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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-12-02, Page 5Huron -Kinloss performer Serena Rutledge excited for EP release Darryl Coote Kincardine News Ripley native Serena Rut- ledge thought it would be years from now before she'd come out with her first album. "I didn't think at 14 I'd be able to do it," she said, recently while on her lunch break from Kincardine & District Secondary School. "I always wanted to do it when I grew up -- make CDs -- but I didn't think I could do it now." Come Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Governor's Inn, Best Western Plus, Rutledge will have surpassed her own expectations with an EP release concert for her first album titled, "Our Best Fight." "I'm pretty excited," said the music student of Luc- know's Scott Chow. "I've recorded single songs before, but I haven't released them before on iTunes or anything or had a physical CD. So it's pretty exciting." The process of how she got here started last January when at the encouragement of her mother, Anita Rut- ledge, she did what turns out to be one of the most Cana- dian rock and roll moves one can think of -- she applied for a government grant, spe- cifically from The Founda- tion Assisting Canadian Tal- ent on Recordings, or FACTOR for short. "And that's kind of the way Canada's music indus- try works is even big bands they still use FACTOR fund- ing because they can. I think that's a great thing about Canada," she said, citing the band Marianas Trench as proof that estab- lished groups used govern- ment funds. Even still, after having applied for the money, she didn't think it was going to happen. "I didn't think it was for me," she said. "I thought it was more for people already developed who had a fan base and everything." However, she did not have to wait long as she was on March break when she got word back form FACTOR. "I was in Florida. I was sit- ting by the pool and my mom got an email, and she went over to my dad and she shows him her iPad screen, and she's like, 'Am i reading this right?' And I'm like, 'What are you talking about?' "I think I screamed. I don't know if I screamed. I jumped up and ran over to look at her screen. I was not expecting to get the grant, especially at 14 ... I just didn't think that at 14 they would give me $1,5007 she said. But FACTOR did. And in doing so Rutledge was reas- sured that she was doing the "right thing" in pursuing a career in music. "It just kind of confirmed that what I was doing was good," she said. The "pop, rock with a lit- tle bit of punk" album includes all original mate- rial by Rutledge and was produced and recorded by Siegfried Meier of Beach Road Studios in Goderich. It contains the songs, "Ecstasy of the Unknow," "Weeds," "Two Faced" and "Our Best Fight," which she decided to name the album after because of its message. "It's probably my favour- ite message of all the songs. That's the one about kids and how we have to put up our best fight to be our- selves and make our way through the world. So that was the main idea I wanted to get across. So it just made sense to make that the title," she said. Proceeds from the launch party and silent auction will go towards the Women's House Serving Bruce & Grey as it not only does important work, Rutledge said, but is also connected to themes in her album. "The whole idea of the women's house is to support women who have gone through a lot; she explained. "And that kind of tied in with one of my songs, 'our best fight." The song, she said, is about her generation fight- ing against stereotypes and expectations to be our true selves. But the song can be interpreted to be about fighting through all kinds of struggles. "It can be taken as for women or for anybody that's been through tough times and needs help, and they need to put up their best fight to get through those things. And the theme of the concert kind of worked with the Women's House," she said. "And it's amazing what the Women's House is doing for women around here. It was kind of a no brainer." Now that she's made her first album, she will continue to apply for grants and con- tinue to write and sing and perform. And who knows, maybe even make a music video