CCMA AWARDS NOMINEES - FULL LIST!
FANS' CHOICE AWARD
Gord Bamford
George Canyon
Doc Walker
Corb Lund
Johnny Reid
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Dance With Me -- Johnny Reid
Day Job -- Gord Bamford
Dirt Roads Scholar -- Dean Brody
I Believe In Angels -- George Canyon
If I Fall -- Doc Walker
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Day Job -- Gord Bamford
Dean Brody -- Dean Brody
GO -- Doc Walker
The Long Way Home -- Terri Clark
Losin' Lately Gambler -- Corb Lund
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Dance With Me (written by Victoria Banks/Johnny Reid/Tia Sillers; recorded by Johnny Reid)
Day Job (written by Gord Bamford/Byron Hill; recorded by Gord Bamford)
Dirt Roads Scholar (written by Dean Brody; recorded by Dean Brody)
Heart Of Gold (written by Jessie Farrell/Jesse Tucker; recorded by Jessie Farrell)
If I Fall (written by Murray Pulver/Chris Thorsteinson/Dave Wasyliw; recorded by Doc Walker)
CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Dance With Me - Johnny Reid
Day Job - Gord Bamford
Devil's Best Dress - Corb Lund
Watching You Walk Away - Shane Yellowbird
Wildflower - Dean Brody
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Victoria Banks
Terri Clark
Jessie Farrell
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Crystal Shawanda
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
George Canyon
Corb Lund
Johnny Reid
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Doc Walker
Hey Romeo
The Higgins
One More Girl
The Road Hammers
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Ridley Bent
Blue Rodeo
Shane Chisholm
The Higgins
Corb Lund
RISING STAR
Jaydee Bixby
Chad Brownlee
High Valley
One More Girl
Marlee Scott
Sophie Saige Walden
"The Voice"
Friends have a big outdoor party every summer in their backyard. They hire a band invite a couple hundred friends, everyone brings a dish and a drink and we dance the night away, or until they get a cruiser up from Cloverdale.
This year very soon after arriving I noticed a tall striking young lady. Before I knew it I overheard her talking with one of the band members and I got the impression she was going to get up to sing. The band guy asked the young lady "What do you sing?" She replied "Just about anything."
Shortly thereafter I happened to meet a lady and the conversation turned to how she had just returned from Toronto where she had accompanied her daughter to a singing competition. Her daughter she told me made it into the Top 16 across the country bud did not make the Top 6 finalists. I didn't think much about it to be very truthful. Next thing I knew the young lady got up to sing with the band, only the band was nowhere to be seen. Totally unaccompanied she sang an AMY WINEHOUSE song then capped it off with a stunning version of AMAZING GRACE. Everyone was blown away.
I needed to know more. Then on Monday evening I happened to be exercising my manly right to watch 10 channels at one time, and lo and behold there SHE was! The young girl I had seen on Saturday was singing on my TV. Some show on YTV called NEXT STAR.
SOPHIE NEXT STAR
You are just 15 YEARS old but anyone that has had the pleasure of hearing you sing quickly realizes you have a very powerful voice. When did you start singing?
I started singing at the urging of one of my school teachers. My Nanny used to sing to me all the time and she encouraged me to sing so it has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Do you presently sing in a band?
I have tried to get in a couple of bands but I have had a hard time finding people that really wanted to be serious about it. That lived in my area. I think that will probably be a work in progress.
Have you written any songs at this point in your career or are you just content to sing other peoples music for the time being.
It is another talent that I hope to develop. I am trying to learn how to write songs, but they haven’t really ended up as full songs just yet. Right now I just have a bunch of different pieces
THE NEXT STAR television show is now in its third season on YTV. Had you watched the first couple of years?
I was not really aware of the show. I had not watched it, but I had heard about it. My friend told me about the show and that I should come out and support them at the auditions in Vancouver and maybe give it a shot myself. I figured what the heck maybe I would try out.
It looked like there were hundreds of contestants when the auditions were held in Vancouver. How did that first stage go?
We were allowed to pick 2 songs to perform. The first day was a very long day. The first two songs I sang were “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis and an Amy Winehouse song. There were two rounds the first day, and then we were called back on the second day and that is when I was chosen as one of the Top 16 that would go to Toronto for the finals.
You and your mother flew to Toronto recently in order for you to compete in the Top 16 contestants from all across Canada. Tell me a little bit about that experience.
The Toronto experience was really awesome. We met the judges and all of the contestants got together and bonded and sang with each other. All 16 of us became instant friends. It was all a blur it happened so fast. When we were standing on the stage I think it was Brandon that was standing behind me and he was just about hyper ventilating. I was like hang in there Brandon it is all going to be alright. Some of the girls were crying, it was very emotional for all of us. After it was all over we were all giving each other hugs.
