10K20 Article - Kim Fontaine

SASKATOON LIFESTYLES JAN/2007 single pages
1/15/07
2:42 PM
Page 13
10K20
If someone gave
you $10,000 to
record an album...
what would you do?
The ever expanding music scene in Saskatchewan was
given a unique opportunity this past year in the form of the
10K20 project. The idea came from a contest that Rawlco
Radio ran in Edmonton. They had such a tremendous
response that they thought the idea would go well as a
provincial idea in Saskatchewan. The project gave grants of
$10,000 each to 29 applicants. Neil Meckelborg, of Rawlco,
says that of the 29 out of 250 applicants chosen, the main
criteria was that you had to show that you were an artist
ready and capable of doing an album.
“The artist had to be able to show that they were at
the point in their career that they would benefit from the
substantial financial support to help them move forward in
their goals.” He goes on to add that most applicants chosen
had recording experience, however it was not a requirement, “It’s harder to show your career moving forward
without having some kind of recordings done already, that
was why a lot of the artists have had previous recordings.”
Meckelborg speaks passionately about the participants and the project, “Every one of the participants
has really stretched themselves on this project. It's
Skavenjah
Since 1992, the unique
sound of Ska in Saskatchewan
has been brought to you by the
band Skavenjah. Having just
recorded their fifth full length
album, the band has secured their
place in the dirty, funky soul category of music. Having toured
nationally for fifteen years, the
band has started to branch out
and have acquired a Euro agent
and are currently working on a
UK tour as well. Chad Guy, lead
vocalist of the band, says that the
money attained from the 10K20
project allowed the band to
spend more on the album, “The
money simply allowed us to
spend more time mixing our
record...so we didn’t have to settle on sounds that we weren’t
happy with.” Unlike many starving bands, Skavenjah, would
have pursued this album even without the grant, “Cash is
always appreciated, but our album would have come out anyway... it allowed us to spend more time mixing the record. The
pressure was off the get things done in a certain time frame in
the studio, we had the funds to mix our record properly.”
Although the members of the band range in age from 28-
by Jay Edwards
great to see the creativity of some of these people
being allowed to flourish moreso than they have been
able to on previous records. (because of financial freedom). Many artists release a great album and don’t
have the financial resources to follow it up until now.
10K20 has really turned out some top quality records
that probably wouldn't have turned out as well, or not
released at all without it.”
Rawlco is devoted to playing something from all of
the albums, adding to the increasing level of local music
picked up by the stations. Although no plans have be set in
stone, hope still lingers for the continuation of the 10K20
project.
Over the next few issues, Saskatoon Lifestyles will be
highlighting the 10K20 artists.
43, their goal is one in the
same, to make the music they
love for the people who love
it. Most of the band members
make a living from the music
scene, however, of the seven
musicians, one is a teacher and
another an ironworker. The
band says that the main influence from the prairies is the
perspective it adds, both culturally
and
creatively.
Skavenjah sees no need to
move to Canada’s more well
known music centres, like
Toronto
or
Vancouver,
because they tour those places
anyway. Regarding 10K20,
the band feels that, “If you
have the opportunity, take full
advantage of it and properly
market your final product.
There is no use in recording an
album if you don’t have the distribution and a marketing plan
to actually sell it.”
With a unique sound, the music of Skavenjah speaks for
itself. Having a program like 10K20, assisting your goal, and a
company like Rawlco putting your name out there, doesn’t hurt
either.
www.skavenjah.com
Saskatoon LifeStyle
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SASKATOON LIFESTYLES JAN/2007 single pages
1/15/07
2:42 PM
One Bad Son
Having formed just two years ago in Saskatoon, One Bad Son
has already made its mark on the alternative rock music scene in
Saskatchewan. Although its members have been making music in
a variety of other local acts, they have managed to release two
albums, the first under the indie label Versailles Records based out
of Nashville. Kurt Dahl, drummer for the band says that the 10K20
project allowed the band to “Take our songs to the next level, as far
Kim
Fontaine
“I started when I was a teen and I
still love it. Can’t get it out of my system.” Words of truth from the veteran
artist, Kim Fontaine. For over 20 years,
Fontaine has been making music and
teaching others about it. Given funding
from the 10K20 project, Kim says that it
gave her what she needed to do it right,
“I was able to hire a talented group of
people to work on the album. David J
Taylor produced it, played guitar, piano,
and sang background vocals. Jay Semko
(of the Northern Pikes), played bass and
sang. Lou Fontaine (my cousin) played
drums with Blair Finley and Steve Dodd
on guitars. Ross Nykiforuk played hammond and accordian.” The grant also
allowed Kim to stay at home here in
Saskatoon while recording her new
album, “It was recorded at Audio Artadditional tracks were recorded at
Cosmic Pad Studio (both in Saskatoon).
It was engineered by Neil Meckelborg,
and mastered by David J Taylor and Ross
Nykiforuk. It was mixed by David J
Taylor and Neil Meckelborg.” Fontaine
goes on to say, “ I couldn’t have pulled a
team like this together without the
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Saskatoon LifeStyle
Page 14
as approaching big rock radio stations, across Canada.”
Although the guys in One Bad Son do have other sources
of income, music has become the sole focus for the future as
Dahl says, “I’ve put my legal career on hold because I believe
so much in this band. We are all the same in our commitment
to OBS: our lives all have one purpose at this point, that is
making this band our livelihood for years to come.”
The band does not see the need to flee the prairies any time
soon, “We love this city and everything it has to offer, and the
Internet allows us to get out music out there a lot easier than
bands could have even 10 year ago. Plus, our current living
conditions as a band have been quite fertile in terms of creativity, so finding a place like this in Van(couver) or T.O. is unlikely. That being said, if things take off huge with the band, a relocation may be what is best for the band’s fortunes. Que sera,
sera.”
Dahl strongly suggests that if Rawlco does offer the
10K20 program that people should really take advantage of the
rare opportunity, “Initiatives like this do nothing but good for
the local music scene, and encourage bands to take their music
and their career to the next level. It helps put bands on par with
bands in bigger cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto,
especially when the music “scene” on the prairies is often
overlooked in lieu of the aforementioned buzz cities.”
www.onebadson.com
www.myspace.com/onebadson
10K20 funding. The album cost more
that the 10K, but I would have been
scrimping and saving had it not been
for their support.”
“I love performing but I'm past the
point where I would want to be on the
road 24/7,” the folksy artist confesses,
“I'd love to pass my songs on to other
artists to see where they take them, and
get my music placed in more television/film projects. If we had more
places to play - especially in rural
Saskatchewan, there would be no reason to ever leave.”
“I think 10K20 is great for the
province and I really hope Rawlco
keeps doing it. We all talk about how
young people are leaving to look for
opportunities elsewhere. But here's the
thing - young people are not only looking for good paying jobs - they're also
looking for entertainment - things to
do, places to go - a night life. A vibrant
music industry with lots going on will
attract young people to the province.
Things like 10K20 enable artists to create, produce and promote their music which has a rippling effect that benefits
everyone in the community.’
www.kimfontaine.ca