Friday April 2nd, 2021

One of Canada’s best R&B recording artist, Juno award winner JRDN https://www.facebook.com/jrdnonline has released a new and very personal album about his life journey.  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media  rudyblairmedia.com  speaks with JRDN about how and where his journey has taken him, how he has grown over the years, his new life as a father, how his music has evolved, taking part in the collaboration single/video about gun violence ‘Wish I Could’ https://tinyurl.com/wz52t7ze   along with Dub J, Maestro Fresh Wes, JD Era, Bizz Loc, Turk, Roney, Jelleestone, how Juno award winner rapper/producer ‘Classified’ got involved withnhis recent release, the stories behind the new singles ‘Pair Of Wings ft. Knotez x O’Sound’  https://tinyurl.com/298fevnm , ‘Missing Us’  https://tinyurl.com/yee7mb36  and why he calls his new album…..”Ralph”  .

Thursday April 1st, 2021

The broadcast of the 50th Juno Awards https://junoawards.ca  will air Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 8pm on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and globally on CBCMusic.ca/junos.This years top nominees include The Weeknd https://www.theweeknd.com, who has six nominations including: JUNO Fan Choice*, Single of the Year, Album of the Year*, Artist of the Year*, Songwriter of the Year* and Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year.   Artists who received five nominations this year include  Jessie Reyez http://www.jessiereyez.com, for Artist of the Year*,  JP Saxe https://www.jpsaxe.com, for Single of the Year and Canadian superstar Justin Bieber  https://www.justinbiebermusic.com for Single of the Year & Album of the Year*.  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com will be covering Canada’s biggest night and will be speaking with nominees and winners.  Today I speak with Canadian Jazz artist and past nominee ‘Matt Dusk’  https://www.mattdusk.com  on his  2021 Juno award nomination Vocal Jazz Album of the Year  https://tinyurl.com/4cdhz5w7  for his recording “Sinatra”  https://tinyurl.com/r8xb3pee  

Wednesday March 30th, 2021

The broadcast of the 50th Juno Awards https://junoawards.ca  will air Sunday, May 16, 2021 on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and globally on CBCMusic.ca/junos. This years top nominees include The Weeknd https://www.theweeknd.com, who has six nominations including: JUNO Fan Choice*, Single of the Year, Album of the Year*, Artist of the Year*, Songwriter of the Year* and Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year.   Artists who received five nominations this year include  Jessie Reyez http://www.jessiereyez.com, for Artist of the Year*,  JP Saxe https://www.jpsaxe.com, for Single of the Year and Canadian superstar Justin Bieber  https://www.justinbiebermusic.com for Single of the Year & Album of the Year*.  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com will be covering Canada’s biggest night and will be speaking with nominees and winners.  Today I speak with Canadian Reggae artist ‘Ammoye’ https://www.ammoye.com  on her  2021 Juno award nomination Reggae Recording of the Year https://junoawards.ca/nomination/2021-reggae-recording-of-the-year-ammoye/ for her single “Give It All” https://tinyurl.com/y3mzhf2f .

Tuesday March 30th, 2021

(This Interview is also on YouTube  https://tinyurl.com/3rp8v5fr  )

(This Interview is also on Soundcloud  https://tinyurl.com/55fdkrja   ) 

The Toronto ‘Godfather of Indie music’ “Nelson Sobral” https://nelsonsobralmusic.com has released a new single about “the kind of back and forth relationship that we’ve all been a part of, but just can’t seem to get out of.”  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media  rudyblairmedia.com  speaks with the Country, Soul, Blues, and Rock’N’Roll singer/songwriter about how he’s been dealing with the Covid 19-pandemic, his growing family, the evolution of his music, his weekly Friday live stream show, if there will be upcoming live virtual performances and other new music releases and the story behind his new single  “Pendulum”   https://tinyurl.com/vdzuhzx6  .

Monday March 29th, 2021

(This Interview is also on YouTube  https://tinyurl.com/vmhk2t6v   )

(This Interview is also on Soundcloud  https://tinyurl.com/58tpmcx7   ) 

This Canadian former professional hockey player decided to hang up his skates after 24 year and follow another dream, to become a recording artist.  And because of meeting Jay Emmons  of the Juno Award winning Rock band The Glorious Sons https://www.theglorioussons.com ,   he was able to achieve his dream with the release of a new single.   Rudy Blair Entertainment Media  rudyblairmedia.com speaks with ‘Boston Levi’  https://www.bostonlevimusic.com/story  about how he’s dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic, his career as a professional hockey player, why he decided to leave hockey to pursue music, meeting Jay Emmons  of The Glorious Sons, plans for 2021 which could include new music and virtual performances, how his girlfriend became a very important part of his music career and the story behind his new single  “Run Baby Run”  https://tinyurl.com/39zcjucn  .

