Meet CJ Sargent | Music artist & entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with CJ Sargent and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi CJ, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I feel that stepping into uncertainty and the unknown has been the biggest factor in my success—both in my music career, businesses, and in life— as-well in the huge success that is coming. A quote I love is, “Fear is always present when doing something worth doing.” From personal experience, I can say that anything of value I have accomplished, or any significant experience I have had, was always on the other side of fear.

I believe that risk-taking and having the courage to step out on that ledge—without necessarily knowing if the next step will be there but trusting that it will—determines whether or not you will be successful. Taking aligned action comes from embodying the frequency of the reality you desire. Align with that frequency, feel it in your core, embrace the fear, and trust that the universe has got you. Do that, and I promise you, your dream reality is already here.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey began as a wide-eyed boy with a big heart and a monstrous love for life and the people in it. From the time I could hum a tune, I was in awe of music—how it made me feel, how it made everyone around me feel, and how it could completely shift the energy of a room, uplifting a person almost instantaneously, whether they were feeling sad or happy.

As soon as I got my first guitar at the age of five—without carrying a tune, knowing how to play, or having a single clue how to write a song—I was strumming away, singing my heart out, and having the best time of my life. As I got a little older, I started taking singing lessons with my sister, Tehya. It’s funny to look back now because, at that time, the music teacher told me I should quit, that I couldn’t sing, and that there was no point in continuing on this path.

But I’m stubborn, and I knew in my heart that I was meant for something big. So, I kept writing songs, kept playing, and—completely self-taught—I learned how to sing, how to play, how to produce, and even how to navigate the business side of music. I figured out what steps I needed to take, but it wasn’t without challenges.

A large portion of my adolescence was spent chasing any opportunity to perform. Any time someone would listen, I’d pull out my guitar and play, praying that I could move them, that I could have a positive impact, that they might feel what I felt when I played and sang.

However, when you have big dreams and a big purpose, God—or the universe—has a way of shaping you into the strong individual you need to be. I spent a lot of time being told no. Even some of my closest family members and peers, people I loved and admired, didn’t see or feel what I felt. It hurt. It was hard. It took an unwavering belief in myself to keep pushing forward. But I knew that if I didn’t step into the person I was meant to become, there would be no point in being here at all.

As I grew through my teenage years, I got better and better. People started to listen. It was a big change from entering my first singing competition as a kid, being so scared I could barely perform on stage at Sherwood Park Mall in Alberta.

Eventually, as fate would have it, I was in the right place at the right time—an NHL Oilers alumni event that I wasn’t even supposed to be at. I was only there because my brother-in-law was close with the person putting it on. I was just hanging out when, by pure chance, I wandered into a dressing room where Gord Bamford was playing a song. Somehow, by God’s will, I ended up with a guitar in my hands, playing a couple of songs for him. Before I knew it, I was on tour with him, learning the ins and outs of the music business.

That experience was a massive blessing because, for so long, I had felt like I was fighting this battle alone. Before that, I had put out songs with the help of producers I had found, scraping together anything I could to get a gig or a performance—just trying my hardest. But after that moment, everything changed. It gave me the confidence I needed to step into the artist I always knew I was meant to be. For that, I am incredibly grateful.

But one thing I want to stress is that nothing comes from outside of you. While I give great credit to the amazing people who have supported me along the way, the truth is that when you find belief in yourself and love for yourself, the universe aligns with you to bring your purpose to life. You do not need to rely on anyone else. Everything you need to create the life you desire is already within you.

Even now, on my way to where I want to be, I know there will be obstacles to overcome. I know there will be things that test my patience. But I also know that it is 100% worth it. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know that one day, I will be standing at the top of that mountain—because I believe in myself.

The music industry is a business like any other, and many of the same principles apply. The only difference is that the product is the artist and the song. I feel incredibly grateful to have grown up with a successful entrepreneur as an uncle, and because my family is so tightly knit, I absorbed invaluable lessons just sitting around the dinner table over cocktails. Those lessons have been a huge driving force in my success.

Through all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the moments of feeling lost—one thing has always remained true: my greatest gift in life has been my mother.

I truly believe that if I hadn’t had a mom who never judged me, who loved me unconditionally even when I made bad decisions, and who had an unwavering belief in me, I would not be here today. When you have a big purpose and a big mission, I believe you are tested the most. While I’m not comfortable sharing all of those tests—because some of them were very dark—I am 100% certain that I was given them because I could handle them. And if I didn’t have my mother, I don’t know if I could have.

I have been blessed to partner with incredible people and travel the world, performing in Egypt, Wales, the UK, Mexico, the U.S., and all over Canada. I am deeply grateful for every experience. With each performance, I feel a new energy, a new love—something otherworldly. I feel blessed to experience it, but I also know I deserve it, because I fought so damn hard for it.

And my mission? It’s just getting started. I have so much more to experience, so much more to enjoy.

Something I want the world to know about me is that I love people dearly. I believe there is a warrior and a beauty in every single person.

I want the world to know that I am fighting relentlessly to create art that is relatable, lovable, and consciousness-altering.

I want the world to know that even when it doesn’t feel like it, there is a purpose—and you are loved.

I’m looking forward to releasing so many songs this year. I’m looking forward to getting out there, performing for people, connecting, and truly enjoying this beautiful experience we call life.

I am also very excited for a few businesses that I am in the startup phase of to begin operation. Follow me on this journey, and I’ll keep you updated with the many beautiful things that are to come.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m from Ardrossan, Alberta. If you were to visit my hometown, well—it’s kind of just in the middle of a farmer’s field. It’s starting to grow now; we have a rec center, we’re getting a gas station, a little local bar, and more houses are going up. Families are moving in. It’s not the town I once knew as a kid—it’s beginning to turn into a little city.

Not far from Ardrossan is Edmonton, and in my opinion, it’s the greatest city in all of Canada. If you were to visit, I’d highly recommend checking out Rad Torque Raceway and Cook County Saloon. I’d also suggest heading to Whyte Avenue to experience the amazing local bars or going downtown to Jasper Avenue. If you’re a hockey fan, you absolutely have to catch an Oilers game at our incredible stadium.

If you love rodeo, there are plenty of great ones in the LRA (Lakeland Rodeo Association) and WRA (Wild Rose Rodeo Association), covering both amateur and pro levels. One of my favorites, where I sometimes perform, is the Lamont Rodeo—an awesome event with rodeo action, great people, drinks, and live entertainment.

I love my hometown and where I’m from. It’s the heart of Canada, and it’s an amazing place to be. The prairie fields stretch as far as the eye can see, with beautiful mountains in the distance. There’s a deep sense of culture, and the people here are good, stand-up folks.

I’d recommend taking a drive through Ardrossan. Though it may be small, if you spend some time here, I think you’d understand me a lot better. I come from humble beginnings, and I’m proud of it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel that the success of my journey so far—and the huge success that is already presenting itself and will continue—is due to the love and support of my amazing mother, Cathy Bertram, the life lessons, and resilience of my father Terry Sargent, as well as the incredible peers and mentors who have guided me along the way.

Artists like Gord Bamford, who has personally mentored me, have played a significant role in my career. Spiritual teachers such as Jerry Sargeant have provided guidance, and extremely business-minded individuals like my uncle, Robert Bertram, have also been instrumental in shaping the person I am today and the person I continue to become.

Without their love, light, and guidance—especially that of my mother—I believe I would have been only a shadow of the miraculous potential I hold as a human being. For them, I am deeply grateful, because without them, I would not have been able to blossom into the amazing man that I am and would not have been able to create a positive change and influence that I am here to do on planet Earth

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