Biography
Juanita Wilkins is a roots artist with a mission - to tell the stories of rural Ontario - and her new recording project "Four Corner Town", is doing just that. Working with James Gordon at Pipe Street Studios in Guelph, Ontario, Juanita has achieved a clean, pure sound which showcases the touching and relevant songs she's written about the life and times of rural South Western Ontario. And these songs, written with her trademark writing style of intelligent lyrics and hummable melodies are the perfect vehicle for the voice that has been described in turns as pure and beautiful to smoky and sexy. With a three octave range, and the ability to sing everything from folk to country to blues and jazz, Juanita's stage show offers something for everyone - while disappointing no-one. Juanita has recently paired up with Mississauga guitarist and singer/songwriter Bill Candy, and the pairing is divine! Whether in the studio or on the stage, they have a lovely musical chemistry. Her recent performance at Summerfolk in Owen Sound was a surprise, out-of-the-ballpark home run hit with attendees, both with the workshop audiences and the cheering thousands in the "Down by the Bay" tent.
Some great news: One of the cuts from "Four Corner Town", Subdivision Blues (Never Going Back), featured in this EPK, placed in the top ten in the OCFF's "Songs From The Heart" 2007 competition, and was submitted by the judges from that competition to the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award.
Not one to be pinned to a single genre, Juanita's songwriting reflects her eclectic tastes in music - thoughtfully, and sometimes humourously, exploring relationships, world events, the human condition, and, especially close to her heart, the lives of women who work the farms in her rural neighbourhood. Looking to the rich history of Canadian Singer/Songwriters, Juanita feels that she has been guided and influenced by the likes of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Fred Eaglesmith, Stephen Fearing, Lynn Miles, to name a few. Her first solo CD 'Stronger' is just that - a strong foray into the indie music scene. Juanita has opened for such artists as Stephen Fearing, Ray Bonneville, Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson of Skydiggers, and was chosen by Jane Harbury to be one of four performers at her "Discoveries" show at Hugh's Room in Toronto on February 13, 2007, and will be featured in a "RE-Discoveries" night this coming spring. Juanita continues to impress audiences with her insightful songs, playing to sold out houses in a series of songwriter showcases, intimate concerts, and larger events, such as festival appearances.
Juanita keeps her hand and heart in her local community volunteering as the Music Director for the Minto Arts Council in Wellington County - bringing in top Canadian Talent to concert events that function as important fundraisers for this awardwinning volunteer organization which promotes the arts in her locality. Juanita's dedication to live music shows in all aspects of her life, whether performing herself, or organizing live music events for others. Juanita is proud of her "Rural Roots"!
Instrumentation
Juanita Wilkins: Lead vocal, rhythm / fingerstyle guitar, harmonica, percussion
Bill Candy: Lead guitar, backing vocals
Additional Band Members:
Hired as needed!!!
Discography
2008: Full length (11 track) indie release of "Four Corner Town", recorded at Pipe Street Studio, engineered and co-produced by James Gordon.
2004: Full length (12 track) indie release of "Stronger", recorded, engineered and mixed by Jay Riehl of Signature Sound.
Juanita receives airplay on Ontario radio stations: CKNX AM 920 Wingham, Ont., CKNX FM 102 Wingham, Ontario; Country 93 FM, Owen Sound, Ontario;Country 1510, Tillsonburg, Ontario;
Easy 101.3, Tillsonburg, Ontario;
CJCS, Stratford, Ontario, and is played on campus / small market independent radio folk shows such as: CFMU's Freewheeling Folk! and CKPC's Just Us Folk.
Links
| http://www.juanitawilkins.com |