In The News (July 2021)

This section of the newsletter is comprised of news stories, press releases and links to Internet articles that are sent in by our members who believe they will be of general interest to the membership.  We include them as a courtesy to our members but do not verify or edit their content.  Their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by the CMAOntario nor do their contents reflect the views or opinions of the CMAOntario. If you would like to have something included in the newsletter, please send us a short synopsis, a photo or graphic and the hotlink that can be included in the news listing. Submissions can be sent to verle@cmaontario.ca. Please make sure the Subject Line reads “For inclusion in the CMAOntario Newsletter”. The deadline for submissions is the 20th of each month.

Kelly Prescott Announced As Finalist for SiriusXM’s Top Of The Country

SiriusXM Canada today announced the three Finalists for the third annual SiriusXM Top of the Country competition, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA). These three artists will hit the stage during Country Music Week 2021 taking place this fall in London, ON, and a champion will be crowned the winner of SiriusXM’s Top of the Country. The grand prize winner will also be awarded a $25,000 cash prize and an invitation to a SOCAN songwriting camp.

Selected with help from the passionate votes of Canadian supporters, the 2021 SiriusXM Top of the Country Finalists are:

• Raquel Cole (Vernon, BC)
• Tyler Joe Miller (Surrey, BC)
• Kelly Prescott (Almonte, ON)

Watch Kelly Prescott’s performance here.

(Source: Press Release)

Cory Marks Releases New EP ‘Nashville Mornings’

North Bay, ON resident country-rocker Cory Marks has released his new EP Nashville Mornings, which offers retrospective new takes on some of the singer-songwriter’s fan-favourite tracks. The track listing includes a new country mix of his current anthemic single ‘Blame It on the Double’, a collaboration with Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman, that was met with critical praise upon its release in April from the likes of Billboard and American Songwriter.

Marks also pays tribute to his music idol Merle Haggard with a stunning acoustic live cover of ‘If I Could Only Fly’. And rounding out the track listing are three songs from Cory’s debut album Who I Am, including a captivating live version of the title track and a previously unreleased solo version of ‘Out in the Rain’.

Marks celebrated the release of the EP saying, “I love sharing my music with the world in many shapes and forms. This EP embodies a specific mood, paying tribute to the city of Nashville – the capital of country music – which will always have an influence on my art. And specifically, I’m honored to be able to sing one of my favorite songs from my favorite artist, Merle Haggard.

“‘If I Could Only Fly’ is one of many beautiful songs by Merle. This one is special to me as it makes me think of my Grandma Maisie and my Papa Al. My Grandma would listen to this song and think of my Papa when he passed away. And now that they’re both together in heaven, this is like a love letter for them, and to them. I’m sure Merle will let them know when it’s out!”

Marks recently announced that he will be joining ‘Blame It on the Double’ collaborator Tyler Connolly and the rest of Theory of a Deadman on their North American tour starting in September. For tickets and show dates, please visit: http://www.corymarks.com/

NASHVILLE MORNINGS EP TRACK LISTING

‘Outlaws and Outsiders’, which features country music icon Travis Tritt, Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch, and Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, was a global hit, receiving more than 33 million streams worldwide, trending near the top of Shazam’s all-genre discovery charts alongside some of the biggest names in music, and already certified gold in Cory’s home country of Canada. Touring forces like Toby Keith and Brantley Gilbert have invited Cory to join them on the road. And despite this, Cory remains grounded and grateful.

Rooted in the influence of his hometown in North Bay, Ontario, where he grew up surrounded by its salt-of-the-earth residents, Cory is undoubtedly himself, not just as a musician, but as a person. He continues to be influenced by the acts that drew him to writing and performing in the first place: The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, and most notably Merle Haggard, who Cory embodies in his own 21^stcentury way.

(Source: Press Release)

Shae Dupuy Releases Official Music Video for “Black and White” on Vevo

On May 26, Canadian country singer-songwriter, Shae Dupuy, released the music video for her single, “Black and White,” on Vevo. “Black and White” was produced by Derek Wells (Maren Morris, Maddie & Tae, Scotty McCreery) and written by Shae Dupuy, Kyle Rife (Spirit Music Nashville) and Jeremy Bussey (Spirt Music Nashville).

“Black and White” is a story about the grey areas of a relationship with no real explanation for its ending. Shae focuses on telling the good, the bad and the messy sides of healing from a broken heart; “I want to embrace all the parts of the end of a relationship, that people don’t want to talk about when moving on, but are a necessity in the healing process.”

Watch the video here.

