The singer/songwriter has had a busy year. Harmer started out with a solo tour then joined the Cowboy Junkies’ outing, and ran through the summer with the Barenaked Ladies and The Proclaimers. In addition to singing her heart out nightly, she has been nominated for a MuchMusic Video Award.

Harmer’s name and voice might sound familiar to fans of the alt. indie band Weeping Tile. She got her start as their lead singer and released three albums with the band before setting out as a solo artist.

Technically, Harmer’s first solo album was actually meant as a gift for her dad. Songs For Clem was a collaborative effort with musician/producer Jason Euringer and featured popular songs from the ‘30s and ‘40s. At the insistence of some friends, she distributed the CD and won the praise of critics.

By 2000, Harmer was a full-fledged solo artist, touring with the Indigo Girls, Great Big Sea, and Moxy Fruvous. She also released her second solo album, You Were Here, which garnered her two Juno nominations and was named one of Time magazine’s 10 best albums of the year.

Harmer tells Pollstar about the depravation of life on the road in this week’s HotStar feature.