CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Hailey MacIsaac cut her musical teeth on P.E.I. talent show stages.
“I loved it. It was a really good experience for me, as a young person, to perform in front of live audiences,” said the Summerside native.
Music became her passion, and she dedicated her life to it; finding her voice as a pop singer-songwriter at the Holland College School of Performing Arts in Charlottetown.
Since graduation, she has focused her energies on becoming a solo artist.
“The program gave me the skills to figure out, for myself, what I was able to do," she said recently during a phone interview.
With encouragement from instructors and musical friends, she recorded her first album, In a Dark Room. Produced by Bray Schurman, it was released in the summer of 2019.
“I’m pretty excited about it. It got me to the next step. I funded it myself.”
MacIsaac is taking another step this winter as she is performing at Credit Union Music P.E.I. Week for the first time.
“It’s been a really nice experience to be recognized for the work that I’ve put in, all on my own,” said MacIsaac, who has received three Music P.E.I. Award nominations — pop recording of the year, digital achievement of the year and solo recording of the year.
The P.E.I. singer-songwriter will also perform during Wintertime Tunes on Saturday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., at The Guild in Charlottetown. That night she will share the stage with Tara MacLean, Winterjazz and Vince the Messenger. In addition, she will be in the audience at the awards party on Sunday, Feb. 9, at The Rodd Charlottetown.
“I’m a little nervous. But my best friend, Elijah Rudick, is coming up from the U.S. to be my plus one for Sunday’s ceremony. So, I’m really about excited it.”
Cory Gallant of Woodstock, P.E.I., is also a rookie performer at the Music P.E.I. Awards for 2020.
“When I put my application in for the Music P.E.I. Awards, I was hoping that I would get one or two nominations, as a first-timer. So, to receive five was incredible,” says Gallant, who is up for entertainer of the year, new artist of the year, roots/contemporary recording of the year, solo recording of the year and song of the year for Where You Come From.
Although a newcomer to Credit Union Music P.E.I. Week, he has been performing for 20 years.
“I honed my craft while I worked a full-time job as a paramedic," he said during a recent phone interview. "I got into songwriting a couple of years ago.”
Then something wonderful happened. Gallant’s rich vocals helped him receive national attention when he won the 2019 CCMA National Spotlight.
“Being from the smallest province and winning the competition was a confidence booster because it was all vote-based.”
If you are going
- What: 2020 Credit Union Music P.E.I. Week
- When and where: Feb. 5-9, at venues in Charlottetown and Summerside
- For a complete listing, click here.
The honour led to a performance at the Legends Show in Hamilton, Ont., for Canadian Country Music Week, sharing the stage with Chad Brownlee, Terri Clark, Aaron Goodvin, Charlie Major, Jason McCoy, JJ Shiplett, Patricia Conroy and Michelle Wright.
“It was a turning point for me. The contacts and the opportunities I’ve made have been amazing. It really received started the ball rolling.”
Now, as he looks forward to performing in the Festival Finale on Sunday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m., he’s pumped. That night he will join Irish Mythen, Gordie MacKeeman & his Rhythm Boys, Paper Lions and Sorrey on the stage of the Florence Simmons Performance Hall in Charlottetown.
“We’re on first and being able to play the songs that we’re so proud of that we made last year and toured in the U.S. and Canada is exciting.”
He’s also excited about socializing with other singer-songwriters.
“This is my first Music P.E.I. Awards and I’m looking forward to connecting with people down there.”
