Singer/Songwriter Jennifer Argyle

Julie Druker | Feb 17, 2016

Those who attended this year's Frontenac Heritage Festival variety show on February 12 may recall one new and notable performer who took to the stage. Jen Argyle performed an impressive five-song set at the festival opener, which included a number of classic country and original tunes.

In both her sound and stage presence, she seemed the epitome of a seasoned performer. Appearing relaxed, and comfortable in front of a full house, she sang with such ease and naturalness that one would have thought her a veteran. Surprisingly, that is not the case.

Argyle first started singing publicly this past August, and she said that in fact she suffers from incredible stage fright. “I have been working really very hard to overcome it and it is still something that I have to consciously fight every time I get on stage to perform.”

Argyle, who teaches at Clarendon Central Public School in Plevna, has been singing in private for most of her life. She said she began singing and playing guitar in front of her students as an initial first step in playing publicly. Next, she was encouraged by friends to play at an open mic event in Kingston, where she was received very positively. “I was absolutely terrified and incredibly nervous when I did it but I had some friends there supporting me, which made it a bit easier and when I saw the positive response, it egged me on to keep trying.”

She has since performed at the Cove in Westport alongside Shawn McCullough and has made a number of videos of herself performing, which are now public on her own YouTube channel.

No stranger to music, Argyle studied classical guitar for years as a high school student in London, Ontario where she grew up but it was just this year that she decided to bring her talents to the public eye.

At the Heritage Festival show she nailed her covers of Merle Haggard's “Today I Started Loving You Again” and “The Way I Am” and Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire”. She also sang two of her own originals, “The Old Cowgirl in Me” and “One Silver Bullet at a Time” which were equally impressive.

Argyle says, “I always smile and try to convince myself that I am okay and I use a lot of positive self talk and visualizations before I get on stage to help me out.” She said her motto is, “Fake it till you make it”, a modus operandi that seems to be doing the trick. Argyle also practices on average two to three hours a day, which no doubt is a confidence builder.

Coming up is her first full length solo performance, which will take place at the Snow Road Community Centre on Thursday, February 25 from 7-9pm. She plans to sing more of her favorite country standards including traditional old country classics by George Jones, Loretta Lynn and others. She will also be performing 10 of her own original tunes.

Her family will be in attendance, something that Argyle says she finds nerve-racking but judging by her first local foray into the public spotlight at GREC, no doubt she will overcome. Her advice to other musicians/performers who may suffer from stage fright is, “ I always like to remember what my friend and fellow teacher Katie always tells me....'You can do hard things.' Believe it or not, it is true.”

Argyle is hoping to bring her talent to other musical venues in the area. Tickets for her Snow Road concert are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. For advance tickets call Don at 613-278-0958