Cape Breton songwriter ‘Getting By’
Wilson makes it to finals in songwriting contest
SYDNEY — A young singersongwriter who received inspiration at the drive-thru window has made it to the finals of an international song contest.
Cruz Wilson, 17, was working at the Membertou Tim Hortons last spring when he asked a customer at the drive-thru window how they were doing. He listened as the person told him they had just lost their job and with a family to support, they were having some tough times. Yet, despite it all, they were still getting by.
It inspired Wilson to write the song, “Getting By,” about how someone copes with that experience. He entered it into the international Rootstech song contest, sponsored by Kwai, a musical instrument company. He was chosen as one of 25 semifinalists from among 1,500 applicants and voters have now chosen him as one of four finalists in the youth division.
“I just got the email on Friday that I made it to the finals, top four,” said Wilson, a Grade 12 student at Riverview High School in Coxheath. “The final results are going to be up on Feb. 26 and it’s going to be the judges decision on who wins the competition but there is also a people’s choice award which will be decided by the attendees of the livestream.”
The song can be heard at https://rootstechsongcontest.org/getting-by-2/.
While Wilson is still deciding his future career plans, he said he’ll always be involved in music no matter what.
“I’d like to thank everyone who shared and voted for my song, I couldn’t of gotten where I did without the help and support from everyone around the island.”