WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – In the last few years, Veronica North has made waves in the Whatcom County music scene as a mainstay of original popular music.

The Whatcom County native will be taking the stage at Downtown Sounds for the first time this summer, and she is spending as much time as possible preparing for what could be her largest crowd to date.

But before Veronica North was known as a pop artist in Bellingham, her love for music started as she grew up in Point Roberts.

“I loved growing up in Point Roberts,” North said. “My family all still lives there, so I do get to go up and visit which is really nice.”

North attended Blaine High School (BHS), taking the bus across the U.S./Canada border a total of four times a day. She competed in vocal performance at the state level while attending BHS

At 26, she made the decision to relocate to Bellingham after graduating from nursing school and to pursue music seriously. Upon her arrival to Bellingham, North began writing new music and spent her time crafting the art she performs today.

After just one year of her serious musical journey, she headlined the Wild Buffalo to a crowd of almost 200 people.

“That first time I headlined at the Wild Buffalo was really like a turning point for me,” North said. “I was like ‘OK, I can bring people out to this and I can find people who are excited about this.”

After that pivotal show, North began to write songs that were more pop-influenced and spoke to her feelings of being excited, happy and in love for the first time. She felt a momentum that has continued to today, pushing her to continue to create music for herself and her audience.

North’s second album “Home To Me” features songs influenced by the leaders of today’s pop charts. She showcases different emotions of love, angst and independence through dynamic lyrics and modern sounds.

As she continues to play shows in the area, North made it clear that her overarching goal is to spread kindness at every show she performs.

“Usually when you’re there setting up or when it is time to get paid and leave, even in those small moments it means a lot to me when someone says thank you,” North said. “I always try to take an extra moment to also really thank them for having me because it’s a big deal to let me play on their stage. It’s just an important moment to have.”

North stands with her band after her second performance headlining the Wild Buffalo in Bellingham, WA. Photo courtesy of Veronica North

North’s next show is on July 16 in downtown Bellingham for the second week of Downtown Sounds. North and her band will hit the stage at 6:00 p.m. before Queen tribute band “Queen Mother” takes the stage.

“It’s literally the best thing Bellingham has to offer in the summer, so yea I’m hyped,” North said.

For more information about Veronica North, including upcoming shows and where to find her music, head to her website at veronicanorthmusic.com.

We Are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.