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What's the Deal with Canadian Country Music?!?


Anderton

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As some of you know, I do a lot of mastering. Lately, I've been getting a run of really good country music out of Canada. I always knew that there was some kind of Canadian country scene, but never really thought about it until these tunes showed up, from a variety of different artists.

 

Tell me more - is there an "epicenter" of country music, like Nashville? Is it a huge musical force, or does it take a back seat to rock? Do country bands tour a lot up there?

 

In other words...what's the deal with Canadian country music? Educate me!

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As a country artist in Nashville, I've run in to quite a few Canadians who are either passing through or living in the city.The going consensus on Canadians here is that the Nashville machine doesn't give any credit to anything a Canadian band or artist has accomplished in Canada. 'Oh! You were nominated for songwriter of the year at the Canadian CMA's?.. We don't care.'

 

They all start back at square one when making any attempts to create a presence here in Nashville. In fact, it almost seems to be a disadvantage if you're Canadian. As if the industry is saying, 'How dare you come down here and try to make our AMERICAN music!'

 

At any rate, the few that I do know who are making a living as professional Canadian country musicians are doing just that: making a living. They are not becoming fabulously wealthy and the players are not performing in front of thousands each night. The hired guns play in small- ish clubs backing (mostly) unknown bands. Where, if they were here in Nashville, they'd be playing with much more well known artists in front of larger crowds and likely making more money.

 

This is not all concrete fact, just what I've gathered thus far.

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Canada is as culturally diverse as the USA, and reflects different music styles as a result. There's Canadian hip hop, Canadian trance, Canadian metal and yes, Canadian country. Keep in mind that places like Calgary are as famous for agriculture, oil, and cattle, giving it a lot in common with Texas. It shouldn't surprise you at all that there a country music scene there.

 

Actually, nowadays, with the decentralization of EVERYTHING in life due to electronic communications, you shouldn't expect any one territory to be tied with any genre of music anymore. There's plenty of hard rock coming out of Nashville now, and hip hop in Iowa, and so on.

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Keep in mind that places like Calgary are as famous for agriculture, oil, and cattle, giving it a lot in common with Texas. It shouldn't surprise you at all that there a country music scene there.

 

 

^this^ The whole central plains area of Canada is a country music hotbed.

Canadian country seems to "sound" more on the traditional side, with a heavier western influence.

There are so many good Canadian artists, unlike the autotuned countrybots that Nashville churns out.

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Just last night a pal turned me on to a country/roots flavored artist named Basia Bulat. (Apparently, in Canada, you don't have to have a dixiefied name to play country music.) I haven't heard a lot of her stuff yet, but what I've heard is pretty nice, very low key, intimate, using different acoustic instruments. Her voice reminds me a bit of Sylvia Tyson -- although she keeps her vibrato a bit more tame. A nice antidote to the plastic, tuned-up product out of Nashville.

 

(I liked the irony in maybe_ebyam's use of American. I'm glad he gets it. Sadly, I imagine a lot of shiny suits in Nashville don't. ;) )

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