Prince Albert musician LJ Tyson (LJ Tyson/Facebook)

By Derek Craddock

SASKATCHEWAN MUSIC AWARDS

P.A. artists honoured to be nominated for Sask. Music Awards

Oct 27, 2022 | 5:00 PM

It is news some local musicians couldn’t believe when they heard it.

Several Prince Albert and area artists are being recognized with nominations for this year’s Saskatchewan Music Awards.

Among them is long-time musician Donny Parenteau who is up for not one, but three honours: Country Artist of the Year, Indigenous Artist of the Year and Producer of the Year.

“I was totally floored, surprised, overwhelmed,” he said, “To receive one nomination is really rewarding but to receive three is really cool.”

For Parenteau, he said the nominations are a testament to the work he’s done to create music despite the last couple of years being hard for musicians because of COVID-19.

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“Still releasing songs to radio, not giving up on what I do for a living and just rolling over and saying I’m done. This just made me work even harder. That’s what I did during COVID and that’s why I kept releasing music. Just being nominated is a reward enough for me.”

Another Prince Albert artist being recognized is LJ Tyson, who is up for Indigenous Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Home On A Rainbow”.

“This is the first time I’ve been nominated for a Sask. Music Award, it’s a cool feeling,” he said, adding it’s more of an honour to be recognized as an Indigenous artist and a member of the LGBTQ community.

“A lot of the time, it kind of just feels like we’re screaming into a void and you don’t really know what’s catching and if people are paying attention. It makes us feel seen and heard and me being a part of those two minority groups, it means a lot to be nominated for an award show like this.”

Another local artist nominated is multi-instrumentalist Patrick Moon Bird, who is up for Electronic Artist of the Year, Indigenous Artist of The Year, and Album of the Year for “Going Through the Motions.”

“Absolutely amazing to be honest, I’ve always looked up to these people that I’m grouped with and to be at the level where they’re at is mind-blowing,” he said.

Crooked Foot (aka BFA Beats) was also nominated for Instrumental Artist of the Year.

Aside from being honoured for their music, these artists say they’re also proud to represent the City of Prince Albert, which they call home.

“I’m super grateful that throughout the years the community city has had my back and always celebrated my wind with me,” said Tyson. “I keep P.A. really close to my heart when I’m being acknowledged in ways like this.”

“I’ve always been proud of the area that I’m from. It just gives me great pride anytime that I’m nominated for anything, especially to say I’m from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and I always will,” added Parenteau.

The 2022 Saskatchewan Music Awards return to in-person celebrations after two years of virtual shows, at the Darke Hall in Regina on Dec. 11.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock