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Jackie Guy launches sophomore effort

Yorkton’s own Jackie Guy is releasing her new album; ‘My Red Guitar’. The local singer/songwriter said here latest effort has been a far different process from her debut effort ‘Right Where I Want To Be’ which was released in 2011.
Jackie Guy

Yorkton’s own Jackie Guy is releasing her new album; ‘My Red Guitar’.

The local singer/songwriter said here latest effort has been a far different process from her debut effort ‘Right Where I Want To Be’ which was released in 2011.

“My second experience creating an album has been totally different from the first,” she said.

“With my first album, I truly thought I was fulfilling a ‘bucket list’ item and that when I was done I would feel this amazing feeling of accomplishment and then hang my guitar back up. I remember coming home late when we finished the first album, sitting on the couch and feeling a huge sadness sweep over me. I didn’t want to be done.

“Before completion of my first album, my song writing picked up more than ever and by the time we finished I had enough material to complete a second album. I knew then, God called me back to music to pursue it on a much more full-time basis.”

With experience also comes maturity, and Guy said that process is evident in her new effort as well.

“I think my style also changed a bit,” she said. “I wanted the second album to be much more upbeat. I gave up worrying so much about what people think and let myself just write.

“Not every song is about me, or my family, and I found some ‘freedom’ in that. I think this helped me mature as a writer and the success with radio airplay that I received with the first album did give me that much needed boost of confidence to want to create an ‘even better’ second album.”

Guy’s first album did earn her some definite recognition in the business, and that too helped build confidence as she undertook her second recording.

“Being nominated for Female Vocalist Of The Year at the 2014 SCMAs also inspired me to build my band and try to improve on the performance end of things,” she said.

Vocally, Guy said on ‘My Red Guitar’ she has in essence found her stride.

“I feel the vocals on this this album are also much stronger for several reasons,” she said. “When you do anything for the first time there is a bit of a fear factor that comes along with it. I never had a producer before so I was extremely intimidated and would “over rehearse” before hitting the studio to the point of developing vocal strain. I even had to see a specialist because I thought I was going to have to quit before I even got started. I was told to be on “vocal rest”… how do you do that with seven children?

“With this second album, I didn’t have any of those issues and I know it’s because the fear is gone.”

There was also familiarity with the process of recording to draw on, as Guy went back to the same studio.

“I went back to work with Rich McFarlane out of Mosaic Music in Prince Albert, and because of our great rapport there is a confidence in the vocals that probably wasn’t there on the first album,” she said.

So what does Guy feel is her favourite song on the new recording, something artists often have a difficult time picking.

“My favourite songs on the album are the first and the last track; ‘My Red Guitar’ and ‘Bridges’.

“The first is a song I wrote for my sweet husband Dwight, and the second is a song I wrote for God; just to remind people that even in the turmoil he’s carrying us.”

Guy is going to take a slightly different tact in letting the world know about this recording than her debut effort.

“I didn’t have a CD release party with my first album, but I definitely am with this on,” she said. “I want to thank my wonderful friends, family and fans that have pushed me. So to show my gratitude there will be a free show at the Painted Hand Casino Feb. 28, 2015 starting at 8:00 pm with Alex Runions as my supporting act.”

The new year will see the first single being sent out to radio.

“You can listen for my next single, ‘My Red Guitar’ to be released in January and you can follow me and my band tour through my website atwww.jackieguy.com,” said Guy.

“If you like the songs, please request them at your local stations.”

Guy said she also hopes that being a mother of seven and still able to follow her dream to make music might inspire others.

“I just want to remind everyone, especially women or stay-at-home moms, if you have a dream no matter how ‘big’, pray on it and it’s yours,” she said.