Musicians discuss the albums that got them nominated as the national folk awards hit St. John's
Nathan Smith, left, is part of the band Vinta, which is nominated for two awards for their album Beacons. Hannah Shira Naiman is nominated for Traditional Singer of the Year for her album The Wheels Won't Go. (Sarah Blackmore/CBC)
Musicians from across the country are taking their instruments and voices to stages in St. John's for the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
The awards began on Wednesday and will conclude over the weekend with two nights at The Majestic Theatre, where the award winners will be announced. But before the awards are handed out, musicians will collaborate and perform throughout the week.
For many of the musicians, the awards brought them to the island for the first time.
Hannah Shira Naiman is from Ontario, and she is nominated for the Traditional Singer of the Year award for her album The Wheels Won't Go.
"The songs on the album were written just after my daughter was born," she said.
Naiman wrote the album during a time of many changes: moving from the heart of Toronto, where she was surrounded by a large traditional music community, to North Bay to be with her partner, far from the music scene, all while transitioning into the role of a new mom under the cloud of the pandemic.
"A lot of the songs are sort of me processing, sort of, the loss of that life and the beginning of another one."
She arrived on the island on foggy night and she said she is looking forward to seeing the city and performing with other musicians.
One of those musicians is Nathan Smith, who is no stranger to the province, having hitchhiked back and forth across it ten years ago.
Smith is part of the band Vinta, which is nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year and Instrumental Composer of the Year for their album Beacons.
"It's a collection of original repertoire for western European social dancing — so, fiddle music from western Europe, that is original compositions and also sort of features are some sort of unique group arrangements," he said.
Different in nature from Irish fiddle music, he said the roots of this music come from France and Sweden, which are gaining popularity with Canadian ears.
Fred Pauze and Marie-Ève Laure are performing together during this year's award events. Laure is nominated for French Songwriter of the Year for her album Reviens. (Sarah Blackmore/CBC)
From one island to another
Marie-Ève Laure is visiting the island for the second time. She is nominated for French Songwriter of the Year for her album Reviens.
Although this isn't her first time being nominated for an award, she said it feels like the first time. She received the award in the same category in 2021, but accepted it through a screen due to COVID lockdowns.
"I couldn't live the true experience to meet the other artists and to perform in showcase during the event." Laure said.
She lives in the Magdalen Islands, Quebec, and said her home was her inspiration.
"That's my main inspiration, to write about the territory, what's all around me every day: the sea, the horizon, the people in the community. We are so close."
Laure's partner, Fred Pauze, also made the trip and says he not only plays the bass when she performs but also acts as the "chauffeur, the tech, the roadie and the moral support."
This is the first time Pauze is on the island and Laure said she is excited to show him around the location she visited last summer.
"It's always a pleasure to visit a place with music," she adds.
"I think it's the most magical aspect of my of our of our career. Those magical moments with other artists. It is so important to put the light on folk music from all over the country, and so I'm grateful to be a part of this big event."
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