Whether its songs about breakups, the death of a loved one or confronting a high school rival years later, Angela Saini puts a little bit of herself in every tune.

But no matter the subject, she tries hard to make every song as upbeat and fun as possible.

"I have a lot of emotive songs. I like to tell stories," Saini said during a break from her spring tour.

Born and raised in Calgary but making music out of Toronto, Saini is an International Acoustic Music Award nominated singer, guitarist and songwriter. She performs at The Commodore on Thursday night.

Saini was prepping for a show in Vancouver when The Daily News caught up with her. The tour, which she is taking via rail, is the first solo run she's made despite more than 10 years in the music business.

The tour coincides with the release of her debut solo album, Cake and Callouses, which Saini premiered in Toronto earlier this month. Many of the songs she performs Thursday night are from the album, but with an acoustic twist.

"It's a produced record with a full band," she said, adding it's just her and her guitar on tour. "Minus the drums, keys and bass they are going to be the same tunes."

Saini likes to keep her music personal but relatable, she said. One, titled Dear Diary, is her own spin on the quarter-life crisis, something many in their mid 20s can relate too.

"Even if someone didn't have a rivalry in school they might have one in a workplace," she said.

As a musician, Saini is always looking for inspiration, which is why she's collecting thoughts, ideas and stories from those who attend her shows.

Saini will have a Dear Diary mailbox set up at The Commodore. She encourages people to write down what they're feeling and post the ideas in the box.

Saini started performing when she was 14 and her band played bars and clubs despite being under age at the time.

"We had to get our parents to sign those consent forms, which was pretty cool," said Saini.

The band, Supernal, went on to perform alongside mainstream acts like Evanescence and Sum 41.

Tickets for Thursday night's show are $5 and doors open at 7 p.m.