I love to bake and love to cook! I’m going to share one of my favorite comfort food recipes with you because it is winter and currently darn cold up here in Canada!! Here’s my recipe for Perogie Casserole!!~ Alecia Aichelle
Perogie Casserole
16-24 perogies (depending how big of a casserole you want) 1/4 cup milk 1 chopped onion 1 chopped green pepper chopped celeri sliced fresh mushrooms 1 cup grated cheese 1-2 cans mushroom soup (depending how many perogies you use)
Optional- cooked ham, cubed.
Melt butter, saute onion, green pepper, celeri and mushrooms. Put frozen perogies, milk, soup, and sauteed mixture into a large casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove, top with grated cheese and place back into oven for approx 10 mins or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!!
1. Hello, Alecia, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician?
Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me! I was born and raised in Kelowna, BC, Canada and my love for music and performance began at a young age. I grew up singing in church and began classical piano lessons at age 8. I was also very involved in musical theatre and have always had a passion for animals as well.(I currently have many pets!!) After graduation, I moved to Alberta to attend the Red Deer College Music Program and Alberta quickly became home.
2. How did you become a fan of country music and when did you know you wanted a career in it?
My parents introduced me to country music at a young age and I immediately fell in love with the genre and the story songs that are country music. Growing up in Kelowna, country music was not cool at all and I often got teased by other kids. I didn’t let that bother me too much and I continued to be myself. I had a passion for country music and dreamed of being a country singer when I grew up. With enough hard work and determination, dreams can come true!
3. Who are some of your musical icons?
I have many musical icons who have helped shape who I am as a country artist, including Dolly Parton, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, and Canadian’s Shania Twain and Carolyn Dawn Johnson.
4. What is the background story behind your newest single “Doin’ Here?”
I co-wrote Doin’ Here with Joe Forte in Nashville, TN and the song was actually his idea and he brought me in as a co-writer. At first I wasn’t sure if it was a song that I would record, however we took the song in a little different direction than originally planned and I loved how the song turned out and knew immediately that I wanted to record and release Doin’ Here. I often have people ask me if I’m the feisty female in the song, and I am not haha! Sometimes as songwriters the songs are not always about us, but I can definitely relate to certain aspects of this song and it’s a fun song to perform live with my band!
5. Where do you see your music career in the next 5 to 10 years?
In the next 5 to 10 years I hope to be performing on bigger stages, touring more throughout North America, opening up for larger acts, or possibly headlining my own larger shows! That is my ultimate goal and dream.
6. Is there anything new coming up with your music in 2019?
Yes there is! I have another new single ready for release for spring of 2019 and then I’ll be heading back to Nashville for more songwriting and recording new music to release summer and fall of 2019, I’m also currently booking shows with my band for the spring/summer and can’t wait for festival season and rodeo season to begin!
7. If you could sing a duet with a famous singer or group who would it be and why?
I would love to sing a duet with Dolly Parton or Shania Twain. Both ladies have been huge inspirations to me both as singers, songwriters, and who they are as people.
8. What is one of your favorite quotes?
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” ~Eleanor Roosevelt~
9. Is there anything else you would like to share?
Yes, I would like to share my story because I feel it can encourage others! Just before starting college as a Voice Major in a Music Program, a tumour was found on my thyroid gland and had to be removed. Long story short, I woke up with no voice and was told that the recurrent laryngeal nerve that makes the vocal cords move was severed during the surgery and I was told I would never talk normally again or sing again. I have a very strong faith, but I was very angry with God at first as to why He would give me this gift of music and the passion, only to take it away. I decided shortly after the diagnosis that I was going to have faith and hope and believe in a miracle. I went 3 months without talking and 6 months unable to sing. When my voice started slowly returning, the doctors and specialists were shocked as it could not be explained medically or scientifically. I told them that I have a strong faith and believed in a miracle. I had asked God if He wasn’t going to heal me to please take my passion for music away, but it only grew stronger. I knew I was going to be healed. After 6 months I was able to begin singing again. That experience was extremely tough, but it taught me patience, trust, perseverance, and it strengthened my faith. It made my faith real to me. Going through that was confirmation that this is what I’m meant to be doing and definitely what drives my passion as a country artist. I hope that my story will provide hope to others going through tough times. Sometimes we don’t get to see the bigger picture while we are walking through what feels like hell, but God always has a plan and that is one thing we can hold onto during the tough times.
