Ladysmith singer-songwriter Ryan McMahon has received the most nominations of any artist for the Vancouver Island Music Awards.
When the nominees were announced last week, McMahon’s name was called five times.
“I was floored, and quite surprised, to be honest,” he said. “I’ve kind of accepted the fact that a lot of what I do with my career goes under the radar to some extent, so any kind of validation feels fantastic, for sure.”
McMahon has been nominated as Artist of the Year, Male Songwriter of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, and his album All Good Stories (which was produced by Richard Leighton of Lantzville — a nominee for Producer of the Year) is up for Album of the Year.
Ryan McMahon and the Company Damn’s video One Way, directed by Tash Baycroft, has been nominated as Music Video of the Year. The video features McMahon and former bandmates Brooks Jamison, Jason Barber and Matt Henn performing live at the Sportsman Pub.
“I was thrilled that Tash from Red Star Films got the video nomination also — he’s so good at what he does, and with all he’s done for Vancouver Island musicians with his Naked Jams program, he absolutely deserves it,” said McMahon. “And Richard Leighton getting the producer nod was also fantastic to hear, because not only did he change my entire approach to recording, but he single-handedly saved my career by agreeing to produce two records for me in 2011.”
The awards will be presented April 21 at Fairfield United Church in Victoria. Find information about tickets for the awards ceremony here.
***
The complete list of Vancouver Island Music Award nominees is:
• PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Joby Baker, Baker Studios (Victoria)
Christian Down, Infiniti Studios (Victoria)
Richard Leighton, R & R Studios (Lantzville)
George Millar & Rick Salt, Lois Lane Studios (Nanaimo)
Adam Sutherland, Infiniti Studios (Victoria)
• YOUTH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Francesca Belcourt (Cortes Island)
Tegan Johnston (Victoria)
Kaya Martin (Victoria)
Sophia (Victoria)
Brooke Turner (Victoria)
• BEST LIVE ACT
Jessica Benini (Victoria)
Handsome Distraction (Victoria)
Carli & Julie Kennedy (Victoria)
Shane Philip (Courtenay)
Maureen Washington (Courtenay)
• MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Through Hoops” by Francesca Belcourt (Cortes Island)
“The Country Where I Came From” by Mike Edel (Victoria)
“Out of Your Head” by JELL (Victoria)
“One Way” by Ryan McMahon & the Company Damn (Ladysmith)
“Drive Safe” by Handsome Distraction (Victoria)
“Dusk” by Versa (Victoria)
• MALE SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Adam Basterfield for Spaceport Union (Victoria)
Mike Edel (Victoria)
Luke Blu Guthrie (Courtenay)
Ryan McMahon (Ladysmith)
George Millar for The Irish Rovers (Nanoose Bay)
Chasing Satellites (Nanaimo)
• FEMALE SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Helen Austin (Courtenay)
Lindsay Bryan (Victoria)
Carmen Hillary (Victoria)
Auto Jansz (Victoria)
Mae Moore (Salt Spring Island)
Lola Parks (Victoria)
• MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Mike Edel (Victoria)
Brian Hazelbower (Nanaimo)
Des Larson (Courtenay)
Ryan McMahon (Ladysmith)
Chris Neal (Victoria)
Michael Tension (Victoria)
• FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Andrea June (Victoria)
Georgia Murray (Victoria)
Annie Nolan (Victoria)
Erika Phillips (Nanaimo)
Niska Napoleon for Rocky Mountain Rebel Music (Victoria)
Caroline Spence for Spaceport Union (Victoria)
• SONG OF THE YEAR
“A Little More Heart” by Kent Fiddy & David Sinclair (Comox)
“The Drive” by Danton Jay (Victoria)
“Fallen Angel” by Beth Marie Anderson (Nanaimo)
“Gunfighter” by Honeyloaf (Victoria)
“Love is a Con” by The Ghostbirds (Victoria)
“Saturn Maybe” by West My Friend (Victoria)
“Skyscraper” by Lindsay Bryan (Victoria)
“Time Traveler” by Rebecca Boux (Victoria)
“Trouble with Me” by Lola Parks (Victoria)
“Views from Potsdam” by Morlove (Cumberland)
• ALBUM OF THE YEAR
All Good Stories by Ryan McMahon (Ladysmith)
Life Love Music by Shane Philip (Courtenay)
Light Up to Burn Out by River (Victoria)
Beautiful to See by Strawberry Vale (Victoria)
The Sweet Lowdown by The Sweet Lowdown (Victoria)
The Waiting Room by Anne Schaefer (Victoria)
• ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Bryan (Victoria)
Mike Edel (Victoria)
Ryan McMahon (Ladysmith)
Lola Parks (Victoria)
Shane Philip (Courtenay)
