Bio
Rowan ‘Rogue’ Picard is a Canadian singer/songwriter and lead guitarist from Kingston, Ontario. A dynamic blend of alternative rock, pop and punk, Rowan’s music is accessible yet complex. She connects with others by sharing her innermost thoughts on a beautiful, broken world with a mix of optimism and angst, making her a relatable musical conduit for the edgy attitude and independent spirit of the new generation.
"When you write something and put it out there, you have no control over how anyone will react to it. It can be intimidating, but also exciting. You put a song out there and the next thing you know it’s living this new life, connecting with people on its own. It grows beyond you. That’s what you hope for.”
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~Rogue
Full Bio
Rowan ‘Rogue’ Picard is a Canadian singer/songwriter and lead guitarist from Kingston, Ontario. With influences ranging from Nirvana to The Pretty Reckless and Evanescence’s Amy Lee to Guns N’ Roses guitar virtuoso Slash, she creates her own unique blend of alternative rock, pop and punk. Rowan uses her authentic, unfiltered voice to connect with others by sharing her thoughts and feelings on a beautiful, broken world with a powerful mix of optimism and angst.
The way Rowan expresses herself through music is inextricably entwined with her identity as a young female musician. The child of an Irish/Ukrainian mother and French-Canadian father with ancestry traced back to the Innu/Cree of Quebec, she feels a deep connection to the land and the country’s multicultural heritage, making her a relatable conduit for the sensibilities and attitude of a new generation.
Coming from a family of luthiers and musicians, Rowan was surrounded by music in her early years and learned to play the violin and acoustic guitar. But it was only after her time as a competitive gymnast ended that she bought a Jackson electric guitar and started to play seriously.
“I spent the next few months learning chords and signed up for Rock Skool summer camp. The whole experience was transformative. The rush of being on stage playing the solo from Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’ was like nothing I’d ever felt. I was hooked. From then on, it was all about music.”
In 2019-2020, Rowan was part of Long & McQuade’s Rock Skool Program, forming bands with other teens and performing shows at local venue Overtime Sports Bar. She also performed with her former band Razorbunny, in her high school’s holiday show in January of 2020.
When public performances were canceled and rehearsals banned, Rowan spent the rest of 2020 honing her skills, writing original songs, and recording demos. In the spring of 2021, she auditioned for the Canadian Musicians Cooperative’s Emerging Artist program, founded and run by singer/songwriter Tori Hathaway. Selected as an artist, Rowan was mentored throughout the season by a host of industry professionals. The summer culminated in an outdoor concert at Meridian Place in Barrie, Ontario, where Rowan played guitar in several songs to a large, appreciative crowd. In 2022, Rowan spent a second season mentored by CMC.
Rowan used her talents as a lyricist/vocalist in collaboration with fellow musician Curt Sproule, on his latest EP project ‘Immortal Orchid.’ She is featured on the song ‘My Son’ which premiered in March 2022 on Amherst Island Radio 101.3 FM and has received local radio play.
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In 2023, she formed all-female band The Petras along with vocalist Brielle LeBlanc. The Petras have been recording their original music with Michael Hanson, former drummer and songwriter of Glass Tiger. Rowan has been performing live with The Petras in Ontario venues and festivals such as The Horseshoe Tavern, The Mansion & Voodoo Rockfest.
Rowan continues to share performances of her music on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.