Northern Saskatchewan country music artist Roland Corrigal is looking to release his first solo album later this year. Submitted photo

Roland Corrigal would love to sing for you. In fact, his recent single release is titled just that – “Sing For You”.

“It’s one of the very first songs I had ever written and it’s based on the idea that somebody wants to sing music and make people happy,” says Corrigal.

When it comes to performing before an audience, however, living in northern Saskatchewan presents some challenges.

“I’ve got to tack on at least two and a half hours for travel,” says Corrigal, who currently makes his home in Air Ronge. “If I didn’t live here, I’d probably be doing a whole lot more music.”

Still, he has attracted enough respect to secure a Saskatchewan Country Music Association (SCMA) nomination for Aboriginal Artist of the Year (which he won), and he has been invited to perform at the Industry Awards of the SCMA Awards weekend, April 22-24.

The Métis musician grew up in Beauval, immersed in country music. As soon as he was old enough, he joined his father’s band, DC and the Country Boys, as a drummer. He has also played with other musicians, including Mitch Daigneault, who is based in Saskatoon.

“Always a solid drummer and a great guy to hang around with,” remarks Daigneault. “When he had the chance he'd always pull out a guitar and sing a song he wrote.”

It is the singer/songwriter aspect of his musical career that the 35-year-old Corrigal is currently focusing on. In the last six months he has released two singles, both of which will appear on his first solo album which he hopes will be out by the fall of 2016.

“There’s going to be a fairly wide spectrum of styles,” says Corrigal, noting that his songs range from traditional to more contemporary. 

As he learns more about the music business, he is balancing that with his role in Marketing and Public Relations at Northlands College.

“I work in a job where I have to promote an organization, and in the entertainment side, I’ve got to promote myself, so they almost go hand-in-hand,” he says.

Submitted photo

“The best way to enjoy music, of course, is seeing it performed live, but radio, in my opinion, is still the best way to reach people with your music,” says Corrigal, so he is particularly appreciative of the number of radio stations that are airing his songs.

Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) prides itself on supporting local artists, says Dwayne Animikwan, MBC’s mid-day on-air host.

“I love playing good music,” says Animikwan. “Songs as well-produced as Roland’s are going to get played.”

Corrigal is also one of 63 Saskatchewan artists who have put themselves forward for CBC’s Searchlight 2016 in the hopes of being one of ten regional semi-finalists. Nine will be selected by judges, while a tenth will be based on the number of votes the performers receive from the public, so the competition and online voting process is another opportunity for more exposure.

“I’ve been doing what I can from where I live.  I don’t plan on leaving, because I’ve lived here all my life and it would take something extraordinary to make me leave,” he says.

“Seeing people entertained and wanting to hear more – it’s a good feeling.”