2017 Call for Recording Projects Competition

In November, 2017, MacEwan University’s Bent River Records held a competition open to Alberta artists looking for opportunities to record a full-length album. Part of the enticing prize package for the successful entry included working with renowned producer Marcus Paquin (Arcade Fire, The National, Stars, Colin Stetson), Juno Award-winning engineer Paul Johnston (Mike Rud, Christine Jensen), and the rest of the Label team. The winner of the 2017 competition, Nature Of, applied along with 108 other Alberta artists and groups.

The jury process began in December with the selection of a short-list of the top 25 entries, chosen by the Bent River Team, and from which the top three were later chosen. The final jury panel consisted of Marcus Paquin and six other, well-known local music and arts professionals including, Nuela Charles (musician), Chloe Albert (musician), Maud Salvi (Sled Island Festival), Lionel Rault (CKUA Radio), and Bent River’s Paul Johnston and Rose Ginther.

On January 3rd, 2018, Bent River officially announced the winner of the competition, Nature Of. Recording began at the end of February 2018, and Nature Of will be in the spotlight during Bent River’s annual showcase event in April, 2019 once the album is ready for release. Bent River Records will fund the entire project including studio fees, recording, mixing, mastering, album artwork and manufacturing. Upon release, sales of the recording will follow the standard Bent River artist-share model of 50/50 sales between the artist and the label.