ACMA nominated country singer, Alecia Aichelle, has always been known that country music was her directed path. Notified she would sing again after problems with throat surgery, Aichelle showed true spirit and fought all chances for an unbelievable recovery. Her determination, mixed with a strong love for music, is what fuels Aichelle’s desire as an artist. Her great work and willpower are obvious as she continues to showcase her skills as a songwriter and performer both with a whole band and solo shows.
This past summer was exciting for Aichelle with her Hooked On Us radio tour, which involved visiting over 40 stations in Western Canada in her sponsored car from Scott Subaru of Red Deer. The highlight of her summer shows was playing a show with Aaron Goodvin and Aaron Pritchett on the Westerner Days Mainstage at the Enmax Centrium in Red Deer. Aichelle’s drive has continued into the fall with more big shows and a trip back to Nashville to write and record new music.
Following a long week playing two dates with her band on the Canadian Finals Rodeo Mainstage in Red Deer, including being one of the opening acts for Lindsay Ell, Aichelle released her newest single “Doin’ Here” on November 7, 2018. “Doin Here,” takes on an adventure to an old bar, a dance floor and a few beers and an energetic female who is not scared to make the first move. This song was co-written by Joe Forte and recorded in Nashville with Daniel Dennis at Prime Cut Studio, Aichelle is happy about the new sound of “Doin’ Here,” and looks forward to playing it live with her band. She will be visiting some radio stations in Alberta on her “Doin’ Here radio tour this fall/winter and has more thrilling shows coming up with her band.
Aichelle has previously put out her debut album, “Golden,” in 2016 and 5 other singles to Canadian Country Radio including “Hooked On Us,” which was released on June 18, 2018 National Go Fishing Day to kick off the summer fishing season. Aichelle was so happy and honored to be sponsored by Scott Subaru of Red Deer with a 2018 Impreza Hatchback for her Hooked on Us summer radio tour throughout Western Canada. Her best friend and dog, Hank her French bulldog, was supposed to join her on tour but unfortunately he became sick with a rare illness. After fighting for his life in animal hospital for almost 3 weeks with Aichelle by his side, she had to say farewell. Aichelle dedicated Hooked On Us and her summer tour to Hank.
In Fall 2017, she was back in Nashville writing and recording new music. She put out her 4thsingle to radio, “Get Some.” In the early part of 2017 she put out her 3rdsingle, “What It Wasn’t,” to Canadian Country Radio. This song was off her debut album “Golden.” “What It Wasn’t,” comes from a real and truthful place for Aichelle. Also she released two singles to Canadian Country Radio in 2016 “Without June, a Nashville co-write and “Country Life,” which was written mostly by Aichelle.
Aichelle’s debut album “Golden,” was released in Spring 2016, and it was nominated for Album of Year at the 2016 ACMA’s. This album covers co-writes as wells as tunes written mostly by Aichelle. She has had the honor of writing with many songwriters in Nashville including Joe Forte, Greg Friia (Bonne Tyler, Richie McDonald, Eric Paslay), Emilee Allan, Mary Danna (Trisha Yearwood, Trace Adkins, Carolyn Dawn Johnson), and Forest Miller (Chasin’ Crazy). The talented Daniel Dennis at Prime Cut Studio in Nashville produced the bulk of the album.
Aichelle was born and raised in Kelowna, BC. Her love for music and performing started early on as she grew up singing in her church and shined in at Royal Conservatory classical piano. She also enjoyed acting and spent a lot of time being a part of school musicals and community performances. Aichelle was introduced to country music as a child by her parents, who been dedicated fans of Aichelle’s musical dreams. Some of her first musical icons include Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Dolly, Paul Brandt and CCR.
Aichelle now calls Red Deer County, Alberta home since moving to attend the Red Deer College Music Program where she attained a Music Diploma in Voice and Piano Performance. A little bit before attending college a big tumor was found on her thyroid gland and a needed surgery was performed. This caused a, what the expert said, “permanent paralysis of Aichelle’s right vocal cord due to complications in surgery.” Informed she would never sing again, Aichelle’s robust confidence and belief for a miracle carried her through. After 6 months, Aichelle’s voice was completely reinstated nothing little of a miracle. Aichelle hopes to inspire others with her story of hope and faith.
She is currently performing all over Alberta both with her band and as a solo artist, as well as spending some time in Nashville writing songs and performing live. One of Aichelle’s dreams came true when she was asked to lay a Writer’s in The Round,” with three other songwriters at the famous Bluebird Café Nashville in November 2014. She has since visited Nashville many times to record her first full-length album “Golden.”
Aichelle is also a long time supporter for her local SPCA, extended care facilities, and many different fundraising events. Aichelle thinks and feels her purpose is to use her gift of music to make an encouraging difference in the world and help make everybody smile.
