The Juno award is a simple glass human figure surrounded by a spiral symbol encased in a laser engraved transparent block.
In its 41-year history, it has stood on shelves of some of the most prestigious national and international music artists. For any Canadian musician, to attend the ceremonies and hold the cool statuette is a thrilling moment – a sign they have made it.
This year a wide swath of talent is competing for the hardware including star-studded celebrities such as Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé and Johnny Reid. Leading the pack with four nods apiece are Dan Mangan, Feist, Hedley, Drake and Nickelback.
Several St. Albert connected artists will be silently wishing for the best after being nominated. Former St. Albert resident Alyssa Reid, nominated as a new artist, took Canada by storm in 2011 releasing her debut album The Game. It featured the double platinum single Alone Again that is now a staple on both Canadian and British radio.
St. Albert resident Jon Bauer, an award winning Canadian worship artist and songwriter, is recognized in the contemporary Christian/gospel album category for his recent release Forevermore.
Jon Busby, a former St. Albert High School graduate, is being touted for video of the year, a slick animation video for Dan Mangan’s song Rows of Houses.
And in one of those magical lightning strikes, local rock band DRT has landed one of their songs on David Gogo’s blues nominated album Soul Bender.
For each of the four acts, it is the first time the Junos have recognized their talent and creativity, and the salute swept them off their feet.
As Reid said during a telephone interview from her home in Brampton, Ont., “It’s absolutely amazing. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. I haven’t quite been able to take it all in.”
Administering the annual honour is the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. This year they announced 162 nominees in 41 categories including the first-ever metal/hard music album of the year.
The plush televised awards hosted by the intrepid William Shatner will be broadcast nationally Sunday, April 1 from Ottawa’s Scotiabank Place.
But Juno Week, which starts Monday, March 26, is also an opportunity for artists of every ilk to schmooze and make new connections that might be instrumental in scoring the next recording deal.
The week is jam packed with events and activities including a songwriters’ circle with David Francey and Terri Clark; a public Juno Fan Fare with Jully Black and Neverest; and JunoFest, a multi-venue showcasing more than 100 local, regional and national acts.
For Reid, the most exciting event is sharing a stage at the Sunday night award ceremony alongside recognized artists Simple Plan, Blue Rodeo, Nickelback, Feist, City and Colour, Hedley, deaddmau5, City and Hey Rosetta!.
“They don’t usually do this, but they’re putting together a live medley of the new artists. We’ll be showcasing little snippets of our songs,” said Reid.
In addition to Reid the live mixed taped performance features Anjulie, Dragonette, JRDN and Mia Martina.
At age 19, Reid is already performing at Canada’s most prestigious musical ceremony. But it didn’t just happen. A lot of years and hard work went into her career.
Reid recalls attending Sir Alexander MacKenzie School in Grade 1 before moving to Edmonton. But the family lived a nomadic life and she was frequently uprooted and forced to adapt to new surrounds, friends and schools.
“I didn’t have steady friends. I spent a lot of time singing. It matured me and helped my songwriting.”
Self-taught on guitar and piano, she won scholarships to performing arts schools in Los Angles and New York. But her big break came in 2009 when she uploaded her interpretation of Justin Bieber’s hit One Less Lonely Girl on YouTube.
Reid reworked it from the girl’s perspective and retitled it One More Lonely Boy. She made headlines, attracted 200,000 hits and a record deal from Wax Records.
Her first single Alone Again sold more than 140,000 copies and debuted at No. 1 in London’s BBC and Capital FM as song of the week.
“When the two main stations jumped on it, others followed. Before we had a chance to release it on iTunes, we had pre-orders that surpassed the ones in Canada.”
Last month Reid was on a promo tour to London and in April she’ll be on a seven-city tour of England and Scotland. There’s only one more barrier to climb.
“I’m waiting for the U.S. to jump on it. I still have a bar to reach.”
Closer to home, Bauer has a few bittersweet feelings about the Junos.
“It’s the highest order in Canada and it’s one of the highlights to attain in music. I am very honoured to be nominated,” he said.
But almost in the same breath, Bauer added that he would not be attending.
“We’re on a month-long tour of California and we tried everything possible. But the events were scheduled and booked a year ago. With two kids on the road, it makes it a challenge to catch a quick flight. I’m bummed about it.”
Born in Spruce Grove, Bauer now makes St. Albert his home, and it’s in his studio that the very successful Forevermore was created. A gracious singer/songwriter and pioneer of the Christian music movement, has released five award-winning albums. Forevermore is his first U.S. release.
“The songs and the meanings have connected with a wide range of people, ages and generations. And there’s a variety of music. Some of the songs are for singing in church. Some songs are radio friendly. A couple songs were picked up on radio and were in the Top 3.”
The chart topping Chase After Me and Beautiful Me, as well as the other eight tracks are more than worship songs. They are upbeat tunes about love and bolstering the human spirit.
“Every person has ups and downs. When we’re in lower places, we need special encouragement to remind us we could get through the day. That’s what my music does.”
Unlike Bauer, animator/videographer Busby plans to have a great time at the Junos – even if the statuette bypasses him.
“I think the music is going to be awesome. The gala and Sunday ceremony will have constant performances. And that’s what’s so cool. They embrace all the music,” Busby said.
It’s also an opportunity for the St. Albert High graduate to see his old buddy Dan Mangan, someone he rarely sees because they are “crazy busy.”
Busby, founder of the Vancouver based Blatant Studios, has developed a professional relationship with Mangan that clicks. Bauer’s first video for Mangan’s single Road Regrets won a Leo Award and now Rows of Houses has received Juno nod.
“Dan is a very good artist to work with. No matter how popular he is across the globe, he just takes it as it comes. I like to work with him at the beginning and then he lets me go at it while he goes on tour. He trusts us. He lets us do what we need to do.”
To create the four-minute video, Mangan’s band was shot across a green screen and then composed on top of an environment. The rows of multiplying houses and skyscrapers were built with 3-D software and hand-painted to fabricate a dream-like vibe.
“I’m just looking forward to doing more. I’m just getting started in film and I’m honoured to be part of this.
The St. Albert classic rock band DRT haven’t exactly been nominated for an award. However one of their songs, Slow It Down, was shortlisted for David Gogo’s Juno nominated blues album Soul Bender.
“It’s pretty exciting. It’s pretty weird ’cause I wasn’t expecting it to happen. I was told about two weeks ago and at first I didn’t realize what it meant. It took me a while to get pumped about it. The shock hit about an hour later,” said bassist Declan Paxton. His confederates are Tayt Tweten (guitar) and Riley Chernoff (drums).
Chernoff happens to be K-97 DJ Terry Evans’ son. Last year in February Gogo was in town as a radio station guest. After the show, Evans asked Gogo if he could jam and write with the boys.
“It was like having the old guard teach the wannabe rock stars,” said Evans.
Gogo brought in a riff and together with DRT the foursome worked on a bridge, lyrics and laid down the tracks. The next thing the boys knew, they had writing credits.
In Alberta, the Juno Awards air Sunday, April 1 at 9 p.m. on CTV.
