Music
Press
Stettler-raised country singer Kym Simon recently learned she’s one in a thousand.
Out of a thousand songs submitted from all over the world to the Nashville Music City Songwriters Competition, Easy Way Out , the tune Simon co-wrote with Steve Fox, was chosen for the No. 1 spot.
“Would you mind holding the phone away from your ear for a just a second?” Simon recalled asking the American woman who called to notify her about the win.
“I had to scream for a moment when I found out.”
Turns out the top prize in the contest adjudicated by Nashville Star judge Phil Vassar is a trip to Nashville, a publicity deal, should Simon accept the terms, $1,000 cash and, best of all, a chance to talk about the song and perform it on Great American Country radio and TV, or what the singer calls “one of the biggest country music stations in the U.S.!”
She’s hoping the not-yet-scheduled appearances will boost her career by raising the song’s profile.
“In country music, it’s all about the song, even more than the performer,” said Simon, who recorded Easy Way Out for her 2007 album Priority, but hadn’t planned to release it for radio play until early next year.
Easy Way Out evolved from a “hook line” laid out by Nashville producer Fox, which was inspired by the theme of Simon’s album: “I wanted to sing real songs about being a woman and wife,” said the singer, who has been married to a firefighter for the last six and a half years.
The song’s chorus lays down the challenge: “You can walk if you want to/ You reserve the right . . . But I know you know that’s the easy way out.”
Simon says the tune is about sticking it out through the bad times in a marriage, instead of giving up. “It seems so many people up and divorce so fast, couples maybe don’t give it enough of a chance,” she said.
Simon is sticking close to her own husband, who recently got a job with the City of Edmonton. Although the couple and their four-year-old daughter enjoyed living in the Red Deer area to be close to Simon’s family in Stettler, they now live near Devon, southwest of Edmonton.
“It’s in the middle of nowhere and the middle of everywhere,” said Simon, who considers herself to be still a hop, skip and jump from Central Alberta, as well as Edmonton, where she often performs.
Simon, who began her singing career jamming on Sundays at The Vat, has mostly played at corporate functions and weddings, in a concerted attempt to stay off the bar circuit, “which can be a trap.”
The singer, who was “honoured “ to perform at the Songwriter’s Cafe held before the last Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Winnipeg, will next be heard locally at the Ultimate Staff Christmas Party event at Red Deer’s Westerner Park in December.
Those who don’t catch that performance can hear her on the radio. Simon credits local station CKGY for giving great air play to her previous singles, including The Blame Game, More About Me and In My Backyard.
And she predicts it won’t be long before she’s back singing on home turf in Central Alberta.
Easy Way Out can be heard online at www.visitmusiccity.com/songwriting, and her album Priority can be ordered from her website www.kymsimon.com
- Red Deer Advocate
Discography
ALBUMS
Priority: Produced by Steve Fox, recorded at Omni Sound, Nashville TN 2007
If You Stole My Heart: Produced by Ed Russell, recorded at Castle Records, Nashville TN 2000
RADIO/CHARTS
Canadian Country Radio:
The Blame Game (Kym Simon/Steve Fox/Tim Taylor)
More About Me (Kym Simon/Steve Fox) Debuted in June 2007 Canadian Trax Chart.
In My Backyard (Chelsey Bloodworth/Steve Fox)
All Singles charted on Country Music News CanCountry Top 100 and CKGY Red Deers Top 20
If You Stole My Heart (Al Shapiro/John Condrone) - #1 on 790 CFCW
Women of Substance Radio: http://www.live365.com/stations/breenoble
My Priority (Kym Simon/Steve Arsenault)
You Read My Mind (Kym Simon/Steve Fox)
Photos
Bio
Kym Simon is one of Canadas most established artist/singer/songwriter/entertainers. She has had an extremely successful past 3 years with her latest album Priority. 2009 has Kym focused on her new songs she has written for her current project and shes excited to introduce them to her fans throughout the year.
Kym is so proud of her accomplishments she has achieved so far in her career. Here are just some of them!
