Following a string of prestigious accolades, 19-year-old fiddler, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Irish Millie continues her remarkable ascent in the Canadian roots scene with the release of her latest single, “WASTED”. This landmark track serves as a centerpiece of her acclaimed EP ‘Between Then and Now’, a project that captures the space between two chapters of life and the quiet realization of how much growth happens in the in-between.
https://www.youtube.com/@IrishMillieFiddleTunes
We caught up with Millie in her hometown of Peterborough, Ontario and this spirited ginger had a lot to share with Cashbox Canada. She is only 19 years old but is an old soul through and through and is passionate about music, life and family.
I asked about her eclectic tastes in music, choosing the classic Devil Went Down to Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band and Zappa’s Directly From my Heart to You on her live show performances.
“I started playing fiddle taking lessons from Sally Pirie when I was 11 years old, and I loved all genres of music. I found the legendary artists’ songs timeless and was especially in awe of Natalie McMaster. Other artists I was influenced by were the icons Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young and Tragically Hip, who I actually got to see live in concert. I also found the East Coast musicians incredibly inspiring. Their combination of medleys of fiddle tunes that were passed down through generations are timeless.”
Millie went on to say, “I had a bit of a musical family, but it was my dad, Murray Shadgett, who learned to play the guitar to accompany me when I started to play live. It worked as a duo, and it helped me to hone my craft.”
Millie also went on to share the story behind the new single “Wasted”.
“I started to always tour with groups of people and not with my dad. I got to understand the expression “the road is a lonely place” and through that understanding I was driven to write a song and record a vocal track to release. “Wasted” really came through the awakening of how much my mom, Aimee, did for me, always being there and realizing how much I took her love and support for granted. I always knew in my heart, I could always call her to come rescue me, either physically or spiritually. I added the graphic visual of being on tour, maybe at an event or side of the road ‘wasted’. It made me realize how much we take our parents (and the people who love us) for granted, something that is a lesson to learn for us all.”
Written during her first year away from home while moving from Peterborough to Toronto for university, “WASTED” is a tender reflection on the gratitude that comes with growing up and finally understanding the safety of one’s foundation. The song explores the universal emotional distance created by independence and the realization that the people who raised us remain our most constant supporters.
The track finds its power in moments of everyday reflection, using familiar images like laundry and packed boxes to ground the feeling of moving on. Millie sings of the restless desire to walk away and start a new story, only to discover that the voices of those back home are the very keys that help when we feel lost. As the song builds, it captures that heavy moment of being alone and “wasted” on the side of the road, anchored by the comforting, timeless promise that love stays steady even when we feel a world away.
Listen on Spotify here:
Irish Millie enters this new release on a wave of significant professional success. She is currently a seven-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominee, recently earning two 2026 nods for Young Performer of the Year and Single of the Year for her song “You Were There”. These honors follow 2025 nominations for Folk Music Ontario’s Performing Artist of the Year and two additional CFMA nods for her previous boundary-pushing album, ‘GRACE’.
Musically, the single moves into a broader sonic landscape by incorporating piano, synth, and drums, allowing the emotion to build slowly alongside the fiddle. Millie recorded and co-produced the track in Toronto with her professor, Aaron Tsang, who provided a formative studio experience centered on restraint and spatial honesty. This collaboration, which features her father, Murray Shadgett, on guitar, highlights a shift away from strictly traditional boundaries toward a more cinematic and experimental storytelling approach.
What are the future goals for Irish Millie?
“I want to continue now to write and sing more of my original music. I want to tour and share my music and passion, write a new album and get a message to people through my songs. Whenever I can I want to give back to my hometown of Peterborough because that is where it all started for me. The support I received from the people of Peterborough is what made my career possible.”
What would you say to younger artists wanting to start out writing and performing?
“Don’t listen to everything people try to tell you – let your passion guide you and follow your heart. And don’t be afraid to ask for monetary payments for your performances.”
Currently studying Music Industry and Technology at the University of Toronto, Millie continues to balance a rigorous academic schedule with a bustling international performance career. She has performed for crowds of over 10,000 and has earned praise from Celtic music royalty Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, who celebrated her “fresh, lively” approach to the genre.
Upcoming Performance Dates:
· February 6, 2026: Brewer’s Pantry — Bowmanville, ON
- February 13, 2026: Hibernate Fundraiser, Port Hope United Church — Port Hope, ON
- March 13, 2026: The Spire — Kingston, ON
- April 9-12, 2026: Canadian Folk Music Awards — Calgary, AB
From a university assignment to a celebrated single, “WASTED” captures the exact moment a young artist recognizes the strength of the hands that held her up, showing that we only truly understand where we’re going once we acknowledge where we came from.
Sandy Graham: I have been in the music industry for decades and we all know the business has gone through many changes. It is getting more difficult for indie artists to get noticed, let alone get airplay or publicity. From my side, it is getting more difficult to find good music, artists with a passion and work ethic and great material. After listening and watching all of her social media, YouTube and website, I can honestly say I am excited that the music world is still producing great music like Fiddler Millie. Check her out on these platforms – you will be glad you did!
https://irishmillie.bandcamp.com