Joni Delaurier
Calgary, Alberta, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
This band has no press
Discography
Radio Singles:
Pickup Truck - Shane Yellowbird (T. Kokol / J. Delaurier)
Second Hand Car - The Higgins (K. Higgins / E. Higgins / J. Delaurier)
Brand New Into You's - Katie Love Hess (J. Delaurier / K. Kingsland)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
I have ditched the third-person bio in lieu of something a bit more personal and a bit less pretentious.
I’m a singer/songwriter. I suppose I come by the country music thing honestly. I was named after Conway Twitty's song "Don't Cry Joni". There was really no getting away from it, when you stop and think about it. I grew up in a small town and a huge family. My mom's side of the family (15 brothers and sisters!) is extremely musical, and influenced my passion for country music at a young age. I grew up listening to Tammy Wynette, Janie Fricke, Crystal Gayle, Buck Owens and Elvis.
When we were little, my sister and I would poke through my mom's songbooks and make up the tune when we didn't know how the song went. (I have a killer alternate melody to "Have You Ever Been Lonely" – just ask me.) My sister always sang the lead part (she's older and bossier) and that's how I learned how to create harmonies, while singing into a hairbrush.
I guess I have always written songs, whether I was in high school, college or working in a corporate job. But when did it become my purpose? When I met my now-husband Troy Kokol in 2004 and he said those magical words… "I believe in you." We partnered up, as co-writers, best friends and soulmates.
These days, things are picking up speed and momentum and I am blessed for all the fun we have had and friends we have met. "Pick Up Truck", which I wrote with Troy Kokol, was a number one hit in Canada for Shane Yellowbird and got us a nomination for 2007 SOCAN Songwriters of the Year. It also got us a 2008 SOCAN Award for performance success, a pretty cool event. I wore a dress. It was a big day.
In 2008, "Second Hand Car", a song I co-wrote with an incredible Canadian group called The Higgins, appeared on their debut album and was released as their third single spring 2009.
These days you’ll find me making trips to Nashville, writing with artists and songwriters on both sides of the border and performing in singer/songwriter circles. I'm working on my first full-length recording which I hope will be available in 2011.
What’s next? I don’t know…but I am really looking forward to it.
Links
