ESTEVAN - Estevan musician Jeff D. Michel finished in the top 10 for the SaskMusic Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2021 competition.
Michel was tied for 10th for Back to the Moon.
Michel is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer living and working in Estevan. It’s Michel’s second full-length release, a follow-up to his debut The Seasons, and his first collection of new music since his participation in Hook & Nail’s debut album, Ghosts of Taylorton, which was released in 2018. (Hook & Nail bandmates Lindsay Arnold and Mike Davis have released a self-titled album under the name Last Birds).
SaskMusic said Back to the Moon is an eclectic mix of country-tinged folk/roots songs, and explores themes of aliens, loss, winter whimsy, dragons, prairie storms and the wisdom gained as one grows older.
The album contains contributions from Davis and Arnold, along with Nashville pedal steel legend Steve Hinson.
One of the songs, Cabin in the Woods, takes inspiration from time spent with family at his parents’ cabin, and the fond memories that often accompany a summer hideaway.
Back to the Moon has been well-received, with tracks featured on CBC Radio One and college radio stations in the U.S. and Canada, in over 65 markets. His songwriting style has matured to reflect the storytelling influence of folk music, yet retains the edge and drive of his blues/rock roots. The album was produced by Michel at his own Crushed Pickle Studio in Estevan.
Michel finished in a tie for 10th with Karissa Hoffart’s Life of Mine and Tucker Lane’s Random Fireworks on a Beach Obscured by Trees. Hoffart won the Estevan Sings competition in 2019.
The Hunter Brothers took top spot in the competition with Been a Minute.
The results were announced in late December. The top 10 was determined by public support.
In a post on his Facebook page, Michel thanked everyone who took the time to vote, and applauded Hoffart and Tucker Lane for also cracking the top 10.
