Twelve emerging country artists have been selected as semi-finalists in the 2013 version of The Next Big Thing, including Weyburn's Tenille Arts and Radville's Lexie T.
The singers are competing for a chance to take their careers to the next level and win a custom-tailored prize package valued at more than $15,000 - consisting of $10,000 cash plus options of their choosing, such as a professional single released to national radio, showcasing for music industry professionals, hands-on career guidance and more.
Lexie Tytlandsvik, of the Radville area, has already released two of her own original songs, including one just last summer, both of which are played on every country music radio station in Saskatchewan and some in Manitoba. She has performed at Craven five times and has even won two previous competitions. She has performed with Codie Prevost and Brad Johner, just to name a few.
"This year I'm finally getting back into competitions," said Lexie. "I had not done one since 2011."
The Next Big Thing contest required artists to submit two demo songs for their entries.
"I recorded it in my bedroom and then sent it," she said. "I was actually kind of surprised that they accepted it because everybody else had professional recordings. So I was excited that they really liked it! It's one of my brand new songs, I wrote it in February."
Lexie T's original song just may be her third one played on the radio, but she won't know until June 10 if she made it into the Top 4. The four chosen will perform in a showdown of their original music live for the public and a panel of music industry professionals in the Finals show on June 20. A special panel of Canadian music industry professionals will be on hand to adjudicate their performances and select the winner of this year's Next Big Thing, to be announced that evening.
Fans can preview the semi-finalists online at bigdog927.com.