Smoked Brisket 13Lb Brisket Marinated in a home sauce garlic butter/bbq over night. 6am start charcoal smoker with apple wood and mystique bbq wood chips at 225F. Add a Hickory Saskatchewan Dry Rub to the brisket and then Smoke brisket for 3-4 hour. Next tent with butcher peach paper for the remaining 7-8 hours maintaining temperature and adding water to the steam bowl. Once done, let sit for 15 min and then carve into inch thick slices and serve with cheese platter, bread, and various dipping sauces. And a beer fridge stalked up outside of course! 👌🏻
1. Hi Ches, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before becoming a country musician? Before Pursuing a career in country music, I spent most my time racing motocross and working as a session musician in various studios playing anything from blues to hard rock as a guitar player.
2. When did you start listening to country music? As far back as I can remember I grew up always hearing artists like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Jimmie Rodgers playing in the house. As a family we would spend our time practicing harmonies and soulful blues songs at the dinner table
3. When did you know you wanted a career in country music? I knew I wanted a career in country music when I had the opportunity to share the stage with the Hunter Brothers at Frenchman Valley Jamboree at the age of 7. We spent most of our time as a family on the road with my fathers blues band The Good News Blues. After experiencing the excitement of a festival crowd I needed more.
4. What is your musical process when recording a new song? Writing is where is starts for me. Telling a storey through my music is what I love to do the most, from there once I hit the studio I usually start with a scratch track guitar, then add in drums, Rhythms, bass, vocals and see where the song wants to go, what kind of feeling and emotion is behind the lyrics will usually determine what production will go behind the song in the studio.
5. Who are some of your musical icons? Joe Bonamassa, Hank Williams, Howlin Wolf, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Steel Drivers, Breaking Benjamin, Travis Tritt. A lot of music out there anything from old Blues to new country to heavy rock will inspire me. A good song is a good song.
6. Is there anything new coming up with your music in 2019? Yes! I have been working in the studio everyday writing for the past year. I am very excited to get my storey out there through my music! There will be an Album release coming very soon!
7. What is the background story behind your latest single “Written in Stone?” Sometimes we tend to feel like we have to change because of someone or what social media is saying, or we don’t feel like we’re good enough. Written In Stone is about sticking to your roots, standing your ground, not letting anyone change who you are. It’s about being you and loving yourself.
8. What are few of your favorite music venues to play at? Anything from festivals like Boots and Hearts, Country Thunder, Dauphins Country Fest, Stars and Thunder to bars like The Capitol, Winners and Losers are a some of my best memories! The thrill of playing a big festival can be breath taking, also playing a bar with 200 people that know your songs and support and love the music is also an amazing feeling!
9. What is one of your favorite quotes? . “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” And “life’s a garden, dig it.” Because who doesn’t like David Spade hah.
Country musician Ches Anthony is from a tiny town in Saskatchewan, and it is walled by music and motocross. Anthony learned to play the harmonica, guitar and piano as a child. His dad would bring him up on stage with his blues band where he played for their fans.
One of Anthony’s fondest memories was when his dad’s band played at a gospel country music festival. The power went out due to a harsh thunderstorm and everybody ran into a hall. They kept the concert going and had a huge jam session by playing on anything from pots and pans to make music. After seeing that Anthony was addicted and needed more.
When he was a teenager Anthony started a heavy rock band and wrote tunes that would aid him and others could relate to the fights of childhood. While improving his guitar skills playing in a blue band for many years, he started to listen to the sadness and feeling in old blue singers like Howlin Wolf and Elmore James and the old country gravel of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams he began his own writing and singing method.
On December 14, 2018 Anthony put out his debut single “Written in Stone,” and it is available Spotify and iTunes. If you would like to find out more about Ches Anthony then check out his website at (http://chesanthonyofficial.com).
1. Hi Alex, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician? Hey Danaille! I think I’ve always been a musician… playing instruments, singing, writing songs. Can’t think of a time when I wasn’t. : )
2. How did you start listening to country music and when did you know you wanted a career in it? I’m assuming I started hearing country music days after I took my first breath, but I probably really started “listening” and paying attention around age 4. I’d say I knew I wanted to try to pursue a career in country music when I was in 6th grade.
3. Who are some of your musical icons? This a such a tough question for me… growing up I loved Faith Hill, Shania Twain, the Dixie Chicks, and Sheryl Crow.
4. What is the background story behind your latest song “California?” My husband Spencer and I lost our first baby when I was around 8-10 weeks pregnant and it was devastating for us. We named that sweet baby California and the song was my way of coping with it.
