Despite COVID-19 slamming its brakes on the music industry, the 2021 new releases calendar is packed with albums from fan favourites. One country artist that invites watching is Aaron Goodvin, formerly of St. Albert.
Now residing in Nashville, Goodvin’s stars are aligning with a trifecta of events. He released Lucky Stars, a seven-track album on Oct. 22; performs a concert at Cook County Salon on Friday, Nov. 5; and will attend the Canadian Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 29 after receiving two nominations.
Goodvin has launched a successful career singing and writing about true love and the heartache that goes with it. He candidly admits the songs are meaningful to him and are true to his life story. The theme of love percolates throughout Lucky Stars’ tracks, particularly the title track. In its romantic video, the singer-songwriter introduces his wife, Victoria, as the woman who claims his heart.
Produced by Grammy-Award-nominated Matt McClure, the EP flows with a certain kind of familiarity, yet appears to spin fresh yarns. While the album incorporates several previously-released singles, Lucky Stars, the title track, ties everything together.
Filmed by videographer Sean Hagwell, it showcases a beautiful ballad with a diversity of people in different scenarios coming together after long separations and hugging each other. Love in its many forms is expressed in every scene.
“My manager came up with the idea. She thought we could film the video like the opening credits of the movie, Love Actually. It was a way to shed light on COVID and how we were not able to see the people we wanted to see,” said Goodvin.
“It was the perfect song for what we were all going through. As it streams, I think about all the things I’m grateful for. COVID helped slow down things. Now I pour myself a cup of coffee and I’m grateful for the things around me, including the coffee.”
For Goodvin, the key to success has always been a steadfast refusal to give up. But COVID tested his patience.
“We hunkered down with the dog. We thought the difficulty would last a couple of weeks. But the weeks turned into months, and it was no fun. The reason I do what I do is to play live and that wasn’t possible.”
His solution to the shutdown was to start FanTheJam, an online fan club where he would chat and sing a new song every week.
“[Fans] said I helped them, but they really helped me. It gave me purpose, and because of COVID I got deeper with my fans. I got to know them in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
The songs Goodvin sings have been good to him. Lucky Stars has received close to 600,000 streams. He already has four No. 1 singles on the CD: About Mexico, Boy Like Me, We’re All Crazy, and You Ain’t. As streams for Lucky Stars climb, another No. 1 is anticipated.
Goodvin’s popularity with fans as well as his songwriting prowess has generated two CCMA award nominations. They are Songwriter of the Year celebrating Every Time You Take Your Time, and Interactive Artist of the Year.
He’ll be trekking up north to London, Ont., for the Nov. 29 presentations.
“I really don’t anticipate any border problems. I’ve already been to Canada a couple of times.”
Goodvin makes an appearance at Cook County Saloon on Friday, Nov. 5 with his support band: Kasey Todd (drums), Rob Shapiro (keys), David Barber (guitar), and Steve Farrell (bass). St. Albert’s pop-country singer-songwriter Hailey Benedict opens the show.
