Being chosen one of three fan favourites in Samsung True North Tunes – from more than 2,000 artist submissions across Canada – is something Ryan Van Lee wanted to bring “back home” to Haliburton County.
It was announced last week that the Highlands’ musician had been selected through public voting.
The “cool” win has garnered him a raft of industry prizes, including being on a limited-edition beverage can, a live recording session, access to industry mentors, live performance opportunities, marketing chances, and Samsung technology.
He told The Highlander last Thursday (Oct. 8) “I haven’t even taken it in yet.”
Tracking the contest statistics, he didn’t think he would be a winner. He felt he would crack the top 20 across Canada and believed that was an accomplishment in itself. “I was okay with that. I came to terms with it.”
However, votes from across the nation kept coming, and finding out he’d won “was very crazy news for me.”
Van Lee is still absorbing the list of prizes but knows they will benefit his career. He is wrapping his head around the thought of a limited-edition Collective Arts collaboration featuring his artwork on custom beverage cans, created alongside renowned gig-poster artist Tiffany Chin.
The live recording session is at Lacquer Channel Mastering with Noah Mintz, to be filmed by Barnburner Films, of Alexisonfire, Cancer Bats, The Dirty Nil, and Neil Young Archives, fame.
There is one-on-one mentorship and access to Canadian music industry professionals working across A&R, management, publishing, radio and artist development.
Another perk is additional live performance opportunities through Collective Arts and its music partners.
There’ll be a national campaign feature and marketing amplification as well as a Frame TV and sound tower speaker, as well as a custom vinyl and TNT trophy.
“It’s a big break. As musicians, we put so much money into ourselves, and invest so much for it to pay off, which it does, but you have to be ballsy enough to do it. The way I see it is I’m not going to have to pay for everything. Things are going to be a little easier on the wallet.”
Van Lee added the recognition is good for his music resume.
Going back to wanting to bring the title home, Van Lee said that awhile back some kids reached out to him on social media, telling him they had taken up guitar, or gotten into music, because of him, “and that was kind of huge.
“That’s kind of why I want to do this … to leave a legacy. I’ve always dreamed of having my own little photo mural on the side of somewhere because this town is all about sports.” He said that as a kid, he was bullied because he wasn’t into athletics.
“I followed this music path. I bushwhacked my own path in this, and it’s kind of cool to start seeing kids following.”
Tafari Jilany, head of corporate marketing, Samsung Canada, told The Highlander, “Ryan is a great example of an artist building momentum from his local community while creating music that has the potential to resonate far beyond it,” said Jilany. “Through the program, we’re helping artists connect with industry professionals, gain new experiences and reach broader audiences across Canada.”
