Don Amero is a busy man. His most recent single, 鈥楳orning Coffee鈥�, was released only last week, and is about to hit radio. He鈥檚 also preparing for a tour of Saskatchewan, which will see him come to Yorkton as part of the Yorkton Arts Council鈥檚 Stars for Saskatchewan Series. That show is Feb. 25.
The flurry of activity from Amero started after he signed with MDM Recordings - the same label as Jess Moskaluke and Charlie Major. With their support, he has been in the studio recording a lot of new music.
鈥淚t has been an incredible year, I鈥檇 say.鈥�
He has also been trying new things, testing out different styles and making music that鈥檚 a bit different from what he鈥檚 recorded in the past. He also said that one of the new things is recording songs written by others, because it鈥檚 a way to record things that are in a different style.
鈥淚 tend to be a melancholy sort of writer. Aim right for the heart and make you want to cry. There are incredible songs out there that need a home, and I don鈥檛 write the toe tapping songs that resonate in the country community so much... They鈥檙e incredible songs that resonate with me that I feel like I get to be the one presenting them to the world, so I鈥檓 really excited about that.鈥�
His goal as a performer remains the same, whether it鈥檚 a song he鈥檚 written or not, and that鈥檚 to make songs that can help people.
鈥淢y hope has never been chasing awards, it has never been chasing fame or money. All of those things are good, they鈥檙e nice to have, but it鈥檚 never been about that for me. It has been how can I help the person listening? How can I help them in their daily life? If they鈥檙e having a tough day, how can I help them out?鈥�
That has been the philosophy behind his recent singles, as Amero explained.
鈥淢usic Lover, as much as that is a really sweet love song, the biggest thing for me with that one, was that if I can get people to love the people who they are with a little harder, to love the people you are beside a little more, that鈥檚 the goal there. A song like Church is about centering yourself to the world and connecting more to the ground. That鈥檚 what I tend to do, I pick songs where if I can help you in your day, that鈥檚 what I intend to do.鈥�
Being a performer has taken a lot of work, and Amero said it was his stubbornness that helped make his career, along with the support of his wife.
鈥淚 had the audacity to think that I could make it in this industry... I should say, throughout the whole journey, up until about two years ago I鈥檇 say, I had these white flag moments where I would say 鈥業 can鈥檛 do this anymore, I have to give up.鈥� And the next thing you know, something incredible happens that keeps going and fuels the tank that helps you get to the next spot... I鈥檓 so glad I stuck with it. I鈥檓 at a point right now where I鈥檓 not sure what the future holds, but right now it feels like this will be the career for me, I鈥檒l do this until my dying day, and that wouldn鈥檛 be the case if I didn鈥檛 stick with it.鈥�
In spite of being a Manitoba artist, Amero hasn鈥檛 done a lot of touring in Saskatchewan. He said he鈥檚 excited to get to the province because it鈥檚 close to a home town show.
鈥淚t makes it really relatable that there are a lot of similarities between Saskatchewan and Manitoba, despite our rivalries, I think there is a lot of common ground.鈥�
Putting on a tour which will hit many smaller centres, Amero said that he鈥檚 excited to connect with people, something he feels can be easier in smaller towns.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really about people, and connecting with people. It鈥檚 hard to do in the big centres sometimes when it鈥檚 hustle and bustle and go-go-go. Smaller communities get it. They get the community sense, the get that it鈥檚 really about each other... I do believe connection is where it鈥檚 at, connection is what we long for as humans, and I think when you鈥檙e in smaller towns, you understand that.鈥�
You could win tickets to see Amero when he comes to Yorkton from Yorkton This Week.
