Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase
Saskatchewan native, Chris Henderson is the 4th of the 8 Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist finalists we will be featuring this week. In case you aren’t familiar with the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist competition, 8 finalists have been chosen (out of over 200) who will compete to win an opening slot for Hunter Hayes on August 3 as well as a single release deal with Big Machine Label Group and a week of industry training in Nashville, TN.
Chris Henderson
Chris began his career in country music back in 2006 when he won 620 CKRM Big Country Talent Search, Boots and Hearts performer and Chris’ former “Grassroots and Cowboy Boots” bandmate Jess Moskaluke won the same event in 2010. In June of 2010, Chris and the band were fortunate enough to be crowned “Saskatchewan’s Next Big Thing”, a contest sponsored by Big Dog 92.7 in Regina, Saskmusic and Astral Media. This opportunity has lead to $20,000 dollars worth of prize money, and a major help to bringing new music to fans in the near future! There’s little question that an opportunity like taking the stage at the Boots and Hearts Country Music festival is a dream come true for any artist but to get the chance to not only open for Hunter Hayes but also work with Big Machine Label group on a single release is out of this world. Chris is currently promoting his latest album My Turn which, along with his previous music, can be purchased in iTunes. Chris is hoping that his success continues this summer and you can help him make that happen by voting for him at www.bootsandhearts.com/showcase. The more votes Chris receives the better his performance slot is during the competition on August 2.
We asked each of the finalists 20 questions so that we can get to know the person behind the music and some of the things that have inspired their songs. Here is our interview with Chris Henderson.
SC: Being selected as a finalist for Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist is a big deal. One of the 8 of you will perform in front of Hunter Hayes this summer. Describe the moment you found out you made it? How did they contact you? Where were you? and has it sunken in yet?
CH: It certainly is a big deal and I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the showcase and the festival. I learned of my inclusion on a Monday morning when I first woke up. The night before had been the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, so I woke up in a hotel room in Nipawin to the news. The night before had been great as I won my first award with the association, so I was already on a high, and this extra news was the icing on the cake for sure. It’s sunken in as much as I think it can until you get to the event. I often find that once I arrive at the venue and see the crowd and the atmosphere, that’s when it really hits home for me most of the time. I’m very much looking forward to getting out to Ontario this summer and having that feeling before taking the stage.
SC: Every artist I’ve spoken to has a story about how / when they decided to purse music as a career. Describe the moment that you knew that music was the path for you and what inspired you to take that path.
CH: I’ve had a couple of these moments, as I think most of us do. I can recall being in a showcase when I was 19, and my very gruff Grandfather said to my Mom, “you know, he might just be able to do something with his voice”. To hear those words from my Grandpa was validation for me in many ways. He was the blue-collar, work your ass off type of man, so for him to say those words was a powerful statement.
Secondly, about 3 years ago I had come to a crossroads in my career. I was getting to the point where I was so busy between having a full time day job and playing as many shows as I was, that I simply could not keep up anymore. As I considered whether or not I should resign from my teaching job (I was a high school teacher), I discussed it with those closest to me many times. I found that there wasn’t a single person who discouraged me from taking a shot at it, and when my Mom and fiancé started to push me when I got close to having to make the decision, I knew it was the right one for me. It’s not often you can find a good woman who is willing to put up with being with a musician, let alone one who encourages it and supports you every step of the way. I’m a very lucky man.
SC: In music today there are a lot of artists working on projects with other artists, for example Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line or Tim Hicks and Black Jack Billy. If you could write with or perform with any artist on the scene today (from any genre) who would it be?
CH: I’m gonna be a little bi-polar on this one. I’ve certainly got multiple sides to my musical tastes, and that is certainly reflected in my answer, haha. The songwriter side of me would love to sit down and write/perform a heartbreaker with Kris Kristofferson. That man can write a tune, and I’d probably give my foot to sit down in a writing session with him.
On the other side of the coin, I can’t imagine many musicians in the world I’d rather work with than Dave Grohl. Not only is he one of the most talented fellas around, he’s probably got one of the best attitudes I’ve ever read about. I don’t think you could go wrong letting any of his influence rub off on you.
Grass Roots and Cowboy Boots – Blake Berglund, Jess Moskaluke and Chris Henderson
SC: As an aspiring Country Music star performing in front of large crowds is pretty much par for the course, what’s the largest crowd you’ve ever performed in front of and what do you do to calm your nerves ahead of the show?
CH: The largest crowds I’ve played would be between 10-15 thousand people at a couple festivals I’ve been lucky enough to play over the past few years. As far as calming my nerves, I guess I just make sure I’m prepared and from there I try to make it as casual and fun as possible. Idle time isn’t my friend right before a show, so I just enjoy shooting the breeze with bandmates, stage managers, etc. There are a pile of great people in this industry and it’s important to try and meet as many of them as you can.
SC: In any career there comes a moment, sometimes moments, where you know you’re doing something right. As an entertainer you make a decision to follow that path, can you describe a moment in your career, so far, that made you feel that you are on the right path?
CH: I’ve had a few of these moments as well, but if I were to choose one I’d say it would have been last summer. I released the first single from my current album before last summer, and we were playing a show at Craven Country Jamboree to roughly 10,000 people. I’m not sure how many there were, but I could hear the crowd singing back lyrics I had written down on a piece of paper about a year previous. For a songwriter, there is no greater rush than hearing a stranger sing your song.