5. What is your songwriting process when writing a new song? Usually an idea just kind of hits me randomly, and then I write it down and think on it for a few days. Then when a melody for the idea hits me (if it doesn’t happen at the same time as the concept hits me), I’ll grab my guitar or sit at the piano and see what spills out naturally. Then if I dig it, I might finish it on my own or bring it to my next cowrite.
6. Is there anything new coming up with your music in 2019? Possibly! There are a few things in the works, so we’ll see.
7. What do you hope people take away from your music when they listen to it? Hope. Life. Relatability. Hope that the hurt will heal. That life can suck, but it’s so incredibly beautiful. And that we all have similar emotions and thoughts and are never alone.
8. What is one of your favorite quotes? I have A LOT, but currently, “If there’s a Goliath standing in front of you, then there’s a David inside of you.” Biblical reference and so inspiring!
Grew up in the prime of Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Martina McBride, Alex Masters started to create her skills even as a little child in Virginia by picking up a 3-stringed guitar in attempt to tell her family a story. Looking to improve these talents, she traveled to Nashville to attend Belmont University’s School of Music. While Masters originally opposed following the country music she grew up listening to on her family farm in Berryville, Virginia. While attending college, Masters did an internship at Corman Music working under Nate Lowery and well-known songwriter Brett James; she soon found her rekindling a love for the music of her roots.
With a college degree in hand, Masters encircled herself with a cast of wonderful musicians to record an album showcasing a wide expand of musical influences and meaningful life experiences. She was also under the help and support of BMI’s Beth Laird and songwriter Paul Alan, Masters landed co-writes with songwriting loyalists with two time Grammy Award winning producer Nathan Chapman (Jewel, Sara Evans, Coblie Caillat, Taylor Swift) and Grammy Award winner Liz Rose (Gary Allen, Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood and Tim McGraw). After 2 years of writing her own songs, she put out a seven-song EP titled “Long Way Home.”
When Masters is not creating or writing beautiful music, she enjoys her time as being a wife and mother. Her latest song “California,” came out on November 16, 2018 and it is available on Amazon Music, Spotify and iTunes. This wonderful and touching song is about a sweet baby, who Masters lost when she was 8 to 10 weeks pregnant. If you would like to find out more about Alex Masters then check out her website at (http://www.alexmastersmusic.com).
1. Hi Royale, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became country musician? I actually don’t really remember a time where I wasn’t a country musician… I have been singing since I was a little girl… country was always something that I related the most with. I grew up on a horse farm on the outskirts of a small town in Ontario. Singing and playing guitar was a big part of my childhood. I actually don’t remember a time where music wasn’t the most important thing in my life. I can even remember the first cassettes we listened to in our old chevy truck… Shania twain & Blue Rodeo.
2. When did you first start listening to country music?Country music surrounded me as a child, it on the radio at the barn… it was on our cassette tapes in our truck … country music has been the soundtrack to my life for the last 24 years.
3. When did you know you wanted a career in country music?I have always known I wanted to be a singer but I definitely did some soul searching before I moved to Nashville permanently. Growing up in a small town, I wanted to experience the world… that included university in Ottawa, a trip to Africa, and a few road trips around America! The day I finally moved to Nashville was the best day of my life, I had finally found my home.
4. Who are some of your musical icons?I am a huge fan of Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, and Kacey Musgraves. All three of them are incredible writers and thats why I am so invested in their work. All three of them bring a unique touch on the country music genre!
5. What is background story behind your latest single “Old You?” Old You will always have a special place in my heart. We all have songs that we write when we are absolutely broken… well this is no exception, this was one of the hardest songs to write for me because it came from such a personal place.
6. What are you looking forward to when your new single “No Saddle,” comes out on Feb 8th, 2019?No Saddle is basically an autobiography. I wrote this song with two amazing friends, Hunter Wolkonowski and Davis Corley. We basically brought to light the pain and the determination it takes to pack up, leave home and make a living with music career. I can’t wait for it to drop!
7. What venue is your favorite to play a live show at? I absolutely love to play… whether its a dive bar, a rodeo stage, or on my home stages here in Nashville… I find myself loving each venue for various different reasons… if I had to choose… I think my favourite spot to perform is on a tailgate of a chevy truck! 8. What is one of your favorite quotes? One of my favourite quotes is “ Don’t flatter yourself cowboy, I was looking at your horse”
9. Is there anything else you would like to share? Thank you so much for having me! Check out “No Saddle’ Available everywhere on Feb 8th!
Cover of Runaway June Song (Wild West)~ By: Royale Lynn
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