In watching the episode you were eliminated in one of the judges CHRISTOPHER WARD who rose to fame as one of the original MUCHMUSIC VJ’S and then went on to become a very successful international songwriter, spoke with glowing praise for you and your singing. How did that make you feel?
It felt really good, it made me feel really happy about my performance. I am not much of a mover or a shaker. I have a hard time doing that kind of show, that is not the type of person I am. For me it was kind of hard for me to connect with the song I was singing because it was such a slow song. But it felt awesome that he felt what I was going for and what I was going through.
We now know that unfortunately you have not advanced to the Top 6 that will compete next week. You have had a chance to not only see and hear the Top 6 but you have had the chance to meet them individually. Based on what you have seen and heard so far, put yourself in the judge’s chair and who do you think will advance to be the grand prize winner?
I don’t think I could pick the exact winner I can pick my top two favourites though. I would pick MIMOZA and MADI. MIMOZA blew me away and MADI is a great singer.
What are your musical plans for the future? Do you have any plans on where you would like to take your singing?
My future plans are sort of up in the air right now. I would like to sing for the rest of my life and maybe one day get paid for it. I am just taking things as they come for the time being. I am just going with the flow right now.
Have you had anyone recognize you on the street from being on the show?
Yesterday it was really weird, my family and I were at the PNE and I got off this ride and this little girl looked up at me and said “Are you the girl from that show? That show on YTV?” I said Yup. She got a great big smile. Then later on four groups of kids came up to me and said “Are you Sophie that girl from that show on YTV.” I also ran into a couple of my friends that I hadn’t seen for a few years and they were making just as big of a deal about my appearance on the show as the little girl. It was all a little weird and pretty cool.
When I heard you sing this past weekend, you did an AMY WINEHOUSE song. I assume you are a fan of hers?
I am a fan of her music, not a big fan of her lifestyle.
What other music are you listening to these days?
I like a lot of punk rock. Joan Jett I really love. I listen to just about everything except country. I listen to SAY ANYTHING and HAYLEY WILLIAMS from PARAMOUR.
The whole experience of appearing on NEXT STAR must hold a lot of memories. Do you think there is one particular moment that will stay with you longer than the other memories?
I think I will always remember sitting around with all the other contestants sitting around and singing and getting to know each other. Also when the 10 of us that were eliminated I had already really bonded with MATTIE and I gave her a hug. She had seen my bracelet and she had commented on how she really liked it. We both like the same kind of music, we were both talking about what we could be doing if we were back at home. I gave her my bracelet and she was so grateful. It felt really good to give her something from my hometown that I really liked. It made me feel really good. I think I will always remember that.
NEXT STAR continues Monday evenings at 7 p.m. Pacific on YTV. There will be no eliminations until Monday September 27 when the winner will be announced live on the air. You can vote on line for your favourite (CLICK HERE)
Note – Victoria is the last contestant from British Columbia still in the competition. She makes her home in Abbotsford.
This Week's Pick To Click
ZAAC PICK
The newest player in the Vancouver radio game, SHORE-FM has been busy since signing on just about a year ago. In short order they have taken over the presentation of the Celebration of Lights fireworks show over English Bay, are now the proud presenters of SHOREFEST a live music event which is part of the nightly fireworks displays, taken on the lead sponsorship of the Annual Burnaby Lake Blues Festival (this weekend Aug 15) and most recently staged a talent search for local musicians called the SOUNDS OF SUMMER
Hundreds of local singers and songwriters sent in their music for consideration. A panel of judges worked all the entries down to the Top 10. These artists covered a wide gamut of musical styles. But then again SHORE-FM proudly says they play roots, rock & rhythm so their on air sound is eclectically beautiful.
The Top 10 winners all recently performed at SHORE-FM'S day long promotion on Granville Mall as well as all the artists performed at SHOREFEST before the fireworks with a wide selection of headliners.
Last week from the Top 10 entrants the grande prize winner was chosen, and it was CLOVERDALE'S ZAAC PICK that walked away with the hardware. In this case the guitar.
Blue Rodeo's JIM CUDDY and Vancouver Mayor GREGOR ROBERTSON
CONGRATULATIONS ZAAC. Fresh from the country showing those big boys downtown how we do it out in the Valley. You can see ZAAC in concert this Sunday when he performs at the Burnaby Lake Blues Festival.
