Young musician is ‘all about the kids’

Singer/songwriter Shy-Anne has made great strides in her music and teaching careers since the blessing of her spirit name, Black Thunder Bird, in June 2007.

The connection to Black Thunder Bird has been reflected in the Métis artist’s recent triumphs at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music awards held at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg on Nov. 5, landing her top spot as Female Entertainer of the Year.

“When I received that name it was like I needed it to get through to the next step…I have a sneaky suspicion that if I turn my back on that, then it will all crumble.

“I was in complete shock when they called my name. I didn’t even have a speech prepared, because I honestly didn’t think it was going to be me at all… When I stood up, the adrenaline went flying through… In the big scheme of things I’m really new.”

Shy-Anne was up against two other phenomenal ladies in this category, Andrea Menard and Inez. Shy-Anne and her band were also blessed with a win for Best Producer/Engineer, and were nominated for Best Pop CD.
Shy-Anne has roots in the Matachewan First Nation, and grew up within the foster care system. She spent her child and adolescent years relocating to a few communities in northern Ontario and then to Manitoba with her new family—the Hovorkas, said Shy-Anne.
These times informed Shy-Anne’s musical aspiration at this early age.

“Growing up, I was always heavy into working with kids and singing. I remember I was like the babysitter around the area where I lived, so I just said I’ll take all the kids and start a choir.”

Shy-Anne pursued her love for music throughout high school, eventually completing post-secondary education at the university in Thunder Bay, earning an honors degree in music.

“I started taking vocal lessons when I was 12. I was in the school choirs…concert band, jazz band…when I was 16, I got a job and bought myself a car so that I could drive an hour south, once a week to take (more) voice lessons and piano and theory lessons with a lady—Gene Robinson.

“I took my honors in Thunder Bay for Music, just straight up performance. My first instrument was voice classical and my second was piano.”

Training in classical music gives Shy-Anne an edge over others within the pop world, she believes.

“The training involved is unbelievable. I easily spent five or six hours a day on just different vocal and piano exercises.

“You’re dealing with musicians that pick apart every little thing and they are looking for the next musical masterpiece… It’s not about the song and the message. It’s about the technique and the background, so it’s kind of like the opposite end (of the musical spectrum to pop music).”

While Shy-Anne feels that her first album “Black Thunder Bird” was that of a mellow, healing journey, she has since identified her latest works on her second album “Pseudo” as more contemporary pop. This album has been a reflection of the learning about what works and what doesn’t work within the music industry.

“The thing that matters to me the most is that people are getting the message behind my music… whether it’s pop or traditional or has a folk feel, that part doesn’t matter to me as long as I’m staying true to what I represent.”

Along with her aspiring music career, Shy-Anne has also had the opportunity to travel to Seoul, Korea to teach for a couple years. Upon returning to Thunder Bay she completed her Education degree and now provides private voice, piano and theory lessons, and works with a small choir, within the Red Lake and Thunder Bay areas.
Shy-Anne has established a program which encourages healthy lifestyles among the youth in a seven grandfathers’ suicide prevention program through music.

She explains that the program focuses on remote First Nations communities and consists of four acts which visit the communities and speak and perform for the youth. What makes this a stand out program is that it’s an opportunity for youth members, ages 12 to 22 to perform with the bands.

“We select one youth in every location and we sponsor them to come to Thunder Bay for a bigger event… then we select five of those to go to an even bigger event.”
One of those students will tour with the band.

“So they tour with us for a couple weeks and we pay them as paid artists…(We) try and show them the ropes and how it is to be on the road and how to organize tours. It’s kind of a mentorship program and a really good chance for them.”

Shy-Anne hopes to stretch her wings and have the program visit Alberta sometime in March.

“I’m just lucky that I have the gift of music and education together to try and make a difference in the community around me, especially for the kids. I’m so much about the kids…I’m not here to be famous, I’m here to teach.”

Photo caption: Shy-Anne Hovorka accepts her award for Female Entertainer of the Year at this year's Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards held in Winnipeg on Nov. 5th.