Fans just wanna know!
We asked some of the performers who will be heading to Saskatoon for JUNO Week a few questions about their inspirations, ambitions and musical backgrounds. Their answers are revealing!
LENNON STELLA
Performer on The 2020 JUNO Awards Broadcast on Sunday March 15 at Sasktel Centre Nominated for:
Single of the Year – La Di Da Breakthrough Artist of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters)
Q: Millions of fans watched you grow up on TV and on social media. Now, at age 20, you’ve made the transition to rising pop star. Who in your life keeps you authentic and grounded?
A: I really think it’s so important the people you surround yourself with and who you choose to keep around, so I hang around authentic and genuine people that will keep me in line. Also, my family is extremely grounded and it would be impossible for me to be anything but grounded because of them and how I was raised.
Q: What musical styles do you want to explore?
A: I’m very inspired by a lot of different genres from different eras. I take it all and try to piece it all together into my music. Ultimately I want to live the world of indie-pop with timeless songs. I think that my music can be characterized however it wants. I’m going to make music I love and wherever it lands I’m OK with.
HUNTER BROTHERS
Performing at the JUNO Kick-off Concert Presented by CBC Sports on Thursday, March 12 at Coors Event Centre and lacing up to play JUNO Cup Presented by CBC Sports on Friday, March 12 at Merlis Belsher Place Nominated for:
Breakthrough Group of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters), Country Album of the Year - State of Mind
Q: Growing up, the Hunter brothers were avid hockey players and had a passion for farming. At the same time, all five of you took piano lessons, completing Grade 8 Royal Conservatory standing. How did your parents keep you motivated to stick with piano lessons and how have you benefited from that music education?
A: Growing up, mom and dad had an agreement. Mom put us in piano lessons, and dad put us in hockey. We weren’t allowed to go out and play hockey until our piano was practiced. They wanted us to be active, but really felt the importance of music being a part of our lives. Two brothers would practice before school, and then the others would practice after, and at one time, mom and dad were travelling with 7 different hockey teams during the same season. They put a premium on time usage, and really made an investment at an early age and encouraged us to stick with it. We are very grateful for that today.
CELEIGH CARDINAL
Nominated for:
Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year (Presented by APTN) – Stories from a Downtown Apartment, Celeigh Cardinal
Q: Your new album, Stories from a Downtown Apartment, is autobiographical. Is there one lifeinspired song that really stands out?
A: Ooooh, this is a tough one. There are many life shaping moments written into this album. But I would say the song that hits me hard every time is ‘Loving is Letting Go’.
I wrote the song at the end of a relationship, when I realized I would never be able to give my partner the things he wanted, and the most loving thing I could do for him was to let him go, to find what he needed. It was hard because I still loved him dearly, but it was the right thing to do. In the second verse I speak about how it would be loving of myself to let go of the shame and hurt that had seemed to always be looming over me like a dark cloud and immobilizing me.
The song is about making tough choices out of love. Be it love for yourself, or love of others. A tear jerker for me, every time.
THE SHEEPDOGS
Headlining the JUNO Kick-off Concert Presented by CBC Sports on Thursday, March 12 at Coors Event Centre
Q: Who’s on your playlist right now?
A: We made a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young mega mix that has stuff from CSN, CSNY, their solo albums, their duo albums, as well as Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds that they wrote. It’s awesome, it’s like six hours long.
Q: What is your dream gig?
A: Any show where the sound is good onstage and the audience is enthusiastic can be a dream gig, it doesn’t really matter to me where it is.