Amanda Thate wins emerging artist contest
By Shara JJ Cooper
Grand Fork’s own singer/songwriter Amanda Thate keeps on moving up in the music world. Her latest achievement is winning the “Emerging Artist Showdown” hosted by Country 103 – a Kamloop’s based radio station.
The contest was driven by fan votes, which Thate dominated earning 41 percent of the votes for her song “A Dream.” Votes were cast online through the radio station’s website. This allowed her to track the competition’s progress and keep in touch with voters. She found the support from her fans motivating.
“It’s the most wonderful feeling, waking up in the morning and reading such sweet messages from fans,” she said. “Those comments are really what keep me going.”
Following the win, her song was played on the radio in a prime time spot on March 23.
This isn’t Thate’s only professional achievement this year. The 19-year-old singer signed on with Fair Wend Entertainment Services – a deal which will help propel her career forward.
“(This) has opened so many doors for me,” she said.
Thate has left Grand Forks and set up in Abbotsford, a location she calls the “heart of BC’s country music.” While she is no longer full-time in the Boundary region, she hasn’t left it far behind.
“Anywhere music takes me, it takes my family along as well,” she said. “My dad is my manager, and for many years, my mom has been my pianist and back-up singer. I love looking out into the audience when performing and seeing my favourite people in the world cheering me on.”
She not only keeps her family close with her as she travels and performs, but she also remembers where she came from.
“I’m just a small-town girl who is following her dream,” she said. “I know I will never regret trying to do this, so I continue to push myself and rise to every challenge I encounter.”
The country singer has many local fans that have followed her career since she was young and she continues to grow an even larger fan base. But, Boundary admirers don’t need to worry that Thate has moved onto beginner venues. She’ll be performing locally at least twice in the coming year. Her first performance is at the Christina Lake Homecoming on July 20th, and again at the Grand Forks Fall Fair, August 24th.
Fans can track Thate’s career at her website: www.amandathate.com.