It's Called SHOW Business Folks
Part IV
Emily Taylor Adams - Doing It Right
 So far this week we have introduced you to the tutor (KEVIN PAULS), the mentor (STEVE DANIELSEN) and DANICA DANIELSEN the other artist working out at Blue Frog Studios in White Rock this week. One might think they would be recording, but that was not the fact. The studio layout with its massive stage has worked out perfect for all the above to set up the band equipment and run through their live show under the watchful and critical eye of KEVIN PAULS.
Today we finish up the series talking with EMILY TAYLOR ADAMS. This young Langley girl coincidentally released her self titled debut CD this week. With the first video already on country music television CMT and radio coming aboard on the song things look good for ADAMS.
You have been in the studio this week with KEVIN PAULS who has flown out from Ontario to mentor you on improving your stage show. How has it been going?
 Emily, Mom Barb and Kevin
It has been a great experience. I am learning a lot working with KEVIN. I think it will make me a stronger performer after all the hard work is over. I am looking forward to getting out and doing some shows to try out everything I have learned. What I have been learning is how to put on a show, not just getting up there singing.
How long have you been singing?
I have been singing my entire life, I came out singing. Everyone found out I could sing one Christmas at a big function for Tae Kwon Doe which I took as a kid, an all of a sudden everyone heard this little girl singing, and they couldn’t figure out who it was or where it was coming from. Somehow I found a microphone and turned it on and I was just merrily singing away. I was only 5 years old. I am now 18 years old and my whole life I have always loved to sing.
You have a video from your new CD on CMT correct. The song is called “What Would It Be Like?” tell me a bit about the making of the video, how did that all come about?
Well we submitted the song to CMT in Canada and they have a program where they will find the videos by Canadian artists, so they liked the song and they picked the video director XANA YOUNG. She is a new director so they thought because we were both new at it that it might turn out good. We shot the video all in one day. We flew to Maui to shoot the video, and it worked out really well because I got a three week vacation out of it.
Where did you record your album?
I recorded it in Nashville I used all Nashville musicians. I want to move there someday. This was my first time down there and the vibe, the atmosphere is so good. I hope I can move there soon. Everyone is so involved in music and it pushes you so hard. Music Row is so cool, it is just all the record labels housed in these funky little old houses, and it is not flashy it is really down home.
If I looked on your ipod what would I find you are listening to?
Amanda Lambert, lots of Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. I have seen Brad Paisley a number of times in concert, I really think he is one of the best. I listen mainly to country, I like some pop music.
When you perform do you always perform with a band.
I have a show coming up on July 31 at the Agrifair in Abbotsford, in September I will be doing some shows opening for Travis Tritt. The promoter of the shows had heard me sing before and he just phoned me up and asked me if I wanted to do the shows. I said I would love to. Plus this Wednesday at Holland Park, the Stanley Cup is coming to Surrey and I will be performing at the big ceremony they are going to have there.
Your first single is now at radio is anyone playing it locally?
Yes COUNTRY 107 in Abbotsford is playing it already, and they say they really like it. JR-FM in Vancouver is probably going to take a little longer. The music director has heard it but has not made a decision about playing it yet. But it will all work out.
Would you ever enter one of these “instant star contests” we see on TV like American Idol?
No I would never enter one of those contests. Everyone's voice is very different and unique. It is not fair to say one is better than the other. I do watch those shows, but I am prepared for a lot of hard work to get where I want to go. I am driven.
What is the next step.
I would love to get another video and get my song on more radio stations, I want to go back to Nashville and do another CD and I want to get better at my songwriting. I co-wrote four of the songs on my new CD. I co-wrote the first single."What Would IT Feel Like"
 Next Big Thing?
How can people buy your CD.?
Well they will be able to buy it soon on my website or they can buy it at any of the shows I have coming up. I would even like to get it into WAL MART ha ha.
Because you have been singing for a number of years, if a young(er) artist came up to you and said “Emily” can you give me any words of advice? What would you tell them.
Never quit. Because you will get lots of no’s. If you love doing it, just keep doing it. You will end up doing it in the end anyway. Even if you don’t become famous doing it you will still be doing it if you love it.
Where did you get all this insight?
I don’t know. This is what I am meant to do. I love it. I get lost in my music.
You can see EMILY perform solo this Wednesday afternoon between noon & 3 p.m. when the Stanley Cup arrives in Surrey for a big celebration at Holland Park. She will also be performing at Abbotsford's Agrifair later this month.
Find out more about EMILY by visiting her website(s). Watch her video, listen to some of her music and get ready to quite possibly see the next Canadian "shooting star" come right out of Langley.
Part III
Is Surrey's DANICA DANIELSEN destined to become a household name?
Good Question.