for one of her songs. "That would be very awe- some," she said. Huron Women's Shelter reaching out to region The Huron Women's Shelter Second Stage Housing and Counselling Services serves over 600 women each year across Huron County, and pro- vides emergency shelter, housing, support, coun- selling and advocacy to women and chil- dren experiencing violence. Each month we will be writing this column to highlight the work we do and the issues facing women in our county today. December 6 is the National Day of Remem- brance and Action on Vio- lence Against Women. On Dec. 6, 1989, 14 women at 1'13cole Polytechnique in Montreal were killed in a gender-based act of vio- lence. Their names were: Genevieve Bergeron, Helene Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne -Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik Wida- jewicz, Maryse Laganiere, Maryse Leclair, Anne - Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelle- tier, Michele Richard, Annie St-Arneault, and Annie Turcotte. Since 1991, Dec. 6 marks a time to reflect on the phenomenon of vio- lence against women in our society. It is also a day for communities and indi- viduals to speak out against all forms of vio- lence against women and its impact on victims and their families and friends. In Goderich, there will be a vigil in Lions Harbour Park at 7 p.m., Sunday December 6. Other Community Events It's the 20th Anniversary of Breakfast with Santa on Saturday Dec. 12, 8-11 am, at Knox Presbyterian Church in Goderich! Please come out and enjoy a delicious home cooked breakfast of sausage, pan- cakes, eggs, muffins and local maple syrup and apple cider. The "real" Santa and his Elves will be there to visit with the chil- dren and learn their Christmas wishes. There is a wonderful craft area for kids and family to create yet another Christmas treasure. Last but not least there will be Christmas songs by local musicians and the opportunity to create and receive a little Christmas cheer. Adults $6, Children $4, Families $20. The HuronSong Chorus presents an annual Christmas concert with all proceeds donated to the Huron Women's Shelter: don't miss the wonderful choir as they perform Christmas favourites at North Side United Church in Seaforth, Wednesday Dec. 16. Goodwill offering. How You Can Help Item donations are grate- fully accepted at the Huron Women's Shelter; but differ- ent seasons bring the need for particular items. In December, we are seeking donations of: winter items (coats, boots, and mitts), cleaning supplies, $10 or $15 gift cards for gas, gro- cery, or Walmart, bath tow- els, large bottles of shampoo and conditioner, alarm clocks, and new kids toys. We are also now accepting online donations - visit www. huronwomensshelter.ca Wednesday, December 2, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 5 Rob Boyce/Your Life in Stills Photography Ripley singer and musician Serena Rutledge is releasing her first EP on Dec. 12, 2015. LUCKNOW ARENA SCHEDULE DECEMBER 2ND - DECEMBER 8T" Wed Dec 2, 2015 10:OOam Open Skating - $2/ Skater 5:OOpm Jr. & Sr. Initiation Practice 6:OOpm PeeWee Rep Practice 7:OOpm Bantam LL Game vs Wingham 8:30pm Legends Practice Fri Dec 4, 2015 10:OOam Open Skating - $2/ Skater 5:OOpm Initiationfryke/Novice Practice 6:OOpm Atom Girls Practice 7:30pm Holyrood Butchers 9:OOpm OPEN ICE Sun Dec 6, 2015 10:OOam-1:OOpm OPEN ICE 1:OOpm Public Skating - Sponsored by Juvenile Silver Stick 3:OOpm Legends Game vs Milverton 4:30pm OPEN ICE 5:30pm Midget LL Practice 6:30pm Midget Rep Practice Tue Dec 8, 2015 10:OOam Open Skating - $2/ Skater 5:OOpm Atom LL Practice 6:OOpm Bantam LL Practice 7:OOpm Midget Girls Game vs Grey Highlands 8:30pm Lancers Practice Thu Dec 3, 2015 10 00a Open Skating - $2/Skater 5:OOpm Tyke Practice 6:OOpm Bantam Rep Practice 7:OOpm OPEN ICE 8:OOpm Midget Rep Practice 9:OOpm OPEN ICE 9:OOpm Rec League Kintail vs Holyrood Sat Dec 5, 2015 9:OOam Jr. Initiation Practice 10:OOam - 8:OOpm OPEN ICE Mon Dec 7, 2015 10:OOam Open Skating - $2/Skater 5:OOpm Novice LL Practice 6:OOpm PeeWee LL Practice 7:OOpm Bantam Rep Game vs Drayton 8:30pm Midget Rep Game vs Seaforth HURON TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO-OPERATIVE LTD. 519-395-3800 www.hurontel.on.ca