Krystle Pederson sets her sights on stardom

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Krystle Pederson laughs as she talks about stardom, and casts her eyes downward in an endearing gesture of humility.

"I can see myself at the Junos," she confesses almost apologetically.

The 18-year-old Métis singer hails from Martensville, a town of roughly 4,700 residents located a few kilometres north of Saskatoon, and from this cozy base of operations, she is currently hard at work breaking into the Canadian music scene. Pederson has just released her first independent CD, a three- song collection of country/rock compositions that highlights her vocal talents and has her poised to receive radio airplay on both country and pop stations across the nation.

Though Pederson is still a teenager, she is already a well-trained, seasoned performer.

"I started singing when I was seven," she explains. "It was a family wedding, and it was the first time I had sung in public."

Pederson was immediately hooked on music. She began piano training soon thereafter, and as her skills increased, so too did her desire to pursue a life in the musical spotlight. Pederson added ear, voice and dance training to further hone and expand her talents.

Now, with her high school graduation looming, Pederson can boast credentials that would put many musicians to shame - Grade 8 Royal Conservatory of Music (piano) with honors, Grade 7 Royal Conservatory of Music (voice), and more first and second placings in music competitions than she can easily list.

"I think she has an excellent chance of making it with a top label," says manager Dennis R. Cann of North Battleford. "I've been around the business a lot of years, and she has a very excellent voice."

Pederson's move from the performing stage to the recording studio came rather unexpectedly.

"A friend of the family made a tape of me singing," she explains, "and sent it to Cann. He listened to it, and he was quite anxious to start working with me. I just decided, yah, I'd like to do a CD."

A second big break took place soon after, and again, it arose more from luck and coincidence than any planned course of action.

"I was applying for funding to get money for music and voice lessons. We sent in a tape of my singing to the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, and John Kim Bell [foundation founder and director] wrote back saying I didn't need any more lessons, I needed national exposure. He put me on an audition stage for the show [the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards], and I got picked."

The awards took place on March 16 in Edmonton, with a national telecast on the CBC network on April 10. The awards recognize outstanding Aboriginal achievements in a variety of professions, from the arts to science to law to sport. Not only was Pederson chosen as a performer for the show, she was also honored with a nomination in the youth category. Her biggest highlight, though, was the opportunity to work with Bell.

"He's so extremely talented," gushes Pederson. "I really enjoyed working with him. It was so much fun. Being on the show drilled it into my head that all my hard work has paid off, and is still paying off."

Fresh from this career highpoint, the young songbird is now busy promoting her CD, performing at local events, and preparing for finals. She is also already anticipating her next high profile booking.

"I'm singing for National Aboriginal Day in Ottawa on June 21," she says excitedly.

Manager Cann is thrilled by Pederson's successes thus far, but notes that the path to stardom is a long one.

"It takes a while - you have to prove yourself before the labels are prepared to take a risk. That's the point we're at now, proving that she has the talent and a saleable product . . . which she does," he assures.

With the life she is now leading, it might be expected that Pederson would encounter jealousy and resentment, both for her talent and her heritage. Far from it, says the forthright and friendly teen.

"There hasn't really been anything negative about it [having Métis statu]," she says. "I get a lot of support from the Aboriginal community."

Her classmates also stand firmly behind her.

"At my school, I've just been 'the singer' since I was little. They all know me as 'the singer', and now that I have a CD, they're like, 'Wow!' It's a big thing for them."

Pederson's personality is as sweet as her voice, but her easy laughter and polite responses cannot completely mask her steely ambition.

"I'd like to be in the industry, get up in the big time and stuff like that. After I graduate, I'll be working toward a full-length CD by fall, and also trying to get a video out."

"You don't succeed overnight," cautions Cann. "It's work." Pederson certainly seems to be taking her manager's advice. With her extensive training, her beautiful voice, her solid work ethic and her fierce determination, Krystle Pederson is one young woman who will continue to push until all her goals are met.

It couldn't happen to a nicer person.