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A quote in the Colborne Chronicle on August 7th 2003 best describes the vocalizations of up and coming singer songwriter Cheryl Casselman. "It's hard to resist the rich, melodic vocalizations of her songs. It's lyrical and captivating, an intricate dance of voice and lyrics, unravelling narratives with painful backdrops. Cheryl was born in the City of Oshawa, and raised in the country area of Newcastle Ontario. Her childhood memories are rich with the musical fabric woven by her parents. Cheryl remembers waking up from dreams with entire songs ready to put on paper.
At 17 she left home, hopped on a bus and headed out west to live in a cabin in the mountains, and it was there she started her writing career.
Cheryl says "People seem to be really moved by my writing. I'm very open and I think that makes me easy to identify with, because I am writing about everyday experiences, my music finds it's way into people's hearts."
Cheryl has been playing in a growing list of venues and will be appearing at the Empire Theatre in Belleville in June 2004.
She has recently released a sampler CD and writes and Records in Toronto Ontario. She is a member of SOCAN and the Songwriters Association of Canada. She is currently preparing to Record a Full length CD, which we await with excitement!
Go Girl!
Your influences?
I love Joni Mitchell, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Tracy Chapman, there are too many to mention.
Favorite spot?
The cliffs of Newcastle, I used to love to sit on the edge and feel the wind bursting up into my face.
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» genre: Country > Alternative Country
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©1997-2007 SoundClick Inc. All rights reserved.
- Colborne Chronicle
A quote in the Colborne Chronicle on August 7th 2003 best describes the vocalizations of up and coming singer songwriter Cheryl Casselman. "It's hard to resist the rich, melodic vocalizations of her songs. It's lyrical and captivating, an intricate dance of voice and lyrics, unravelling narratives with painful backdrops. Cheryl was born in the City of Oshawa, and raised in the country area of Newcastle Ontario. Her childhood memories are rich with the musical fabric woven by her parents. Cheryl remembers waking up from dreams with entire songs ready to put on paper.
At 17 she left home, hopped on a bus and headed out west to live in a cabin in the mountains, and it was there she started her writing career.
Cheryl says "People seem to be really moved by my writing. I'm very open and I think that makes me easy to identify with, because I am writing about everyday experiences, my music finds it's way into people's hearts."
Cheryl has been playing in a growing list of venues and will be appearing at the Empire Theatre in Belleville in June 2004.
She has recently released a sampler CD and writes and Records in Toronto Ontario. She is a member of SOCAN and the Songwriters Association of Canada. She is currently preparing to Record a Full length CD, which we await with excitement!
Go Girl!
Your influences?
I love Joni Mitchell, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Tracy Chapman, there are too many to mention.
Favorite spot?
The cliffs of Newcastle, I used to love to sit on the edge and feel the wind bursting up into my face.
:: navigation
» main artist page
» music
» join artist mailing list
» send email
» stations playing
» add artist to 'my.soundclick'
:: advertisement
:: artist infos
» member profile:
· cheryl casselman
» genre: Country > Alternative Country
» contact: cheryl casselman
colborne CANADA
email: send email
» label: unsigned
©1997-2007 SoundClick Inc. All rights reserved.
- Colborne Chronicle
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Local Headlines
Week of November 14, 2007
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Musician vies for Provincial Award
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Week of November 14, 2007Text: Normal - Larger | PrintMusician vies for provincial award
Cheryl Casselman will find out on Thursday night if she is awarded best independent country song honours.
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by Ray Yurkowski
The Independent
Castleton resident Cheryl Casselman has been nominated for an Ontario Independent Music Award for best country song.
The first annual music awards show is being held tomorrow (Nov. 15) in Toronto and will present more than 20 awards in a wide variety of music genres. More than 150 independent artists submitted their material for consideration.
She says she’ll be there when the awards are handed out.
When it came time to enter her music in the contest, Ms. Casselman says she thought the folk music category was a good fit but officials for the awards told her she was too “twangy.”
“But I do what I do and let the listener decide,” she says.
The local singer songwriter has been nominated for her song ‘The Imminent Goodbye,’ from her first album, ‘Any Road North.’
Her stepson’s grandmother who died two years ago inspired the song.
“She died of lung cancer and never smoked a day in her life,” Ms. Casselman explains. “It was a battle that lasted more than a year. I don’t think having plenty of notice makes it easier; in fact, I sometimes think it’s the opposite.
“I started thinking about all the goodbyes and how hard they are.”
Ms. Casselman has been writing songs beginning when she was just 8 years-old.
“I had dreams and in the morning I woke up with a song in my head,” she says.
Now married with three children, she says she didn’t start getting serious about her music until she met her husband Jimmy Forth.
