Local singers up for SCMA awards

Two local area musicians, Samara Yung and Steve Gibson are once again among the finalist for the annual Saskatchewan Country Music Association awards.

This year Yung has been nominated for Fan's Choice Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year.

Gibson is up for Fans Choice, Song of the Year and Single of the Year (both for Amanda), Rising Star, Guitar Player of the Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year.

The Steve Gibson Band is also up for Back-up Band of the Year, with band members Brian Read and Andrew Cavanagh up for Bass Player of the Year and Drummer of the Year respectively.

"So I am pretty bloody excited," said Steve Gibson.

Among the nominations one is admittedly a surprise, said Yung.

"The nomination that surprised me most was probably album of the year," she said. "I mean everyone knew the album was coming as we have been promoting it for the last year but it was just released the week before Christmas.

"The support from my fans with the new album has been just amazing too!"

In Gibson's case it was the band's nod which he said was not expected.

"I am probably most surprised by Back-up Band of the Year just because I wasn't even remotely expecting it," he said.

Nomination is not new for Yung, but she takes it as a positive every year.

"I have been nominated before but every year is a new year and you have no guarantee's as to whether you will get nominated," she said. "There is just so much talent here in Saskatchewan and everyone works very hard.

"This past year has been a long one full of many ups and downs so it is just an honour to be nominated."

Wins have also came Yung's way in the past.

"I had the most amazing experience of winning the awards for Rising Star and Female Vocalist both in the same year (2010)," she said, adding, "I still find it hard to believe."

As for this year, Yung said she'll take pride in the nominations, adding she finds it difficult to pick one among them to be proudest of.

"I know the easy answer to this question would be all of them and that would be my first choice answer as I am proud of everything that has come out of this new album," she said. "The songs themselves, the album as a whole and the feeling of growing as a vocalist and song writer.

"But since I know you would tell me that I had to pick one I would like to pick the awards that my mom and dad are nominated for.

"They work very hard and sacrifice a lot to help me follow my dream. The fact that other people notice their hard work and dedication to not only me but the Sask music community means the world to me.

"And my dad has been playing the guitar since he was six-years-old and is just such an amazing musician he truly deserves the nomination.

"As well as my mom for the hours she spends on the phone and on the computer doing so much paper work for me.

"And if you really need me to pick one for myself it would be Female Vocalist. Like I said before when you work at something so hard and you put your heart and soul into something, it's nice to be recognized and it gives you the little push you need some days to keep going."

Gibson said the nominations will hopefully become a sort of calling card to open new doors.

"I hope that the nominations will get my name out there more throughout Saskatchewan and into other provinces, and hopefully I take home some hardware 'cause that's always nice as I have never won an SCMA before," he said.

In terms of her career Yung said staying on the SCMA radar can't hurt either.

"You always hope that more good things will come from nominations. It kind of gives you something to put on your resume," she said.

"It also just gives you the drive to keep working and keep going -- following a dream isn't always easy but sometimes things happen that help you to believe you are on the right track."