The band wins the listeners’ choice competition and a spot on the CBCMUSIC.CA FESTIVAL in Vancouver
From heavy metal in Igoolik to hip-hop in Halifax, country music in Toronto and indie rock from Victoria, CBC’s SEARCHLIGHT covered every genre and every inch of Canada, and helped shine a spotlight on this year’s winner, Lauren Mann and The Fairly Odd Folk.
Thousands of artists entered their original tracks and more than 1.1 million votes and in the end, SEARCHLIGHT judges Kardinal Offishall, Torquil Campbell and Sarah Slean decided the folky, alt-pop sounds of Lauren Mann and her song I Lost Myself earned her bragging rights as Canada’s best new act.
Of the band, the SEARCHLIGHT judges have said:
“I could see this song being played in festivals around the world,” says Kardinal Offishall. “In every commercial, movies. It’s one of those songs to me that has the most widespread appeal. I think that this group has the best chance to become one of our biggest exports.”
“I see something very special there, something exciting…It’s very textured, very layered. The ensemble itself has a sound. That takes years of playing together and I think they’ve done all that work.I could see them writing the Blue Rodeo songs of tomorrow - where you know every word. They’re made for that,” says Sarah Slean
“This band sounds really awesome. The song is gorgeous. They are terrific songwriters. There is a history of song in this country; it’s what we are addicted to. People in Canada would love that band, for many years…they’re going to find an audience. The investment will be paid back because that’s a band that will find an audience in this country,” says Torquil Campbell
Hailing from Brooks, Alberta, in 2010 Lauren made the open road her home and music her full-time career. Through four years of touring, she collected her “Fairly Odd Folk” and together they developed their own sound and brought their dynamic live show to audiences in every corner of North America with more than 500 tour dates. They released their first full album, Over Land and Sea, back in April of 2013, selling more than 5000 albums.
Lauren Mann and The Fairly Odd Folk have won $20,000 worth of music equipment from Yahama Music Canada and an opening act slot at the CBCMusic.ca Festival at Deer Lake Park in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 14th.
You can hear the music of Lauren Mann and The Fairly Odd Folk here.
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