“He urged me to pursue my passion and gave me the courage and strength to try,” she said.
Mr. Forth jokes about how she and her music is his retirement plan.
Ms. Casselman is becoming a regular performer at the Keeler Centre in Colborne, Human Bean coffee house in Cobourg and the world-renowned Ste. Anne’s Country Inn and Spa north of Grafton.
“This summer I was honoured to sing at a meadow wedding where the bride and groom chose three of my songs for their walk down the meadow aisle,” she added.
The album has taken more than a year so far and she credits some talented local musicians for their help.
She has applied to the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) and their Emerging Artist Program for financial help in getting her music on disc. The program was developed to support grassroots artists and is funded through Canadian Content Development dollars paid to FACTOR from Canada’s private radio broadcasters.
If approved, up to half of the production costs to a maximum of $35,000 and up to $50,000 to fund marketing and promotion is available to support the recording.
She has applied for assistance three times and has been turned down every time.
“So the money is coming out of our family’s pocket,” she said. “And this explains the slow process.”
The album is taking shape at Shirmont Recording Studios at Cobourg.
She says Monty Flindall, owner of the studio, has brought more than engineering talent to the project, playing drums, singing backup vocals and even adding some special effects.
“Shirmont is a favorite spot for local musicians and Monty has recorded many of us,” she says. “I respect Monty for his musicianship, professionalism, talent and, equally important, his feel for the music and what the artist has in mind.”
She credits local musicians Jim Ingram, a bassist with flare, calling him a harmony master who also writes his own songs, Colborne guitarist Keith Robertson and pianist Stephan Rapos.
“I have also had the pleasure of being joined by Steve Piticco who came to the studio to play lead guitar on one of my tunes.”
The Belleville guitarist, a six-time winner of the Canadian Country Music Association Guitar Player of the Year, joins Ms. Casselman on ‘I Believe in Angels.’ Canadian Musician magazine calls him Canada’s in-demand country guitarist.
As well, Al Brisco, owner of Steel Guitars of Canada in Colborne, is slated to add a track to the same song next month.
“There are many people involved in the making of this album, from my children giving me feedback on my songs, to the studio mastering and mixing,” she says.
So far, six of the 10 original songs penned by Ms. Casselman to be included on the CD are ready to go.
To those eagerly awaiting the finished CD she adds, “Please be patient, it’s nearly done.”
The Ontario Independent Music Awards is the brainchild of Martin Brown who says the show is a celebration of the varied and talented Ontario independent music scene.
The free show consists of handing out awards to the winners and a mix of performances at the Phoenix Concert Hall, 410 Sherbourne St., Toronto. The show begins at 7:45 p.m.
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Content © copyright 2006, Conolly Publishing Ltd. 1 Young St. Box 1030, Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0, Canada
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- Brighton Independent
Discography
Cheryl's album entitled "Any Road North" was released to a packed house June 14th, 2008
Recorded at Shirmont Studios in Cobourg. Cheryl has been joined on this album by award winning guitarist, Steve Piticco and Steel playing legend Al Brisco!
Cheryl praises the talents of her Engineer and drummer Monty Flindall, her bassist Stephan Rapos, and backup vocalist Cassandra Edison as the major role players in her success!
Photos
Bio
Cheryl Casselman won Ontario Independent Music Award for best Country song, two years in a row! Cheryl has a unique style with so much artistic sense she is considered an artist first and foremost. She writes her songs around the feeling of the song, she said basing the lyrics around the feeling, gives her songs more heart. Cheryl grew up listening to other artists such as Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkel, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Emmy-lou Harris. She remembers singing from an early age and unleashed her potential on fellow family members often singing her brothers to sleep. Cheryl's determination sets her apart, and she certainly has the grit and the gusto to become a success in this crazy business, and getting her music to her fans is something she really believes in. "There is a reason this gift was given to me, my songs have meaning and if one person finds comfort, it was a gift worth sharing!"
As we listen to Cheryl's music we know what a rare gift it is. She has often been likened to a female Neil Young, but likes to think her artistic ability is a natural thing. " I don't try to sound like any one or write like anyone or even try to be different for that matter, I just let the music and the song flow as it determines itself"
Cheryl has most recently recieved recognition for her work, November 15th, 2007 winning Ontario Independent Music Award for her song The Imminent Goodbye....and performed at the Phoenix in Toronto for her second consecutive win, October 16, 2008 for her song off the same album "Any Road North"
Cheryl's music is on radio in Italy, Germany, US and Canada. She has most recently been added to CBC's library and is enjoying airplay there!
Find more on Cheryl at
www.cherylcasselman.com
www.myspace.com/cherylcasselman1
Links
