With a flat-brimmed hat, golden waist-length locks and a radiant smile – Heather Gemmell brandishes her own distinct style as a mountain artist. She is the winner of the CBC Searchlight 2022 Fan Choice Award for her song NorthStar Burning. A song that captured the hearts of thousands of people across western Canada depicting the heinous arson that crippled her small-town ski hill and local economy.
Her songwriting is gripping at both ends of the emotional spectrum. She couples her songwriting and arrangements with a seemly endless bag of tricks including her diverse instrumentalist ability; which she has become renowned for. Her performance style, stage energy and sheer talent set her apart from many other performing artists.
She has put a new meaning to the term one woman band. Her traditional instruments are blended with a contemporary and elaborate stage plot that can make any musician’s head turn at the site of it. She has three full-length albums under her belt with songs that tell a diverse plethora of stories that captivate her listener’s attention behind every phrase.
“I feel once a player has reached a certain level of musicianship, it then becomes a quest for tone and stage sound. My journey in music will never end as there is so much to learn and hone with each instrument I play and how I want to showcase them on stage.