Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknifer Dana Sipos-Randor will represent the NWT this weekend at CBC's True North concert in Iqaluit.

The broadcaster held a contest this summer inviting Northerners in five different areas - Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, Nunavik and Eyou Istchee - part of Northern Quebec - to submit bios, photos and recordings for a chance to participate in the undiscovered talent search.

Dana Sipos-Randor was chosen to represent the Northwest Territories at the CBC True North concert this weekend in Iqaluit. - Laura Power/NNSL photo

"I had actually played on the CBC before Folk on the Rocks, so that was easy, because it needed to be a live recording," said Sipos-Randor, whose songs Blue Vein Seet and Oh Aurora were used.

The 23-year-old folk singer initially started playing in public when she was attending Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, but continued in Yellowknife upon her return.

"I find Yellowknife to be obviously a much more welcoming and exciting music scene with a lot more opportunities," she said.

Until now, the largest audience she has performed for was at Folk on the Rocks this summer when she played as a "tweener" between sets. She has also played at a few smaller festivals and at jams around town.

Now she is excited to play at a concert alongside musicians representing four other areas in the North as well as the CBC symphony orchestra - a concert which will also be aired on the CBC Radio 2 Canada Live program.

"They all seem like interesting characters and a lot of different kinds of music, so it should be fun," she said.

The other winners include Soir De Semaine from Yukon, Tusk from Nunavut, Akinisie Sivurapik from Nunavik and Brian Fireman from Eyou Istchee. They will each be given 15 to 20 minutes to perform.

"I think I'll probably play Oh Aurora for sure," said Sipos-Randor.

She said she is feeling a sort of nervous excitement about the concert, but is looking forward to getting there.

"It's good to have a little bit of nervousness," she said.

She is looking at this experience as a "springboard for the future."

"On the one hand is the experience, I guess, of getting to play on national radio," she said.

"It's really cool to meet other musicians from across the North and get a chance to play somewhere outside Yellowknife."

After the concert, Sipos-Randor plans on using a grant she received to record an album. The 12 to 15 tracks she plans to lay down will keep her busy this winter.