Young songwriter semifinalist in contest.
Riverview student semifinalist in international song contest
SYDNEY — Cruz Wilson was working at the Membertou Tim Hortons when the inspiration for one of his songs came from the drive-thru window.
“I asked somebody how they were doing and they said ‘not too good buddy. I just lost my job,’” said Sydney resident Wilson, 17, a Grade 12 student at Riverview High School and a semifinalist in the international Rootstech song contest.
“That really struck me. This was during (COVID-19) quarantine. I said, ‘I’m really sorry to hear that, how are you making out?’ And he said ‘it’s tough, especially when trying to support a family but I’m getting by and I can’t wait for this to be over.’”
That moment at the drivethru inspired Wilson to write “Getting By,” a song about someone losing their job during the pandemic and how they cope so they can get through the experience. In addition to writing the words and music, he arranged, sang and played all the instruments on the recording.
Wilson has been involved with music since he was a five-year-old learning the piano.
“Ever since then I’ve been really obsessed with music,” said Wilson. “I’ve been learning how to play different instruments. I know piano, drums, guitar and I even learned the accordion over quarantine.”
He’s also a budding songwriter so when his mother Renee Wilson noticed the contest looking for participants on Facebook, he decided to enter.
“I entered thinking why not? I wasn’t expecting much from it,” he admits, adding he’s since been overwhelmed by people congratulating him for becoming one of 25 semifinalists from among 1,500 applicants.
The contest is sponsored by Kwai, a musical instrument company and prizes include instruments and headphones for each of the different catagories.
If you want to vote for Wilson, go to https://rootstechsongcontest.org/gettingby-2/ to hear and vote for the song. Public voting ends Thursday and Wilson would like as many people as possible to show their support.
While he’s hopeful the song will do well in the contest, he’s also hopeful everything has worked out for the man who shared his story at the drive-thru those months ago.
“I’d like to thank the man who inspired me to write this song.”