SC: What’s your all-time favorite movie?
CH: There are a million brilliant movies out there….. but I’m going with Happy Gilmore. I’ve watched that movie at least 20 times, and I still laugh like it’s the first.
SC: Your ideal brain food?
Chris Henderson…the elephant?
CH: Hmmm… apparently peanuts/peanut butter is good for that sort of thing. I’m basically an elephant..
SC: Favourite Restaurant (anywhere in the world)?
CH: It just closed… but there was a greasy spoon in Regina, Sk called “Stan’s Diner” for many years. You could feel yourself getting fatter while you ate, but the food was so good, it just didn’t matter.
SC: Favourite TV show (all-time)?
CH: How could I say anything but the Simpsons? I have loved many shows in my life, but when I consider how many hours (days… likely months), of my life that I’ve spent with Homer Simpson’s wisdom, I’m sure there’s no comparison.
SC: If you could see any artist in concert, who would you see (living or dead)?
CH: If this were ever presented to me as a real opportunity, my brain would explode. So rather than overanalyze and over-explain, let’s just say the Beatles.
SC: iPhone, Android or Blackberry?
CH: iPhone….
SC: Can you talk about a fan encounter that completely took you by surprise?
CH: Haha… there have been a few noteworthy events over the years I’ve been doing this. I recently held a CD release party in my hometown, and a familiar face walked up to ask for an autograph. She showed me her autograph book, and the page I signed for her almost 9 years ago when I was just a kid. She also had a picture of the two of us from that day that she had brought with her so I could sign it. This picture clearly had been in this book since it was developed. Very cool to think about someone hanging on that so for long.
SC: What are your family member’s musical interests and abilities?
CH: I’m very lucky in this respect. My father was a touring road musician for nearly 20 years in the late 60′s to the early 80′s, so I had plenty to learn from him. My Uncles & Grandma were also musicians (Grandma was a drummer, so cool), and many of them still play when the opportunity presents itself. My brother is also a full time folk singer by the stage moniker of, “Poor Nameless Boy“, so it’s great to be able to chat about the industry with him as well.
SC: Name a fictional character most like you?
Hates Mondays
CH: Garfield… Lasagna and naps are amazing… Monday’s suck.
SC: In Chris Henderson, Story of My Life” – The Movie, who would play you?
Adam Sandler
Ryan Reynolds
CH: Let’s go with Adam Sandler… he always wants to be a rock star within his own movies… and I’ve got a bit of an egg-shaped head. Plus, “I Wanna Grow Old With You” from, “The Wedding Singer”, was one of the first tunes I learned on guitar…
Either him, or maybe Ryan Reynolds. He’s Canadian, and the actor is always better looking than the real life person, right?
SC: Star Trek or Star Wars?
CH: Oh boy… I must confess, I’ve never watched a Star Wars movie in my life. I don’t know how I got through the first 20 years of my life without seeing one honestly… but once I released how much it messed with people’s heads that I’d never watched one, I had to keep the streak going. There are people who have literally offered me 100 dollars, just to watch one movie. I take a weird pleasure in watching how much it bothers them….
SC: Stress management: hit man, spa vacation or Prozac?
CH: Haha… maybe a combo of all 3? A quiet room with a guitar and a notepad is generally the best thing though.
SC: What is the best advice you’ve been given?
CH: George Canyon and I met at a songwriter’s circle not long after I released my first album in 2008. He complimented my songs and asked where I was at in my career. I told him I had just released my first album, to which he replied, “Good job. Now plan to make at least 4 more. I won ‘Rising Star’ after my 5th album… you have the talent, so plan for the journey and you’ll get where you want to be. This almost never happens overnight.”
SC: The country music business is one of the most charitable businesses in the world, is there a specific charity that’s close to your heart that you support or would like to see more support for?
Ranch Ehrlo Society
CH: There are many but I suppose if I had to choose one it would be working with youth that come from abusive backgrounds. In my last couple years as a full time teacher I worked for an organization called, “Ranch Ehrlo“. This agency took kids from all over Canada, provided them with safe housing, education, therapy, etc, and tried to teach them a sense of a normal, safe life. There are a lot of horror stories of abuse out there, and unfortunately there’s a great need for these programs across the country.
SC: In the final few days of voting tell us why country music fans should vote for Chris Henderson?
CH: This has been a fantastic opportunity for me to continue to promote myself across the country. Voting for me, you can be confident that I will make the most of every opportunity I’m given and that I’m in this for the long haul. Music is who I am and what I believe I’m supposed to do. Every step forward is a step I’m working extremely hard to take, and every piece of help along the way is appreciated and remembered.
You can support Chris in his quest to win the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist and open for Hunter Hayes by voting daily at www.bootsandhearts.com/showcase. If you want to learn even more about Chris or find out where you can purchase his music or even see him perform visit him online at any of the following:
www.chrishendersonmusic.com www.twitter.com/Hendersonmusicwww.facebook.com/ChrisHendersonBand www.reverbnation.com/chendersonmusic We’d like to thank Chris for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him well in the Showcase as well as with his future career, see you out on the road! Here’s Chris’ latest video “I Sure Hope He Loves You” off of his album ‘My Turn‘ which is available now!
