Yukon’s artists on The BreakOut West

The Yukon is the best kept secret in the Canadian music scene. Until now! The wild and diverse lands of the territory produce some of the most wild and diverse music, and Music Yukon is ready to showcase their talented membership, and welcome the music industry to Whitehorse with a style of their own.

Music Yukon is placing ten showcasing or nominated artists and one industry nominee front and centre at this year’s BreakOut West. They are among the great up and comers in the independent scene, and with everything from rap to folk, there’s something in the Yukon for everyone, everywhere. From the energetic and animated rock style of Speed Control to the sweet contemporary melodies of Diyet, the Yukon has bred a wide range of musical talents and attracted musicians of all types to its northern majesty (like Francophone rockers Soir de Semaine, and Scandinavian belle Sarah MacDougall), coming from far and wide to experience and soak in all this vibrant scene has to offer in life as well as music. There is a different feeling in the air when you’re in Canada’s North, a rejuvenating and inspiring feeling that infects its inhabitants. It’s a pioneer spirit, a desire to break new ground, and a uniting overtone of camaraderie in a challenging landscape. Plus, the Yukon has a bustling infrastructure, supportive of their local talent in their achievements, which have received nominations for both creative and industry awards at the WCMA’s over several years. There are four nominations for Yukoners this year, which traverse the available categories from Solo Roots Recording (Kim Beggs) and World Recording (Matthew Lien) of The Year, to Agency of The Year (Magnum Opus Management) and the Multimedia Award (Kim Beggs again!). With a whole slew of venues, an engaged music industry association, funding organizations and industry movers and shakers, Yukon musicians and industry can and do cultivate their careers both at home and throughout the world. Many of the artists from the Yukon tour both nationally and internationally, so even if you aren’t going to attend BreakOut West, follow the sounds out of the north and catch them in your own neighborhood as soon as you can.

THE YUKON TERRITORY’S 2011 NOMINEES AND SHOWCASERS

DIYET ~ Original Aboriginal & World Roots with Crystal Vocals.
GORDIE TENTREES & HILL COUNTRY NEWS ~ Authentic, Raucous Northern Roots-Rock & Swampy Blues.
KIDS / Kelvin Smoler ~ Colorful, Witty Rhymes over Genre-Bending Beats.
KIM BEGGS *DOUBLE NOMINATED* Solo Roots Recording of the Year & Multimedia Award ~ Sweet, Dark, Gritty, Award-Winning Songwriting with her Unique Oldtyme Vocals.
MAGNUM OPUS MANAGEMENT *NOMINATED* Agency of the Year ~ Talented Management and Booking, with an Adventurous Approach.
MATTHEW LIEN *NOMINATED* World Recording of the Year ~ Environmentally Interactive Music Built in Collaboration with The Earth.
THE ROOT SELLERS ~ Exciting and Engaging Hip Hop with Acoustic Sounds and Electronic Beats.
SARAH MACDOUGALL ~ Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter, She’s Known for her Ability to Make Stones Weep.
SASQUATCH PROM DATE ~ Rip-Roarin’, Old-School Rockabilly, Complete with Pink Wigs and Pompadours.
SOIR DE SEMAINE ~ Franco-Northern Rock-Ska with a Twist, They can Entertain Anyone 8 to 80.
SPEED CONTROL ~ Animated & Original Indie Rock, They run Rock Camps by Day and Shred All Night.