Friday March 26th, 2021

The 2015  first place winner of the Slaight Music’s ‘It’s Your Shot’ contest, ‘Kayla Diamond’  https://kayladiamond.com  has released a new single she describes as “an anthem of personal power.”  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com  speaks with the Toronto recording artist about how the Covid-19 pandemic has effected her career, her recent marriage and moving to Montreal, the difficulties and triumphs in recording her new single, her plans for 2021 including if there will be more new music and live/virtual performances and the story behind her new song and music video “50/50”  https://tinyurl.com/5nbs2k8v  .

Thursday March 25th, 2021

(This Interview is also on YouTube   https://tinyurl.com/u3ctm8ra   )

(This Interview is also on Soundcloud  https://tinyurl.com/t8j7pna6    ) 

Three time JUNO Award nominee “Don Amero”  https://donamero.ca  has released a new single he describes as a ‘song about a second coming of age. I hit 40 last year and really feel like I hit a new stride in who I am and where I belong. I guess it’s the opposite of a midlife crisis and more like getting my sh*t together!”  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media  rudyblairmedia.com  speaks with the Canadian Country recording artist about how he and his family have dealt with the Covid -19 pandemic, what it’s like to turn 40, his plans for 2021 and if it includes more new music & live/virtual performances and the the meaning behind his latest single “You Can’t Always Be 21”  https://tinyurl.com/hdzbfcm8  .  

Wednesday March 24th, 2021

(This Interview is also on YouTube   https://tinyurl.com/n249rtum  )

(This Interview is also on Soundcloud https://tinyurl.com/5jpsuekm  ) 

This breakthrough Pop Soul Trap R&B artist has released a new single she describes as  “about a relationship I had in the past; sometimes you meet someone who just inspires a sound…”  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com  speaks with ‘OLENKA’  https://www.facebook.com/OlenkaBak/  about how  her career has been effected by the Covid-19 pandemic,  where her love of music began, how an incident with someone she trusted almost ended her music career, her plans for 2021 including music releases and virtual performances and the true story behind her new single “Purple Rose”  https://tinyurl.com/3sn5bfrw   .

Tuesday March 23rd, 2021

This Saskatoon Country recording artist has not only recently being nominated for her first Saskatchewan Music Award in the Country Artist of The Year category, but also is the 2019 SCMA Emerging Artist of the year  winner and has shared the stage with Kane Brown, Chris Lane, Ryan Hurd, Emerson Drive & Charlie Major .  She’s just released her latest single she calls “ijust that feel good, carefree song that I think the world needs right now”.  In this special Q&A interview, Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com  speaks with singer/songwriter   ‘Shantaia’  https://www.shantaiamusic.com about her career and how the Covid-19 has effected it, where her love of Country music began, her achievements that began when she was very young, how collaborating with multi award winner Crystal Shawanda helped shaped her music, plans for 2021 including new music releases and live/virtual performances and the story behind her latest release  “Had A Good Weekend”   https://tinyurl.com/2h3dmkdn 

 Rudy Blair  Q&A Interview with  ‘Shantaia’

