CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Rachel Beck received an unexpected birthday gift on Monday.
The P.E.I. singer-songwriter was sitting in a café in Ottawa, enjoying a day off, when a text from a P.E.I. friend landed in her inbox.
It was from Melanie Mills wishing her happy birthday and congratulating her on receiving eight Music P.E.I. nominations.
“To say I was shocked is an understatement. What a surprise,” says Beck, who is currently touring in Ontario.
As she sipped her coffee, she thought about all the things that had happened since she made the decision to break away from the Beck Sisters and become a solo artist.
“I’ve been working hard, touring coast to coast, since the record came out last spring. I feel so driven to pursue this path and I’m grateful to have an opportunity to do so,” says Beck, who received nods for album of the year, entertainer, new artist, pop, SOCAN songwriter, solo, song and video of the year.
She also recognizes that she’s in fine company.
“I am honoured to be included in this list of nominees with so many artists and industry professionals I respect and admire.”
The lead singer in Jenni & The Hummingbird was in the kitchen when her mother called her with the news that her album, “Your Masterpiece”, had received six nominations.
“I’m feeling grateful,” says Jenni Roberge, who received nods for album, new artist, pop, solo, song and video of the year.
That’s because of the challenges she faced in developing “Your Masterpiece”.
“It was a true battle of self-confidence. I wasn’t really known in the music scene here and was about to release a dramatic, very personal compilation of music to the world.”
During the creative process, Roberge became fearful of what others might think; whether her style of music would be accepted or what might happen if her family read into some of the songs and saw her as someone who is in pain.
“However, I’ve learned that this album is a beautiful tribute to the shy, strange little girl who had a lot to say.”
Roberge also realized that even though she’s in pain, so are many others.
“We are all growing in this infinite journey of life and have the ability to turn our painful experiences into something beautiful.”
Meaghan Blanchard was cooking supper at her country home in O’Leary when she found out about her six Music P.E.I. nominations.
“It completely made my day. It’s such a good feeling to have your art acknowledged by your community and it’s a kindness that doesn’t go unnoticed,” says Blanchard, who received nods for album, roots contemporary, songwriter, solo, song and video of the year.
“ ‘The Great Escape’ ” was such an incredibly personal and important leap of faith in my art for me. So, to know folks are enjoying a piece of me, that is very vulnerable and to the bone feels good.”
P.E.I. singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant also feels good about receiving four nominations for “Time Travel”.
“A lot of people put their hearts into it. So, it’s great to have the album recognized. I’m very proud of this album and the Islanders who are part of it,” says Gallant, acknowledging the work of producer Dan Ledwell and the Atlantic String Machine, as well as musicians Jeremy Gallant, Patricia Richard, Sean Kemp, Chris Corrigan, Rose Cousins and Jenn Gallant.
So, does Andrew Waite, who received four nods, including Credit Union album of the year, Bandzoogle digital achievement of the year, solo and rock/loud recording of the year.
“I’m thrilled, really excited to receive the nominations. They mean a lot to us. Receiving this recognition is an important part in an artist’s career.”
The hardware will be awarded during Credit Union Music P.E.I. Week. Festivities kick off Jan. 23 and run until Jan. 27 when the closing concert at the Florence Simmons Performance Hall in Charlottetown will feature the top nominees.
