Lethbridge musician Shaela Miller (Photo: JAM Music Group)

By Cathy Gibson/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Lethbridge musician named Alberta’s No. 1 rising country star

Apr 12, 2022 | 10:51 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge musician Shaela Miller has been named Alberta’s No. 1 rising country music star.

Miller won the title, along with more than $100,000 in the Project WILD contest sponsored by radio station 95.3 WILD, which is a sister station of CHAT 94.5 in Medicine Hat and Country 95.5 in Lethbridge.

Project WILD is a singing contest and country artist development program designed to kick-start international music careers for three emerging Alberta artists every year. This was the fifth and final season for the project, which was put on by the Alberta Music Industry Association through CRTC-approved Canadian Content Development Funding.

The two other winning artists in Project WILD were Calgary-based Kyle McKearney, who won $75,000 for second place, and Drew Gregory, from Standard, Alberta, who walked away with $50,000 for third place.

It was the second time that winner Shaela Miller had entered the contest, and she says her previous experience helped her gain an edge over her competitors.

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Miller says, “I was able to use all of the information and tools I was equipped with during that year to really help guide me to this year, and I just love the program so much, and I feel so fortunate to have had the chance to be a part of it twice, and then to win it this year. It’s the final year, and it’s the end of it all, and it just feels incredible.”

Miller’s folksy style is unique in today’s country music scene, and it stood out to the Project WILD judges. However, Miller says Project WILD is much more than just a singing competition.

Every artist needed to submit a proposal, which formed part of the overall assessment for each participant.

While Miller claimed the top prize of $100,953, Project WILD granted each of the Top 12 artists $5,000 to be spent in ways that help fill gaps in their business, such as recording, marketing, promotion, video production, or other career-related activities.

Miller says the program is unique in that it helps artists develop their music, and also helps them create plans for how they will run their music career if they win the money.

“Part of the whole program is that you need to decide what you will do with that,” says Miller, “so I spent a lot of time developing my marketing plan for what I will do with the money, and I’m going to be hitting the studio in September to record my next record at the National Music Centre in Calgary.”

Miller says none of this would be possible without her supporters here in Lethbridge.

“I decided a long time ago that Lethbridge is my home, and I have an incredible community here of supporters and followers. That’s one of the coolest things about winning this, is that I’ve had so many people championing me for so long, and I kind of feel like it’s a win for all of us and for Lethbridge.”

The musician and mother is encouraging others who may have similar ambitions to follow their dreams and listen to their hearts.

“Stay true to who you are and what you want, and write the songs that mean something to you. You can try and write a hit all you want, but if it’s not coming from your heart, and if you’re not showing vulnerability, then it’s not going to last.” Miller continues, “For any musicians out there that are aspiring to continue to be songwriters, it’s all about the song. It’s about the bones of the song and the lyrics, and if they speak from your heart, then they’re going to enter other people’s hearts, and that’s what’s going to bring you success in music.”

See more of Shaela Miller’s music at shaelamiller.com.