DANICA you have been here at BLUE FROG studios in White Rock for the past week week. You have been working hard daily with KEVIN PAULS who has a company based out of Toronto that works in association with a firm in Nashville which has a strong track record working with developing artists. Tell me about what you have been doing this week?
I have worked with KEVIN one time before, and this week he is working closely with me teaching me how to be a great front person for a band. How to make it so I am control of the band and the show and as a result a better all round entertainer.
You are 17 years old, how long have you been performing?
I have been performing forever. I did a lot of dance up until I was around 9 years old, and then I reached a point in Grade 8 (Clayton Heights Secondary) with my singing and my dancing that I had to make a commitment to one or the other. I was also doing modeling so I had a lot of experience on stage, and when it came right down to it, I wanted to concentrate on singing.
Once you made that decision three years ago, what have you been doing to further you dream and career?
I have been doing a lot of song writing. I perform locally as much as possible. We have had some strong reaction to some of the songs that I have written, so as my Dad said yesterday, it has been a whirlwind trip to New York, meeting a lot of industry people, getting feedback, taking trips to Nashville to meet people and start laying the groundwork for going back to record. One thing has led to another all along the way. I got to write with a couple of well respected songwriters in Nashville so I think my songs are getting stronger all the time. All the songs can be heard on my myspace web site/
Is there one aspect of the music business that you enjoy the most, performing, recording, songwriting or the business part itself?
Performing definitely. It is just a whole different ball game, it is the most glamorous part of it. I enjoy writing but I find performing so much fun. I love to get the feedback from the audience.
If I was to listen to your ipod, what artists are you listening to these days?
Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Dixie Chicks, Eva Cassidy. I am an Adam Lambert fanatic. I love everything about him.
What do you think of the talent contests like American Idol?
You know I am really lucky because I have musical parents and they support me in every way possible. If we need to go to Nashville they will buy the ticket. Most young artists may not have this opportunity, and they don’t really know how to start a career. They may have the good raw talent, and if they can get on one of those shows then maybe some doors will open for them. So I guess it is good for some artists, but just not for me.
Even though you are young yourself, do you have any words of advice for any young artists that are starting out trying to get into the business?
This might sound a little cliché, but it is hard work. If this is really what you want. It is all about determination. Some times it is a struggle. I have to miss a lot of things my friends are doing because of my career, so even now I have to make sacrifices. Just be prepared to work really hard. Put everything you have into it. Just because you are good, does not mean it is going to happen. You have to be prepared to work really hard at it.
....and that is exactly what DANICA has been doing. You can find out more about DANICA, listen to music and check out her upcoming shows by checking out her myspace site.
Part II
Steve Danielsen in addition to being the father, manager and guitar player for DANICA DANIELSEN, also helps guide the career of EMILY TAYLOR ADAMS and plays guitar in her band. This week DANIELSEN arranged for KEVIN PAULS to work with the two young ladies in White Rock’s Blue Frog Studio. DANIELSEN took time out of the busy rehearsal schedule to provide a bit of history and future plans
I started playing when I was 7 years old, Have never stopped playing since then, I also worked for the world famous guitar manufacturer in Vancouver making Laravee guitars. It was so different back in the 80’s when I was making my living playing music. We would play six nights a week and there was no shortage of clubs to play. Artists these days can’t get that kind of real time experience. My band was called ESCAPE. For trivia fans we were playing the night the legendary hard rock club The Metro in Vancouver burned down. So we earned the nickname “FIRE ESCAPE.”
Now that you have a family and being out on the road is out of the question. What is keeping you busy?
Well I do a lot of studio work, I play with DANICA and EMILY plus I have a band with the old singer of 80’s rockers PRISM and I have a music studio in Cloverdale DANIELSEN STUDIOS. We teach just about everything to young artists. We have an enrolment of about 130 students. I also am part of a small circle of players that back up touring musicians that may be in the area but they can’t afford to bring their whole band in for the show.
Where did it all kick in to start working professionally with your daughter DANICA?
Well I raised Danica since she was two years old. I have been working with her musically in earnest in the last couple of years. We have started writing together, I have a small home studio so we are always knocking ideas back and forth. We wrote a song and we thought it might be a good song for the Twilight Movie series. One thing led to another, and soon we found ourselves in New York meeting with major record labels. One thing led to another and next thing we knew we were off to Nashville for DANICA to get some experience in songwriting. So we went to Music City U.S.A. and things went really great there,. There is interest in DANICA on a number of different levels, but because she is only 17 years old most of the people we have worked with think she has the talent, and let’s just take it easy and build the whole project. One of the areas everyone agreed on was we needed more work on the live show, so that is how we find ourselves here in White Rock using their beautiful facilities to rehearse with the full band and have KEVIN PAULS tear it apart and help us build it back up into a strong stage show.