Music P.E.I. Awards nominees:
Achievement in classical or jazz music award
Always on Stage
Atlantic String Machine
Grahame Rhodes
Island Jazz
PEI Symphony Orchestra
Credit Union album of the year
Andrew Waite - Tremors
Dylan Menzie - As The Clock Rewinds
Jenni & The Hummingbird - Your Masterpiece
Lennie Gallant - Time Travel
Meaghan Blanchard - The Great Escape
Rachel Beck - Rachel Beck
Vishtèn - Horizons
Country recording of the year
Emerald Junction - Kickin' It
Kelley Mooney - Caroling
Lawrence Maxwell - Not Your Outlaw
Neil Matthews Family Tribute Band - Beautiful Island, a Tribute to Neil Matthews
Cover band/artist of the year
Cöpy Cät
Danny Drouin
Ryan & Emily
Bandzoogle digital achievement of the year
Andrew Waite
KINLEY
The East Pointers
Electronic single recording of the year
Eric Broadbent - It Is What It Is
Lonely Kid - You Could Be My Queen
Russell Louder - Showdown
Entertainer of the year
The East Pointers
Lennie Gallant
Rachel Beck
Richard Wood
Vishtèn
Event of the year
Play the Park
Cloggeroo Folk Festival
Island Jazz
PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls
Francophone artist of the year
Adrienne Gallant
Arsenault Trio
Fayo
Vishtèn
Group recording of the year
Death Valley Driver - Wolf Crown
Get Well Pharmacy - Story of a House Fire
Little Cities - Friends Floors
Rick Sparkes + The Enablers - The Trouble with the Light
Vishtèn - Horizons
Live music programmer of the year
Jamie Crawford
Cynthia MacLeod
Danielle Rochon and Kathleen Flanagan
Dan Rowswell
Pat Deighan
Arsenault, Best, Cameron, Ellis musician of the year
Danny Drouin
Evan McCosham
Gordon Belsher
Josh Langille
Todd MacLean
Holland College/Lloyd Doyle new artist of the year
Jenni & The Hummingbird- Your Masterpiece
Little Cities- Friends Floors
Rachel Beck- Rachel Beck
Russell Louder- Showdown
Vince The Messenger- Self Sabotage
Downtown Charlottetown Inc. pop recording of the year
Jenni & The Hummingbird - Your Masterpiece
Little Cities - Friends Floors
Rachel Beck - Rachel Beck
Producer of the year
Danny Drouin
David Rashed
Gordon Belsher
Jon Matthews
Lonely Kid
Recording studio of the year
Studio at the Guild
Guernsey Cove Parlour Productions
The Sound Mill Recording Studio
Rock/loud recording of the year
Andrew Waite - Tremors
Aron Scott Earthquake - RAGER
Death Valley Driver - Wolf Crown
Dennis Ellsworth - Things Change
Rick Sparkes and the Enablers - The Trouble with the Light
Will Allen - Painted Your Picture
Roots contemporary recording of the year
Dylan Menzie - As The Clock Rewinds
Get Well Pharmacy - Story of a House Fire
Lennie Gallant - Time Travel
Meaghan Blanchard - The Great Escape
Todd MacLean - Long John June
Roots traditional recording of the year
Cailyn MacAulay - Fortune Favors the Bow
Richard Wood - Unbroken
Vishtèn - Horizons
SOCAN songwriter of the year
Dennis Ellsworth- She’s Never Wrong
Dylan Menzie/Mark Skinner- You Could Be My Queen
Lennie Gallant- Sequoia
Meaghan Blanchard- When You’re Gone
Rachel Beck- When You Left
Solo recording of the year
Andrew Waite - Tremors
Dylan Menzie - As The Clock Rewinds
Jenni & The Hummingbird- Your Masterpiece
Meaghan Blanchard - The Great Escape
Rachel Beck- Rachel Beck
Song of the year
Dennis Ellsworth - She’s Never Wrong
Get Well Pharmacy - Story of a House Fire
Jenni & The Hummingbird - Am I odd
Meaghan Blanchard - When You’re Gone
Rachel Beck - Reckless Heart
Fly PEI touring artist of the year
Richard Wood
The East Pointers
Vishtèn
Urban recording of the year
BT Flow - The Worst
Cavy & SkitSipSlow - Bon Voyage
Eric Broadbent - Eric Broadbent
Vince The Messenger - Self Sabotage
SOCAN Venue of the year
Baba's Lounge
The Mack
Trailside Music Cafe' & Inn
Video of the year
The East Pointers- Two Weeks (Director - Jenna MacMillan)
Jenni & The Hummingbird- Am I Odd (Director - Millefiore Clarkes)
KINLEY- Golden Days (Director - Jenna MacMillan)
Meaghan Blanchard- The Great Escape (Director - Millefiore Clarkes)
Rachel Beck- Hearts on Fire (Director - Jenna MacMillan)
Visual artist of the year
Ali McNeill
Brendan Henry
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