Michelle Treacy of Ottawa was chosen on Wednesday’s episode of The Launch to release “Emotional,” a song produced by music icon Nile Rodgers.
“Emotional is 100 per cent my song,” the 22-year-old declared after performing the song on the show.
Treacy was picked by series regulars Scott Borchetta and Marie-Mai as well as guest mentor Bebe Rexha.
She beat out Toronto artist WILL, who also got to record a version of the song, as well as Adrian Chalifour of Victoria, Del Hartley of Toronto, and Sarah Carmosino of Aurora, Ont.
“I feel like I’ve grown so much in this process,” Treacy said, “which is crazy because it’s all happened so fast.”
“Emotional,” written by Ben West, Hillary Lindsey, Lisa Scinta and Josh Miller, is available now wherever you access music.
Treacy auditioned with “River” by Bishop Briggs and an original track title “Ashes to Ashes.”
“I feel like I blacked out because I don’t remember anything that happened,” she told iHeartRadio. “The whole experience was incredible.”
Treacy was particularly thrilled to be able to learn from Rexha. “She is so fierce and I look up to her a lot,” she said. "She said she sees a lot of herself in me.”
Treacy is no stranger to meeting successful pop stars. In 2014, she managed to get herself invited on stage at Montreal’s Bell Centre during a Lady Gaga concert and sang an original song as well as Gaga’s hit “Born This Way.”
The following year she landed a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment Canada and later released the single “Armageddon,” which peaked at No. 80 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart in October 2016.
Treacy (who performed at the iHeartRadio Fest at CMW in 2017) also released “Colours” and an EP titled Insane – but lost her record contract.
“I was sad but I was also happy because I knew it meant a new chapter in my life,” she explained on the show. Speaking to iHeartRadio, she recalled that it was a difficult time. “I kind of didn’t know who I was. I was an anxious mess.”
In fact, Treacy applied to compete on The Launch after suffering a breakdown following the end of a relationship. She checked herself into hospital, where a nurse told her to “be selfish and restart my life.”
Treacy said she is anxious to use her voice to raise awareness of mental health.
“I have anxiety and panic attacks and I want to tell my fans it’s OK to seek help,” she said. “We need to talk about it more.”
Treacy also wants to be unabashedly herself. “I wanted to come back and be sure of who I am and show people what I came here to do,” she explained. “I just want to keep being myself because people appreciate honesty and genuine kindness.
“I’m fearless, I’m happy, I’m free.”
Treacy follows Season 2 chosen artists Cassiøpeia, T. Thomason, Saveria, Olivia Lunny and Maddie Storvold.
Missed this episode of The Launch? Watch it on the CTV app or catch it Saturday at 8 pm on CTV and Sunday at 11 am ET on Much. Next week, all six chosen artists gather to talk about their experiences.
The Launch is produced by Bell Media, parent company of this website.