ALBUMS
Priority: Produced by Steve Fox, recorded at Omni Sound, Nashville TN 2007
If You Stole My Heart: Produced by Ed Russell, recorded at Castle Records, Nashville TN 2000
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
U.S. Publishing Deal for Easy Way Out with The Music Group International, Nashville TN
Nashvilles 2008 Music City Songwriters Competition Winner with her single Easy Way Out, which was featured on Great American Country and XM Satellite Radio.
CMTS Listeners Choice Award Finalist with Easy Way Out (United States)
Unisong International Songwriting Contest 3rd place with You Read My Mind(International).
Great American Song Contest Top 5 with Easy Way Out (United States)
2008 Australian Songwriters Competition - 7th in the international category with Easy Way Out
The Singer Songwriter Awards Finalist with Easy Way Out (Europe)
CCMA 2008 - Top 10 for Record Producer of the Year for album Priority
RADIO/CHARTS
Canadian Country Radio:
The Blame Game (Kym Simon/Steve Fox/Tim Taylor)
More About Me (Kym Simon/Steve Fox) Debuted in June 2007 Canadian Trax Chart.
In My Backyard (Chelsey Bloodworth/Steve Fox)
All Singles charted on Country Music News CanCountry Top 100 and CKGY Red Deers Top 20
If You Stole My Heart (Al Shapiro/John Condrone) - #1 on 790 CFCW
Women of Substance Radio: http://www.live365.com/stations/breenoble
My Priority (Kym Simon/Steve Arsenault)
You Read My Mind (Kym Simon/Steve Fox)
Live Radio Performances:
Tennessee radio tour including WSM, The Grand Ole Oprys flagship station/CKGY Red Deer/CJXX Grande Prairie/CJVR Melfort/CKOT Tillonsburg/Sunny 94 Lacombe
VIDEO
If You Stole My Heart Produced by Castle Records - 2000
PERFORMANCE/TOURS
Live Television Performances:
Great American Country (GAC), Nashville, December 2008/Breakfast Television, Edmonton/CH News, Red Deer/Ponoka Stampede/CFRN Calgary Stampede Tent, Calgary
Clubs, Casinos, Festivals, Conferences:
Legends on Broadway, Nashville/Ranchmans Calgary/ CCMA Songwriters Café Stage,Winnipeg 2008/Great Northern Casino, Grande Prairie/Palace Casino West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton/Cash Casino, Calgary/A Taste of Edmonton (Capital Ex Days), Edmonton/Big Valley Jamboree, Camrose/Farm Fair International, Northlands Park, Edmonton/Ponoka Stampede, Ponoka/Tim Hortons Camp Day, Stettler/Ivan Daines Country Music Picnic, Innisfail/Ismali Muslim Communtiy Stampede Breakfast, Calgary/Central Albertas World of Women, Red Deer/Agritrade Home and Garden Show, Red Deer/Westerner Days Kickoff Pancake Breakfast, Red Deer/Central Albertas Ultimate Staff Party, Red Deer/Woodys RV World Spring Jamboree, Edmonton and Red Deer/ and so many more!
Light Your Fire Tour 2006
Central Alberta tour promoting awareness of Albertas Volunteer Fire Departments.
Performances with fellow Canadian Country Recording Artists:
Steve Fox/Aaron Pritchett/ Jessie Farrell/Gord Bamford/Patricia Conroy/Shane Yellowbird/Wendell Ferguson and many more
Fundraiser/Charity Performances
STARS Air Ambulance/Stollery Childrens Hospital/Victim Services/Optimist Clubs/Canadian Cancer Society/Womens Shelter/Youth Centres/Bethany Care Centre/Hospice Care Society
ASSOCIATIONS
CCMA/WCMA/ACMA/ARIA/SOCAN
Kyms roots began in Stettler, Alberta. She was born into a musical family and followed in the rhythmic beats of her parents and grandparents as they sang and played for various community events. While Kym was performing at her high school graduation ceremony, she instinctively made music her career path. Before Kym knew it, she was performing National Anthems, singing at concerts, festivals, and discovering that music was an entire way of life.
The energy Kym eludes on stage is incredible. Her audiences are always the priority, whether it is getting fans to join her on stage, or walking into the crowd so everyone can dance and sing along. This is what has made Kyms music dreams become reality.
There you have it Ladies and Gentlemen, Kym Simon!
Links
