What’s a young man to do in rural Saskatchewan if he doesn’t want to farm?
Sing, of course.
Codie Prevost is off to Nashville, Tennessee, next month to write songs and record his first album. The Rose Valley, Sask., man grew up singing and playing guitar around campfires and at Christmas with his mother and uncle. He started writing songs when he was 12 and two years later went public in a talent contest run by a radio station.
“I didn’t win but I was not discouraged,” the 20 year old said.
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He keeps busy helping his father on the family’s 2,000 acre farm with 150 cattle, but said he’s not interested in farming. He chose to try singing as a career because he decided he “may as well do what you like.”
Prevost described his music as all country but in a new style with an upbeat rock sound. He said his singer heroes include Keith Urban, Paul Brandt and Kenny Rogers for their “urban sound.”
He is looking forward to a fundraiser with neighbours, friends and family Jan. 21 at the Civic Centre in Tisdale, Sask., to help pay recording costs.
“That’s what a small town does. It supports you and believes in you.”
Last year he played every weekend in bars and other locations throughout Saskatchewan, performed for 45 minutes at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards show and won the Boost award from Prince Albert’s CKBI radio station, which resulted in a three-song demo record.
He hopes radio stations that have been playing his single Surround Me Again will play more from his album when it is released in June.
Prevost said songs need strong melodies and lyrics with good stories behind them.
“I’m best at melody now. You have to write a lot to get good at it.”
The new push in Prevost’s career is coming from his manager Al Leblanc, who spends part of his time in the music industry and part-time farming with his parents and brother in Zenon Park, Sask. The two met last March when Leblanc heard Prevost sing his own song at a talent contest.
“I’ve been involved in music for 15 years,” Leblanc said. “Played in bands but never managed anyone. I worked at a (recording) studio in Aylsham and the first night I saw Codie perform … I saw raw talent there.”
Prevost’s manager describes his voice as melodic with two ranges: high and low. He said his singer is still developing a unique voice and the February trip to Nashville will develop his songwriting skill.
While agriculture and music are both risky ventures, Leblanc said in farming “you learn the values of hard work and appreciate the little things. I noticed that in Codie. I could ask him to play seven nights a week and he’d do it.”
Leblanc said to get well known, a musician has to tour with a band. That is what he plans for Prevost this summer.
