For MusicNL members, awards week is about making art — and connections
Annual Music Celebration Week kicked off Wednesday and builds to Saturday's awards gala
For MusicNL's annual celebration of the province's musical artists and industry professionals, the days of performances and mentorship leading up to Saturday's awards are just as important as the gala itself.
MusicNL CEO Rhonda Tulk-Lane says the 31st annual Music Celebration week is about "patting the backs" of people in the industry — from the musicians to the behind-the-scenes sound technicians — for their work throughout the year and lifting their careers with conferences, one-on-one meetings with experts, and awards they can add to their resumés.
"I think we are one of the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic and probably the last to bounce back to where it was before," Tulk-Lane said. "We are so blessed to have an abundance of talent, so while we have our challenges, there is also a lot going for us."
The week's highlight is Saturday night's gala, where awards will be handed out to nominees in 32 categories.
One of them is Corner Brook musician Louise Gauthier, who is nominated for francophone artist of the year.
Gauthier said she's looking forward to the opportunities to make connections, including one-on-one mentorship with Darryl Hurs, marketing manager of music distributor CD Baby Canada, who works with musicians to advance their careers.
"I'm trying to find out where I am right now and what the next steps are that are really important for me to take," Gauthier said.
"Especially for someone like me who is in her 50s and coming to this later in my life, there is a lot of technology involved, like social media, so I have a lot to learn. I'm doing the best that I can, but I really appreciate the support that's here this week for that."
Another artist in line for the mentorship is Selina Boland, a nominee for alternative artist of the year.
Boland said she attends Music Celebration Week every year to connect with people in the industry and learn as much as she can for her career.
"We wouldn't necessarily have gotten that opportunity otherwise," Boland said. "It's always been a learning experience every time I come."
Hurs was fully booked for meetings with musicians on Wednesday that took place at the Emera Innovation Exchange on Memorial University's St. John's campus, offering 15 minutes of advice on topics including copyrights, recording and promotion.
"We are in a time when the music industry is really tough for young artists because the world out there, the options, are overwhelming to navigate. So we are here to provide advice," he said. He also benefits from the event, he said, because he gets to network with a lot of talented people.
Music Celebration Week also features performances every day around St. John's, attended by music buyers searching for artists to book shows and projects with.
Gauthier was scheduled to perform Wednesday night at the Rock House, and Boland is set to perform Friday at the Ship.
"I don't feel like I'm in competition with other musicians," Boland said.
"I feel like we are all in this together and we are just here to support each other and collaborate even. I'm looking forward to checking out all the musicians and hearing everybody play. I'm going to try to attend as many shows as possible."
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