life briefly for a year or two before he died. He was a great example of expansive thinking by being curious and looking deeply into life and yourself.

My mother set me on my spiritual course. She gave me books and talked with me about all the esoteric things I’ve been fascinated with, like astrology and numerology. It’s a part of my path that continues to expand and I don’t suppose it will ever stop. This part of me grew even more when I moved to California.

H&L What prompted your move to California?

Sass My work. My manager said it would be much easier there. So at 28 I moved lock-stock-and barrel from my hometown of Montreal, knowing only one person – my manager. That’s where I met my husband; he’s Canadian, funny eh?

Sass My first single was released in December, 1988 and the album, Tell Somebody, came out in 1989. It was a ‘wow’ year. I was nominated for every award and got half of them – it was crazy. I was famous overnight. It was in the days MuchMusic played Canadian artists 24-7. Within three weeks, everywhere I went cameras flashed. I was hugely famous and terribly frightened. It was very hard for me to deal with and a big influence in me moving.

Sass Yup. No one knew who I was. I crossed the border from screaming people to – nothin’. I knew Canadians when they’d say, “There’s Sass.”

It was a tremendous experience. I had the experience of starting over again in ‘La-La Land’. Now when I look back I so obviously see that the experiences were more interesting to me than the goal. I met such fascinating people. I toured in the States and Europe; I was exposed to different kinds of music and musicians, it was hugely inspiring and fun.

Sass As far as my music – that’s always come from the same place in me. I discovered half- way through my career it didn’t matter if I sang well or not. What people respond to is the energy of the act. There were times my voice was hurting so bad, that I basically talked my way through it and people still cheered. In a performance there’s an amazing energy exchange between the audience and me. I become a conduit for the energy. It’s amazing and very addictive.

Sass I believe so. Because the rest can feel invasive. Many times you can’t be in public without being accosted. People are calmer about it these days, I’m more their pal. And I handle it differently within myself. I don’t have fear around it anymore. Now I have enormous faith and trust that everything’s okay, so I can do what I’m here to do.

Sass What’s intriguing to me is that people are interested in my life which forces me to look at, and learn from it. I don’t think about life that way until we start talking about it because we’re in ‘the now’.

H&L How do you stay in ‘the now’?

Sass I pay attention to what’s being said. I listen to what you’re saying and to what I’m saying. I don’t always stay in ‘the now’; I do a lot of projecting. I’ve learned projection is fear-based. The fear comes from things in our past we’re not really conscious of.

I’ve also learned that if I foster fears they’ll end up happening and that’s life negating. Anything you give a lot of energy and attention to becomes bigger. We create what I call an energetic matrix for things to become a reality. The stronger the emotion the faster it appears and fear is a very strong emotion. We have to let fear go to whatever we call ‘God’. We create our reality by what we believe. Easy to say, difficult to understand and live – very profound.

Sass Well, I can’t think of anything more fantastic (with deep Sass felt emotion). I definitely feel that’s what I’m here for.

My intention is to inspire, and to help other people feel in any way I can. I don’t want to sound pompous because I’m not. I’m not unique in doing that, I just have my own spin. Everyone has something unique to offer that we can all benefit from. That’s what you’re doing, that’s what readers will do in their way, people raising children, whoever listens to my music – everyone. I believe we’re all here to share our uniqueness and let’s have fun doing it!! (again a huge laugh) And as you know I like to have fun!! It shouldn’t be anything else, that’s how this whole journey is supposed to be – fun! (She belts out in a song).

H&L Does it affect your relationships?

Sass Oh God yes! When you’re in a better mood everybody’s happier. It’s hard to see dark when there’s light. I see relationships as mirrors of ourselves. I believe people are in my life for me to learn that about myself.

Sass (without hesitation) Me – but not in a selfish way but if I don’t take care of me I’m good for nothing. Not any good for my family and can’t do a good job. Next my lovely, sweet girls and my scrumptious husband, they come as a package. Then my folks, who were and are absolutely amazing, I learned a lot from them. Just think what I put them through (she laughs).

Sass Subtle everyday type things – having discussions, talking – nothing in particular. They’re the sweetest creatures. It’s fun to let them be independent and take on their own responsibility. They just blossom and it’s so fun to watch. They’re funny and wise. They remind me to be a kid – otherwise I forget. Letting that child out once in a while is important to my mental, emotional and physical health.

Sass Wash my face, brush my teeth. My voice exercises and physical exercise. Eating well. And most importantly I have to check in with my inner self every day – my head coach inside that keeps me on track. And of course – laugh lots.

Sass I really, really love people. (This is true about Sass. It’s obvious with everyone she meets. She talks to them with respect yet it’s more, she oozes love to them) I know that’s not what you meant. I love amazing scents (she says with passion). Jean Paul Gaultier scents and these Goddess essential oils. They smell divine and make me feel divine. I’m not an everyday makeup person I have very sensitive skin. I only wear makeup when I’m performing. Lip stuff is a must, keeps my lips moist and beautiful.

Sass That amazing feeling when you think you’ve done something really good. The excitement of working with someone else and the joy of getting somewhere, I really like that.

Sass Imagining what you want and constantly sending energy into that. Imagine you’re already there. Go to sleep and wake up pretending it’s already happening and it will come. That’s following your dreams. To know that your dream is already here, right now. And now I’m just walking through space and time because I’ve already created my reality. It takes an enormous amount of faith and trust. It’s not how we’ve been taught to look at life. But I’m a living example of it working.

Sass I didn’t know what I was going to do. In my business you’re only as good as your most recent hit, I hadn’t had one for awhile. The less you’re in the public eye the less the demand and the less you get paid. I hadn’t been touring as often because I have young children, so I needed to create an opportunity, but what? I realized I can’t leave that up to me I’m going to leave it up to the Universe. I’ll tell the Universe how I want to feel and ask the Universe to bring it in the form that makes me feel that way. I’m just going to trust. So for a few months I said this, “I have wonderful work in a wonderful way. I give wonderful service for wonderful pay.” I’d get goose bumps saying it. I would stay in that wonderful feeling and say it over and over and over.

One day my agent calls, I was asked to audition for a new show called Canadian Idol. And I said not in a million years and hung up. A similar show had approached me, offered a ridiculously low amount of money to do a heck of a lot of work. When my agent called back right away I knew it must be a pretty good offer. And as they say the rest is histoire.

Sass Bless you, I really hope so! Because the idea of judging someone is really not me. That’s the last thing I would ever think of being. It’s ironic, who am I to judge another human being.

Sass Well I try to but sometimes I tell them, “That is really awful.” But to me that’s helpful information. I really want to support people on their path.

Sass Just be in it - to be in, and love every moment. Louise Hay has an affirmation in her book Heal Thy Self “I always experience love.” When you say that over and over it works and you feel so good. Being a very emotional person, I always experience love. We’re created out of love to love, but we do tend to forget that.

I love being alive – it’s so much fun!!! (She finishes with a huge smile and tears of emotion glistening her eyes. What an absolute pleasure I had with this passionate woman.)