Project WILD would like you to know each of the 2016 Top 12 even better. We prepared five questions for each of the artists/bands to help us learn a little more.
1. What brought you to country music?
I don’t think it was one particular thing or event that brought me to it. I grew up in the country, so I feel like country music has always been with me. The exposure to it over time has made me believe that it courses through my veins. I really don’t know where the country stops and I begin. I’m not me without it. I will say that there were many avenues of exposure to the genre. My dad, Johnny, had a love of country music that he passed onto me. For the most part, whatever my dad liked…I liked. There was always a radio on at the farm or in the truck. As a child I used to love listening to The American Country Countdown on 1220 CJOC Lethbridge AM radio. Bob Kingley’s format of songs and stories mesmerized and hooked me further at a young age. My Grandma Lola helped when I was a teenager. She encouraged my Dad to get me to sing and play guitar publicly. Dad taught me all the chords and songs that he knew on my Aunty Diane’s borrowed acoustic guitar and when he ran out of things to teach, we learned together. I was 14 when I had my first country music performance with a guitar in my hand and I couldn’t be more thankful for all that country music has brought me over the years. It has taken me coast to coast through our great nation of Canada & internationally. It has allowed me to meet many life long friends and open up for some of my heroes.
2. When did you write your first song – as an artist or as a band?
I was 14. It was all around the time of my first country appearance. I took one of my math scribblers from school and started writing songs in it and filled it up.
My 2nd song is the one that is more memorable to me. I was driving a swather home from our other farm (about 15 miles away)and this idea came into my head. Of course there was no pen or paper in the swather so I had to sing it over and over all the way home so I wouldn’t forget it going a turtle like 12 miles an hour. The song was called “I Want You” and it was extremely repetitive. Keep in mind I was 14 at the time. Haha. Here’s one of the choruses.
I want you you you
I want you.
I want you you you
I’m mad about you
You make me feel alright
you keep me satisfied
I want you
I want you
3. If you could go on tour opening for any performing artist right now who would it be?
f you asked me this 5 months ago it would have been Merle Haggard. It is safe to say that he was a major part of my country music life. I didn’t know him, but I miss him just the same. Blake Shelton would be my choice of today.
4. What is the best trend in country music right now?
That “Bro” Country is on its way out. Many performers like Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson and Lee Ann Womack have heart and soul in their works and they have stuck to their artistic guns in spite of what is commercially acceptable and/or radio friendly and it’s came to fruition for them. That’s what I want with my music…
5. What part of Project WILD are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to building more relationships… not only with the Top 12 finalist but with the Project WILD 2016 organizers and teachers. I’m really optimistic about sharpening my entertainer/business blade through all of the literature, industry professionals & peers, and focus, that has come and is coming via the Project WILD 2016. I am in a position in my career that I need some more help, support and structure if I am going to elevate my band, my team and myself to the next level.
