The Yorkton area is well-represented among nominees at the upcoming Saskatchewan Country Music Association awards to be presented in Swift Current April 3.
Leading the way is Yorkton's Samara Yung, who has been nominated for the third straight year."It's definitely not less of a thrill," said Yung, who said she still felt nerves leading up to the recent announcement of finalist nominees. She said being a finalist is becoming a bigger thing in its own right, "because there's more and more talented people" in the Saskatchewan country music industry.Yung said an SCMA awards' nomination is important to a young career.
"It's definitely a stepping stone. You usually work your way out regionally," she said.
Yung is once again up for Female Vocalist of the Year, an award she won in 2010, and Fan's Choice Entertainer.It's Over is Yung's big song on the year, up for Single of the Year. It is also up for Song of the Year, which goes to the song's composer. In this case it is a co-written effort with Kylee Madson.
Asked which of the nominations meant the most to her, Yung hedged her bets, commenting "I think all of them." However when pushed to pick one, she said Female Vocalist is a big award "because I've been working at singing since I was eight." It is gratifying the years of effort are being recognized. "It's amazingly wonderful having worked on something for such a long period of time."
Conversely, Yung said she is new to songwriting, so having It's Over up for Song of the Year is great. She said winning that "would also be something super exciting."
In the end though Yung said the nominations in every category are great in her mind.
"There's so many talented people, I'm just honoured to be nominated. That's an award in itself," she said.
Ronda Yung, Samara's mother, is up for Manager of the Year, while her father Murray is a finalist for bassist in the All Star Band category.
Samara said having her parents nominated for their efforts is great.
"They put their heart and soul into my career just like I do, sometimes more," she said, adding while she always thanks them "to see other people recognizing the work they put into my career is great."I'm really proud of the work they do."
Jess Moskaluke from Langenburg, and herself a former GX94 Talent Search winner is also nominated in multiple categories, including Female Artist of the Year, and Video of the Year for Amen Hallelujah.Moskaluke said the nominations were really unexpected.
"I was so surprised! I didn't know when the final ballots were going to be sent out, and I hadn't been informed that I was nominated," she said. "So when I got the ballot and my name was on not one, but two categories, I had to double check to make sure I got the right ballot."
For Moskaluke, the Female Vocalist of the Year nomination is the one she is proudest of."Being nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year means a great deal to me. It's extremely humbling to think that when people received their first ballot they looked at that category and thought, 'Jess Moskaluke is the best vocalist in my mind. She deserves this award', she said. "There are so many incredibly talented women in Saskatchewan, and to be listed among one of them is a huge honour."While an SCMA win is coveted, Moskaluke said the nominations themselves are big for her."Winning an SCMA would mean the world to me. To win an award in your home province is a completely different experience than winning an award anywhere else," she said. "The people who nominated you and voted for you know you personally. They know how hard you've worked, and many of them have seen that hard work first hand. I think it would give my career that extra buzz that it needs, and I'm hoping that the buzz around the SCMA's would help get me some more radio spins, as well.
"That being said, I'm so ecstatic to just be nominated, I would be just as happy for Samara (Yung), Catherine (Lewans), Amy (Nelson), or Eli (Barsi) if they should win, as well. We're all a bunch of hard working women. The province has a tough decision to make ahead of them."
Steve Gibson of Theodore is up for his first shot at an SCMA award, including Average Clown up for Single of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Gibson is also nominated for Rising Star of the Year, and Fan's Choice Entertainer.Gibson said his multiple nominations came right out of left field in his mind.
"My friend and fellow artist Jess Moskaluke actually texted me and congratulated me on my nominations so then I checked my email and seen," he said.
"Yes, I was very surprised I thought I might stand a chance at getting a nomination for all star guitar player but to get five was just crazy."
While the guitar nomination might have been expected, Gibson said as a newcomer it's hard to pick which of the five means the most.
"Like I said the four others really stand out. But, I was most surprised with single and Song of the Year (composer) just because I am in with such established and talented artists," he said.
Gibson said he hopes he nominations helps bring new listeners to his music, and inspire him to work harder.
"It would be awesome just to know that people are listening and liking what I love to do," he said."As for my career, a win would mean I will have to step up my game and bring more energy to my shows because people are starting to take notice of what I do best.
"But overall a win is irrelevant. I'm just stoked to be up there with all my fellow artists and friends. The people I look up to and idolize."
Other regional nominees include Blake Berglund of Kennedy who is also up for Rising Star.
Codie Prevost originally from Archerwill is up for Male Vocalist of the year, Fan's Choice Entertainer, and has two videos up for Video of the Year, Standing Still and Rolling Back to You. The latter song is among the Single of the Year finalists. Both songs are off Prevost's Get Loud CD, up for Album of the Year.
Prevost has a Song of the Year nomination for I'm OK written with Adam Wheeler.
GX94's Danny Ismond is among the finalist for On Air Personality in a secondary market.
The local station is among 10 radio stations up for Fan's Choice Station, GX94 one-of-five in the secondary market category.
