Sarah Loverock is feeling the golden glow.
The Canadian Recording Industries certification of a gold record for the singer's CD, The Dreamer, hangs proudly in the Gibsons video store of her manager Russ Snitchuk, marking a sales effort that began on the Coast and took just 17 days to hit gold status. Now, a music video for MuchMusic is in the offing with auditions in Gibsons Feb. 6 and 7 and possible location shooting on the Coast March 10.
And that's not all. An application for a Juno nomination for Best New Artist lies tantalizingly behind the scenes, and a black tie, gold record celebration is planned at a new restaurant in Gibsons on Feb. 6.
Loverock's musical career has been re-ignited, and instead of it happening in the major recording industry centres, the self-described home town girl has brought it all to the Coast.
In an interview with Coast Reporter last week, the singer talked about how music has always been part of her life.
"I've been performing since the age of nine when I sang in Nashville, and I'm 29 now," she said.
She's been featured on Canadian Idol twice, the last time as a top 10 finalist. She's a mother her kids are six and nine and she works at a job she loves, managing Smitty's Oyster House. What will she do now that a musical career calls?
"I've got to find a happy balance," she said in the husky voice that first attracted American Youth Symphony musician Gregory Charles Royal. After sifting through vocal talent for a CD showcasing finalists from his America's Hot Musicians reality program, he selected her voice and range to sing his own composition, The Dreamer. It's a ballad with lush orchestration, but the edgy rocker handles this material well.
Royal was so enthusiastic, he launched the quest for gold and soon found that her fans had not forgotten her.
Snitchuk tells how he and Royal thought there might be problems at the border in importing the CD in time for a launch at Video Etc. in Gibsons, but when a worried Snitchuk phoned the border, the customs officer, an Idol fan, recognized the Loverock name right away and personally walked the CD through the red tape.
Loverock is positive about a Juno nomination; she and Snitchuk have researched the competition and they think she has a good chance.
"Just to be nominated would put me on the map," she said.
But the most exciting event is coming up on Feb. 6 and 7 when she and Royal will audition Coast hopefuls for a professionally filmed MuchMusic video.
"We want several levels of involvement," said Snitchuk.
People can audition to be part of an audience scene or try out for small roles such as a member of Loverock's entourage. If you want to get involved, pre-register with Snitchuk at Video Etc. in Sunnycrest Mall before Feb. 6. (Under 18s need parental signatures and there is a $5 application fee to offset audition costs.)
Loverock hopes to shoot on the Coast during the March 10 filming.
Most of the funding comes from MuchFact, a program of grants set up and funded by MuchMusic to increase the number and quality of Canadian music videos. But they must raise $10,000 themselves. That's where the fancy, gold record celebration dinner comes in. Benjamin's International Café, the new restaurant by London Drugs, will be the venue for a black tie, $50 plate dinner on Feb. 6. Loverock has been rehearsing with another Gibsons alum, Danica Tardiff, now a Capilano University music student, who will play piano while Loverock gives a live performance of The Dreamer.
For more information about the dinner or auditions, e-mail Snitchuk at [email protected].
