听 听 听Saskatchewan country artist Chris Henderson says 2015 鈥渨ill be a big year鈥� for him, personally and professionally.
听听听听 鈥淚'll be getting married to my fiancee (teacher Janelle Howlett), in September,鈥� says Henderson. 鈥淎nd I'll be working on my third recording project, writing for that and hopefully, for some other artists in Nashville; as well as touring and attending the CCMAs (Canadian Country Music Awards) in Halifax.鈥�
听听听听 Henderson's second release, 'My Turn', has received critical acclaim, landing on the 2014 top ten lists of Canadian music critics, and he is justifiably proud of the recording, and working hard on new music.
听听听听 鈥淚 did lots of writing last fall for my third project,鈥� says Henderson. 鈥淚'm planning on heading into the studio in late February or early March to record. I'm hoping to get a single out by summertime.鈥�
听听听听 鈥淚've done a lot of writing during the past few months,鈥� he continues. 鈥淚've been writing with Troy Kokol, who is a really, really talented guy; as well as (country artists) Jonie Delaurier and Jake Matthews. I've also been working with Russ Froom, who has worked with Jann Arden for about 20 years, and Willy Mack.鈥�
听听听听 鈥淭he song 'Don't Miss Your Kiss Goodbye' from the 'My Turn' album was named Song of the Year at the 2014 SCMA (Saskatchewan Country Music Awards),鈥� adds Henderson. Willy Mack, Troy Kokol and I wrote it and it was our first song to break the top 50.鈥�
听听听听 鈥淚n Nashville, I'll continue writing and I'll also be co-writing with some writers who have written for Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Lee Bryce, and Dierks Bentley. Then I'll hit the studio.鈥�
听听听听 The former high school English teacher taught 鈥渇or about a semester鈥� at Gordon F. Kells High School in Carlyle, while living in Manor, then moved to Regina to pursue a full-time music career.
听听听听 鈥淚've been playing in bands since I was 16,鈥� says Henderson. 鈥淲hen I was about 21 or 22, I started taking it seriously. I'm 30 now, and in the last year or so, it seems like I'm the new guy, but I've been working at this a long time.鈥�
听听听听 鈥淵ou never know how it's going to turn out, so you really do it for the love of music.鈥�
听听听听 Henderson says musically, his priority is to stay true to himself as an artist.
听听听听 鈥淚'm trying to define a sound going forward,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 grew up playing in rock and punk bands. When I got older, I got into more country, listening to Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. And of course, rock influences are big, too, especially when you grow up on the prairies.鈥�
听听听听 When he's not creating his own sound, Henderson listens to 鈥淎 lot of Canadian guys lately: Blake Berglund, George Canyon and Bobby Wills. I caught Blake's show at Kenosee this year, after my show at the Dickens Festival in Carlyle. I've also been listening to Dierks (Bentley) and Chris Stapleton.鈥�
听听听听 Comfortable working on both sides of the 49th parallel, Henderson's first project, 'Follow the Signs' (2008) was recorded in Nashville, while its award-winning follow-up, 'My Turn' was 鈥淣inety-five percent Saskatchewan-produced,鈥� says Henderson.
听听听听 鈥�'My Turn' was a real Saskatchewan product,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t broke into the Top 50. It was recorded here and it shows we can do it here, too.鈥�
听听听听 Born and raised in Estevan, Henderson says the support of area fans is both important to and appreciated by him.
听听听听 鈥淚'm always excited to return to the southeast corner of the province and bumping into people who know me and my family. They're great when it comes to keeping up with what I'm doing.鈥�
听听听听 鈥淭his year, I've got lots of things planned musically,鈥� adds Henderson. 鈥淪o stay tuned.鈥�
听听听听 To keep up with Chris Henderson, check out ChrisHenderson.com, Chris Henderson Band on Facebook or @Hendersonmusic on Twitter.
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