(Source: Member Submission)

Robyn Ottolini Releases New EP

Warner Music Nashville rising star Robyn Ottolini is love drunk and, well, just plain drunk on her major label debut The But I’m Not Always Sad Either EP, available now (LISTEN HERE). The four-song project explores another side of the singer / songwriter behind the independently released The I’m Not Always Hilarious EP. Ottolini creates her own kind of party with clever lyricism and creative production, courtesy of Erik Fintelman and Mark Schroor, that includes plenty of ad-libs. The EP tackles romantic love, friend-love, family love and, most of all, self-love.

“I’m so happy to finally share the fun-loving part of me again,” Ottolini shared. “Being sad is necessary for healing but dang… I’m not always sad! I hope these songs bring you joy. I hope that they make you feel loved and safe and comfortable in your own skin. You’re perfectly imperfect, and I’m so thankful to be on this journey with all of you.”

Fans got a first listen of The But I’m Not Always Sad Either EP earlier this month with the release of “Tell You Everything” (LISTEN HERE). The adoring anthem stands in stark contrast to the viral hit that helped earn her record deal – current radio single “F-150” (LISTEN HERE). “F-150” has propelled Ottolini to more than 45 million global career streams. The track reached No. 4 on Spotify’s all-genre US Viral 50 chart and No. 3 on Rolling Stone’s all-genre Trending 25. The official music video, which boasts 3.6 million views, features red-hot visuals and was filmed in the Toronto, Ontario area near her hometown of Uxbridge.

Ottolini’s small-town-Canadian upbringing serves as the creative inspiration for every witty, relatable lyric she writes. Inspired by artists like Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Sam Hunt, the 25-year-old has been named a 2021 Artist To Watch by The Boot and Yardbarker. She is currently tied for the most 2021 CMAOntario Award nominations with five total nods.

THE BUT I’M NOT ALWAYS SAD EITHER EP TRACK LISTING

1. Tell You Everything (Robyn Ottolini, Jesse Slack)
2. Hold Me Back (Robyn Ottolini, Lydia Sutherland, Jesse Slack)
3. Sincerely, Drunk Me (Robyn Ottolini)
4. Daddy’s Daughter (Robyn Ottolini)

(Source: Press Release)

Karli June Is An Ontario Market Finalist in 2021 Jim Beam Virtual National Talent Search

The 2021 Jim Beam Virtual National Talent Search voting featuring KARLI JUNE as an Ontario market finalist is live online.

You can vote for Karli once a day through July 10th.

Watch a video of her performance and vote here.

(Source: Member Submission)

Tianna Woods Releases New Single “Get Out”  

Current CMAOntario Female Artist nominee and seven time nominee, Tianna Woods has released her brand new single “Get Out ” which is now available on DMDS!

The song is a feel good post-pandemic, spring fever anthem that will make you want to get out! It has been a long lock down for everyone and this song is just what people need right now. The feeling of freedom to get out of the house and take on the world after a long year.

Tianna is a multi-award winning recording artist, songwriter, entertainer and instrumentalist who has performed on countless stages across Canada, the United States and Japan. She has been nominated for the CMAOntario Female Country Artist of the Year for 7 years in a row and won the Toronto Independent Music Award for the “Best Country Category ” in 2016. In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 she was nominated for 5 Josie Award categories in Nashville including; Entertainer of the Year, Modern Country Female Vocalist of the Year, Modern Country Female Artist of the Year, Musician of the Year and Single of the Year. She won Modern Country Female Vocalist of the Year in 2017/ 2019 and was selected out of 23,000 applicants to perform as a special guest on the Dollywood stage for the awards show.

Tianna is currently working on 2 new albums, a number of singles and a new stage show. One of her new albums entitled “I Believe ” will be released in 2021.

(Source: Member Submission)

Independent Singer Songwriter Dean Young to Release THAT GUITAR July 16^th

A tribute to his late father Bazil Young (b. Quebec), who was a well-known country musician & radio DJ in Niagara Region (ON Canada) for most of his life. He was Plant Manager of the Port Colborne Dairy and then Rich Products of Canada for many years before retiring due to health issues.
RIP – Bazil “Buzz” Young
1932-2018

That Guitar is about the connection Dean’s Dad had with music and the influence it had on Dean while growing up, as well as the loss of his Dad through both the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease and later his passing in September 2018.

Dean calls this “the hardest song he has written yet”; with a goal to “express a very sad situation without the song sounding sad”.

“My Dad gave me music and there was always music surrounding us. The song is about the guitar that I remember so dearly from my early childhood, as he worked to provide for his family…I wanted to share this part of my life without it sounding “sad” & I think the Producer Jason and I accomplished that.” (Barrytone Studios)

To listen to That Guitar: https://ffm.to/thatguitar
To connect with Dean: @deanyoungmusic or learn more – http://www.deanyoungmusic.com

(Source: Member Submission)