Why is this mouse smiling?
Deadmau5, Sexsmith, Hicks, Shub up for Junos.
Juno nominations have become old hat for Niagara-born Ron Sexsmith and Joel Zimmerman (Deadmau5). But St. Catharines country singer Tim Hicks says he was “almost moved to tears” to get his first two nominations Tuesday morning.
Hicks was in Nashville when he got word he was up for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be recognized like this on the national level,” says the multi-Niagara Music Awards winner. “I’m really quite freaked out by it, actually.
“The last 14 months have been an unbelievable ride between the birth of my second child, four radio hits, a successful headlining tour, a CCMA nomination and mainstage performance, and now this.”
Hicks, 34, was a latecomer to music and originally played in rock bands. But something clicked when he donned a cowboy hat and went the country route. He won Niagara Music Awards for best male vocalist in 2009 and best country artist in 2011.
At the Junos, Hicks is up against Brett Kissel, Florence K, Tyler Shaw and Wake Owl for Breakthrough Artist, and Small Town Pistols, Gord Bamford, Dean Brody and Kissel again for Country Album.
“Being nominated for a Juno
It’s an unbelievable feeling to be recognized like this on the national
level.”
Tim Hicks
Award (or two) is a big deal for any Canadian artist and it’s certainly a moment I’ve dreamt about many times,” said Hicks when contacted Tuesday. “I can’t even believe this is all happening.”
Meanwhile, Niagara Falls-born EDM star Zimmerman can add to his Juno haul with another nomination for Dance Recording of the Year – an award he has won four times. He’s up for his 2012 disc >album title goes here<, and up against Mia Martina, Jacynthe, DVBBS & Borgeous and Armin van Buurenn & Trevor Guthrie.
“Just lets me know I’m still workin’, ” cracked Zimmerman when contacted Tuesday.
He seemed more excited for Hicks, a former schoolmate.
“He was Captain Music, I remember that,” he says. “I have a demo of his from like 1998.”
St. Catharines- born Ron Sexsmith, a 20-year staple at the Juno Awards, nabbed two more nominations Tuesday for Songwriter of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
Also nominated was Fort Erie DJ Dan Shub and his trio A Tribe Called Red for Breakthrough Group of the Year and Electronic Album of the Year.
The Juno Awards will be held March 30 in Winnipeg.