Horvoka nominated for People’s Choice awards

Less than three months after the release of her third album, Shy-Anne Hovorka has been nominated for six Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards.
“It was kinda scary not knowing what they’re gonna say,” Hovorka said on waiting whether she would be announced as a nominee. “It’s always hit or miss. I honestly did not expect to be in the top five, but it turns out I did.”
Hovorka felt “pretty good” to be nominated for Aboriginal Female Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Country CD, Best Producer/Engineer and Best Album Cover Design for her album Interwoven Roots, which was released in June.
The album title was inspired by a cedar and spruce tree growing in Hovorka’s backyard which appeared to be growing out of the same stump.
“(They) have not competed with each other for growth, so I wrote a song about that,” she said. “Then I decided to wrap the album around that concept of interwoven-ness of species and linking it towards humanity.”
Half of the album was recorded in Nashville at County Q Studios, and the other half at Dining Room Studios in Thunder Bay.
In designing the album cover, Hovorka recruited Silver Suggashie of Pikangikum First Nation to collaborate with another artist.
“The two of them were able to come up with a deadly front and back,” Hovorka said.
Hovorka recently shot a music video for the track, “Run Run Run,” which is expected to be released in September to coincide with the radio release of the song.
While proud of the success of Interwoven Roots, Hovorka is wavering at the thought recording a fourth album. Hovorka is an unsigned musician and independently finances her albums. In total, Interwoven Roots cost $40,000 to record.
“It does take up a couple of years to save up that kind of money,” she said.
Along with the financial burden, Hovorka is concerned about her age.
“I know that’s bad to say, but it also takes a lot of energy because you’re always trying to promote yourself,” she said.
Hovorka left a teaching job to become a full-time musician, and if she decides to put her music career on hold, she will go back to teaching.
“I do like helping other kids and other musicians,” she said, noting that she continues to teach part-time. “So teaching and marketing would be something I would do if I don’t make a fourth album.”
But temptation to record a new album persists, especially with an offer to produce from Jim Zolis, who produced Celine Dion’s breakthrough album in the 90s.
“You don’t say no to something like that,” Hovorka said.
And Hovorka continues to receive support other artists. A local artist designed and created a buckskin dress for Hovorka’s new video and wants to create another one for when Hovorka walks the red carpet at the People’s Choice Awards.
“It makes life easier and I’m helping others too,” she said. “And it’s things like that that makes me want to produce the album.”
She said she appreciates all the support she has received throughout her career.
“Thanks all the people that have supported my little career and taken the time to root for me,” she said.
Hovorka recently performed at the Trout Forest Fest in Ear Falls and at the AFN elections. In October she will be touring with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and again in February, where they will perform her own compositions.
The Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards ceremony will take place on Nov. 2 in Winnipeg.