1. Hello Shantaia.  Thank you for doing this interview with me.  First I want to ask right off the top, how you are doing during the Covid-19 pandemic (what part of the country are you living)?.  How has it affected you personally and professionally(and what have you done for to have mental wellness?) I’m doing well, I’m currently in Nashville. I moved here at the beginning of October from Saskatoon, Sk! Musicians have so affected during this time, and I think we’re all just hoping we can get back to doing what we love sooner than later. Writing A LOT of songs has been therapeutic, and has made me feel a little more in control of the situation. 
2. What part of Saskatchewan did you grow up and why the love of Country music?  Seems like your career began at the age of three. I grew up in north of Saskatoon in Spiritwood, Saskatchewan. I think country music was mostly what my parents and grandparents listened to, but I also had an older cousin who was pursuing a country artist career and really looked up to him growing up. He taught me how to play guitar, and I guess thats where I really started learning some country music and classic rock (of course!)
3. Could you talk about writing your first song because you were young and it was a very important/emotional time in your life. Yes, the first song I really remember writing was about my Great Grandpa getting sick. We knew he wasn’t going to get better, so I remember pouring my heart out foreshadowing his passing in a song I called “When You’re Gone”. When you’re only 9 years old, the only real heartbreak you experience is losing someone like a grandparent. 
4. You did something very important in your career with Rawlco Radio at age 13 .  What was that great achievement? When I was 13, I was the youngest recipient to receive a Rawlco Radio 10k20 grant. They gave 20 artists a year I believe, 10k to record an album. They did this for a few years which was so great for Saskatchewan artists, and it really was a turning point for me because it was the first time I spent a lot of time and effort in a studio recording vocals, and watching that whole process. I absolutely loved it and knew that I would be pursuing music as a career for the rest of my life!
5. You traveled to Nashville and recorded with Crystal Shawanda, what was that like working with a CCMA winner and also you had one of television’s biggest reality music competitions want you to compete not one but twice.  What was the program and what became of it? Working with Crystal was such a cool experience. She was so full of advice, so humble and really took me in and mentored me for many years. I’m still in contact with Crystal and her husband Dewayne, and look forward to seeing them here in Nashville when gathering is acceptable and safe! The Voice has scouted me a couple times, but it’s always been bad timing! But it is always a confidence booster when a casting producer comes across your videos and thinks you’re good enough to be on such a major show! 
6. The accolades continue as you’ve become  the Emerging Artist of the year in 2019 at the SCMA awards and also nominated for the first  time Saskatchewan Music Award in the Country Artist of The Year category.  What has this done for your career? Any nomination is totally humbling and helps with alot of things, such as applying for my O-1 visa that got me to Nashville! Winning the Emerging Artist award as well as all nominations are huge industry achievements and are recognized in ways I would have never imagined! I’m extremely grateful!
7. You released your EP “Chapter One” and it’s done very well.  How has your writing changed over the years? I think my writing has just gotten better and better, especially since moving to Nashville. You have to continue to level up when you’re writing with hit songwriters. It’s like exercising that muscle every single day, it just keeps getting stronger! I also think my style as a writer changes often, which I love because I never want to be stuck in a box with my music!
8. You have a new single called “Had A Good Weekend” .  What’s the inspiration behind this song? Had A Good Weekend is just that feel good, carefree song that I think the world needs right now! I wrote it with fellow Sask Native, Nashville based writer Ryan Sorestad on a rainy day when he was back home in Sask a little over a year ago. I had the melody and the first verse written, and Ryan helped me really pull it together! He is such a monster songwriter, and always knows where I want to go with a song. With all the rain that day, we really needed a “pick me up” tune and now I think the whole world is in need of that!
9. What are your plans for 2021 when it comes to new music and live(virtual) performances? New music with the current single coming out, livestreams as they come, a few live shows (socially distanced) here in Nashville, as well as a new music video coming out for the single and a partnership announcement coming soon! So many things to do, so little time! 
10. Tell me something about yourself that no one knows (could be a fun skill, quirky habit , hobby or something you have overcome? Something a lot of people don’t know about me is I was very active playing sports from junior high through highschool, but I also used to Ref Hockey and was actually really good at it! My ref employer/mentor used to joke that I could sing the national anthem at the olympics AND ref the game! Haha!

            Thanks Rudy!! Always a pleasure! 🙂

Thank You to:

Jess Seguire
Alley Cat PR
613.921.2314
www.alleycatpr.com

Monday March 22nd, 2021

This Vancouver twin duo went from performing folk music to becoming Canadian pop artists.  In fact one of their most recent hit ‘Dirty Dancing’  https://tinyurl.com/29pxr4p9    co-written with Juno Award winner and Grammy nominee Mariana’s Trench frontman Josh Ramsay.  They’ve just released a new single they describe as “feeling young and alive.”.  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media  rudyblairmedia.com  speaks with sisters Alanna & Brianne  also known as  ‘Fionn’ http://www.fionnband.com on their career and dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, how their music style evolved, working with  Mariana’s Trench frontman Josh Ramsay., plans for 2021 including if there will be new music and virtual performances and the meaning behind their latest release “Taste For It”  https://tinyurl.com/te5ky3xa  .