Hovorka writing for the fans with third studio album

Award winning Aboriginal singer/songwriter Shy-Anne Hovorka is set to launch her third studio album, Interwoven Roots, at the end of June.
Half of the album was recorded in Nashville at County Q Studios, and the other half at Dining Room Studios in Thunder Bay.
Hovorka said recording in Nashville was “obviously the dream, the impossible dream.”
“I met one of Tim McGraw’s songwriters who is big into canoeing up here (in Thunder Bay). He listened to my music and asked if I wanted to do some co-writing and then asked if I wanted to come to Nashville to record,” Hovorka said.
Hovorka said she was amazed about working with worldclass studio musicians because it usually takes her months to get a song ready to record. “I was nervous they couldn’t relate to what I was trying to do,” she said.
But they were able to crank out six songs in about three hours.
“They would listen to a rough track of me playing a guitar and singing live off the floor, then ask a couple of question about the movement and mood and feel of the song and then they just started playing...and it sounded exactly how I pictured it would sound with a full band,” she said.
Hovorka said the new album is more earthy in flavour to what she’s normally released on her two previous albums, and noted that she’s been growing as a songwriter.
“My song writing has definitely improved a lot by learning how to write for your listeners instead of writing just for yourself. I can still write for myself but I have to keep in mind audience and audience perspective,” she said.
“Also, I’ve learnt the value of not trying to do everything by yourself. I’m more connected with industry people now and I’m able to take advice and critiques and learn from mistakes, without taking it too personally.”
Hovorka’s goals for the new album are to get some legitimate radio play and to start touring.
She said she’s been unsuccessful with her last two albums getting songs on full rotation on radio stations across Canada, but wanted to do it right with this album.
“I found a radio tracker that wanted to re-mix two songs: ‘Run Run Run’ and ‘The Glue’ for radio play. She convinced Jim Zolis who’s produced Celine Dion to re-mix the songs and master the album,” Hovorka said.
The radio tracker will spend about four weeks setting up meetings with radio stations to set up air play for the songs, and if they will accept, the songs will go on a full 12-week rotation.
Hovorka has various small tour dates set in July and August and will be touring with the Thunder Bay Symphony Ochestra in October and February, but she is still hoping to do more gigs.
“But you usually tour at a deficient. People will usually give you a place to stay and some food but the gig is not usually paid. So you have to have money saved up before you go on a tour,” she said.
One thing that has remained constant throughout Hovorka’s music career is her involvement with young singers and artists.
“The youth are what drives me,” Hovorka said.
The album’s back cover artwork was done by Pikangikum youth artist “Silver.”
“She’s one of the most visually talented artists I’ve ever seen. Her work really knows how to speak to people,” Hovorka said.
There are also two songs on the album that feature youth singers. One song titled “What About Me?” has 21 different youth singing on the track.
“I like including people. My name is a little bit more out there now so I can include other people like younger aspiring talent. I try to help the youth in anyway I can to get help kick starting their own music careers to pay forward advice that was given to me when I was starting out,” she said.