The Whitehorse-born singer-songwriter took home three awards
The Canadian Blues Music Awards (CBMA), formerly known as the Maple Blues Awards, are in the first year of their rebrand. The old awards were based on a popular vote, so any nominated artist had to ask folks to vote for them, whereas the new CBMA format sees the nominees juried by a panel of experts.
Whitehorse-born bluesman Brandon Isaak had been nominated 24 times in the past and only brought home one win, largely because he doesn’t like asking people to vote for him. He thought with the new system, this could finally be his year. He was right.
“I was the big winner at the CBMAs for its first show,” he says. “I was thrilled to hear I was nominated for five awards: Male Blues Vocalist of the Year, Producer of the Year, Blues Guitarist of the Year, Electric Blues Recording of the Year and Blues Song of the Year. It was very exciting to hear we were up for all five and we actually had hope with the new voting system.”
The Canadian Blues Music Awards Gala evening, hosted by the Toronto Blues Society, took place in March at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre. Isaak was a featured performer at the event, along with Steve Marriner, Danny Marks, Crystal Shawanda, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne and Dana Wylie. It was an honour for Isaak to share the stage with other national blues music treasures, but it was nerve wracking to be up against them in the same award categories.
“I was up against heavy blues royalty, and Steve Marriner had just won the Juno two days earlier for Blues Album of the Year,” Isaak says. “In my heart, I knew my album was pure blues and I knew I had a good chance. Then they called my name and I felt a warm sensation … I peed myself. Just kidding, I was just tickled pink, that’s all. It was a thrilling and exciting night for Canadian and Yukon blues music.”
Isaak ended up winning the awards for Electric Blues Recording of the Year, Blues Song of the Year and Blues Guitarist of the Year. His hat trick of awards and two other nominations stem from his latest album Walkin’ With the Blues. The record has been in the Top 10 on the Canadian charts for 10 months now, while charting very high in the U.S. as well. Isaak was also nominated by the International Blues Foundation, out of Memphis, for a production award as well as a nomination from the American Blues Music Awards for International Blues Album of the Year.
“So to say the least, this album has legs and is running like an Ethiopian marathon runner with no shoes or strings attached,” says Isaak.
Though he’s lived in B.C. for a long time and spends many of his days on the road, Isaak always considers the Yukon to be his home and always makes sure to talk up the territory and its creative scene.
“The Yukon has always been an amazing place for music and artists to come and hunker down with their passion,” he says. “There is lots of time to practise when it’s cold out, so we all get good over the winter months. I was born and raised in Whitehorse and I’m a proud Yukon boy.”
Isaak is currently working on a new blues album of 14 original songs that centre around the state of the world, though a few of its cuts are love songs for his wife, Cindy Mae Isaak, who also manages his music career.
“I’m blessed that we can make art for a living, and so grateful to the people that come out and support the arts,” he says. “I’m not bent on fame and fortune. I’m a Yukon boy who is happy making a good living creating modern, original, traditional cutting-edge blues.
“I’m content and grateful to the universe for a blessed life.”
Visit brandonisaak.ca to keep up with Brandon Isaak.
“I’m thrilled to be the big winner of the first Canadian Blues Music Awards, especially as a Yukon-born, dog-mushing, snowshoeing northern light who never forgets where he’s from,” Isaak says. “I’ve always loved the Yukon and the people, and the Yukon has always been behind me and a major supporter of my musical career.”
