Local country music star Jordyn Pollard is up for three awards at the upcoming Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards, to be held at the Vic Juba Community Theatre on June 22. File Photo
Local country singer Jordyn Pollard is a small-town girl at heart with big-city dreams who has been nominated for three Saskatchewan Country Music Association (SCMA) Awards.
The 22-year-old, who lives on a farm in Hillmond, Sask., and calls Lloydminster home, bounced over the moon when she learned this year’s SCMA awards are being held at the Vic Juba Community Theatre on June 22.
“I was super excited, one, because I get to save money on gas and hotels,” said Pollard.
“That’s always a bonus and also, to introduce my hometown crowd to all of my country music friends and what Saskatchewan country music has to offer, is really exciting.”
Pollard is up for Female Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Record Producer of the Year with producer Bart McKay on her team.
“Even to be nominated to be up with some of my greatest friends and allies in the music industry is really cool,” she said.
“I think we have some great female talent in Saskatchewan including Katelyn Lehner, Jesse Moskaluke and Shantaia; it’s a great demographic for sure.”
Pollard is thrilled to be up for video of the year for her hit single Upside of Being Down made with Lloydminster production talent.
She also credits the musical theatre lessons she took from teacher Simon Stang when she went to Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, as well as from Kathryn Edwards at the Vic Juba for helping her to act roles in videos.
Upside of Being Down was filmed at the home of Jason Whiting and directed by Kim Caparal from Narra Studios with Maz Entertainment providing the lighting.
“It’s really cool they were all able to be a part of it,” said Pollard, who gains a lot of her inspiration for writing songs from living in a small rural community.
“The sense of community is really important to me and helping other people and I think I learned that from having a farming family and seeing how we all worked together to help one another out,” she said.
“I really love to bring that into my music career as well.”
“It helps with the idea of humility and staying humble and remembering where you came from—some festivals and little cabarets in local Saskatchewan and Alberta to going into bigger stages like at award shows and the Big Valley Jamboree and things like that.”
Pollard hopes that continuing to write and release songs that are true to her will land her at the Canadian Country Music Awards.
“That’s my next goal,” she said.
Pollard has about eight or nine songs to her credit so far and plans to head into the SCMA’s with the release of a new single and a potentially bigger project.
“I can’t say too much about that, but I hope people can follow along on my social media and keep up with that. We’ll be releasing that information very soon,” she said.
Pollard is also looking forward to booking a school tour in the fall to motivate youth to express their creativity and strive to be all that they can be.
“I know it’s really hard to see the big picture in a small town. It is possible to reach out and make those dreams come true, whether it’s in the arts or becoming an astronaut,” she said.
Growing up Pollard was in awe of seeing Hillmond neighbour Wade Redden, who is her dad’s first cousin, realize his dream of playing in the NHL for nearly 17 years.
“He’s always been good friends with Mike Fisher (former NHL-er) so I feel that’s my connection to Carrie Underwood (U.S. country star) right there,” said Pollard.
Here in Lloyd, Pollard thinks there are some great musicians in town and some great local venues aside from the Vic Juba like The Sticks, Cheers Live and Three Trees.
“I love going to play at Three Trees,” Pollard said, noting owner Jim Spenrath “has created a great little community of locals” that like to support and come out that frequent the place.
“That’s probably one of my favourite spots in town for sure, 4th Meridian as well.”