What are your goals out of all this hard work?
Well as you mentioned I am the guitarist for DANICA and EMILY and we want to take both artists, build them a strong show and cross pollinate their fan bases. So many of the artists that I have worked with seem very protective of their audiences. We think we can be more successful by melding the two groups of fans together. They are both different artists so I think there is double the audience there for both the girls.
When will people be able to see the results of all the hard work that you have been putting into the rehearsals?
DANICA has a show coming up at the Cloverdale Blueberry Festival as well as a performance at the Agrifair in Abbotsford people can check out her shows and some of her music by visiting her website.
(CLICK HERE) to hear DANICA DANIELSEN'S music and to find out the information for upcoming shows.
DANIELSEN Music Studios Cloverdale (Click Here)
Part I
Kevin Pauls & His Famous Watchful Eye
How Did You End Up On The Westcoast Working with Danica Danielsen and Emily Taylor Adams.
I have been an artist myself for nearly 25 years. Five years ago I started working with a company out of Nashville called Tom Jackson Productions (www.tomjacksonproductions.com) I had heard Tom speak at various music conferences, he puts tremendous importance on the live performance part of an artist’s development.
So When I am not out on tour myself I am out at festivals on working one on one with artists producing, honing and improving their live show. Danica and her father Steve had heard of Tom Jackson, so through Tom they contacted me. I am the only Canadian rep for Tom’s company in Canada so Steve called me and that is how I ended up here at Blue Frog Studios in White Rock for a week working with these two talented young ladies.
What is it about Emily and Danica that drew you to work with them?
Well you know there are a lot of young artists that think they can play & sing. They may have good songs, but these girls not only have good songs they can sing. They are the whole package. So when I work with them live, you can get them to do stuff, so when you are working with artists as talented as Emily and Danica, it makes my job a lot easier. Its beautiful to watch
Tell me about your thoughts of instant stardom which we see a lot of through the “Idol” shows.” Being an artist yourself what are your thoughts?
Back in the olden days of record companies being the “bomb” this was the way you made it. The labels had whole departments that would develop the artists. They would get them out on the road, they would put them in front of people, they worked with them. They would create an ARTISTS. Now we have manufactured groups like NSYNC and BACKSTREET BOYS. Some of the members of those groups were talented, but they were a manufactured item. It does not normally provide a lot of longevity. What the IDOL system has done is it has destroyed the work process. Everybody thinks if I get seen, everything will change for me. The only difference with the KELLY CLARKSON’S and CARRIE UNDERWOOD’S that came out of those competitions is there is a team of the greatest people in the industry pouring themselves into your music. It is really about learning how to connect with an audience. A lot of people have forgotten this industry is a JOB, it needs a lot of HARD WORK. Some people try to take the shortcut. It just doesn’t work that way anymore.
It has been said by many veterans in the music industry in Canada, disproportionately we have a real lack of world class managers. Most other facets of the Canadian music industry is serviced very well. Do you concur with that statement and as a result of this, you and your company fulfill a much needed service?
I agree totally. I do what is called live music producing and just work on the show. What I find far too often is when I go to work with artists they are in need of some kind of mentoring. This used to be done by record labels and managers. I am now giving these artists 25 years of my experience to try to help them not make some of the most common mistakes made as an artist climbs the ladder of success. No one else is out there giving them this kind of advice.
I was talking to the creator of CD BABY where most independent artists sell their music these days, and he had a great quote that I often repeat.
“The industry and most of the management and record labels used to see a tree and would say I can make a great piece of furniture out of that.” Now they see a wonderful piece of furniture and they say “I can sell that!” They don’t want to build it anymore. They don’t want to take risks. They have dropped their creativity. Now they say, “You show me someone who is selling a ton of records and doing lots of shows, and we will jump on board.” So I now find myself filling that void for artists.
Final question. How important is "the song" in the whole equation of an artist's career development?
There are a lot of artists out there today that can say that had A GREAT SONG. The song is so important, but if you don’t learn the stage you will fall by the wayside. I think BILL GATES put it best when he said “In the future those that will succeed will be those that can use high tech and high touch.” The music industry today is all about the stage., You can create fans all around the world virally through on line. But the stage, the live touch is where you build life long fans. If you are not touching lives one on one in the live show you will not have longevity.
Tomorrow - STEVE DANIELSEN, father to one girl, Manager to both.
Saturday - Danica & Emily sit down to talk about how they feel after spending a week working on their "live" show.
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