Mackenzie Porter – The 24 year old
singer from Medicine Hat, Alberta and sister of Kalan Porter (2004
Canadian Idol winner) wasn’t always a singer. Starting out in the
entertainment field as part of her family’s band with brother
Kalan, she began studying piano, violin and voice at age four. She
moved to Vancouver to pursue a career as an actress, Mackenzie was
touted as one of the hottest actors in Vancouver in 2011. Mackenzie
had other ideas and broke out her fiddle to the delight of Canadian
Country Music Fans. Mackenzie then won the 2011 Nashville North Star
competition.
singer from Medicine Hat, Alberta and sister of Kalan Porter (2004
Canadian Idol winner) wasn’t always a singer. Starting out in the
entertainment field as part of her family’s band with brother
Kalan, she began studying piano, violin and voice at age four. She
moved to Vancouver to pursue a career as an actress, Mackenzie was
touted as one of the hottest actors in Vancouver in 2011. Mackenzie
had other ideas and broke out her fiddle to the delight of Canadian
Country Music Fans. Mackenzie then won the 2011 Nashville North Star
competition.
In just over 2 years since breaking out
on her own, MacKenzie has been nominated for Rising Star at the
Canadian Country Music Association awards in 2013, and in 2014 has
been nominated for Canadian Country Music’s Female artist of the
Year. Mackenzie has also opened for Kenney Chesney, Canadian rock
band Trooper and Doc Walker. She has also played for the Canadian
Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
on her own, MacKenzie has been nominated for Rising Star at the
Canadian Country Music Association awards in 2013, and in 2014 has
been nominated for Canadian Country Music’s Female artist of the
Year. Mackenzie has also opened for Kenney Chesney, Canadian rock
band Trooper and Doc Walker. She has also played for the Canadian
Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
MacKenzie has
developed into a true Country artist and will be a part of country
music for a long time. Her Self-titled Album “MacKenzie Porter”
was just released July 29th, to ITUNES, is every bit a showcase of
MacKenzie’s talent, as much, as it is her vision and includes works
produced by Canadian Country Music icon Carolyn Dawn Johnson.
developed into a true Country artist and will be a part of country
music for a long time. Her Self-titled Album “MacKenzie Porter”
was just released July 29th, to ITUNES, is every bit a showcase of
MacKenzie’s talent, as much, as it is her vision and includes works
produced by Canadian Country Music icon Carolyn Dawn Johnson.
Talking with Mackenzie as she gets
ready to open for Blake Shelton in Edmonton:
ready to open for Blake Shelton in Edmonton:
It’s been a whirl wind year and here
you are opening for the CMA 2013 Male Artist of the Year Blake
Shelton, and Nominated for the 2014 – CCMA Female artist of the Year.
you are opening for the CMA 2013 Male Artist of the Year Blake
Shelton, and Nominated for the 2014 – CCMA Female artist of the Year.
RP: Is there a new Album in the works?
M: Well, we just
finished my first album a few weeks ago so we will ride with it for a
bit. I am going back to Nashville this month to start writing the
next one. It’s a continual process.
finished my first album a few weeks ago so we will ride with it for a
bit. I am going back to Nashville this month to start writing the
next one. It’s a continual process.
R: How has your new single been
received?
received?
M: I’m so
ecstatic about how it has been received. People seem to really love
it, choosing it for their wedding, doing covers of it etc… means I
did my job so I’m thrilled
ecstatic about how it has been received. People seem to really love
it, choosing it for their wedding, doing covers of it etc… means I
did my job so I’m thrilled
R: I think one of the things that set
you out from the rest of the pack is that your songs are life
experience songs that everyone can relate to. “If You Ask Me To”
goes through the life stages of a relationship and is portrayed in a
country style in the video where there is one constant -the car. What
is it that made you record “If You Ask Me To”?
you out from the rest of the pack is that your songs are life
experience songs that everyone can relate to. “If You Ask Me To”
goes through the life stages of a relationship and is portrayed in a
country style in the video where there is one constant -the car. What
is it that made you record “If You Ask Me To”?
M: I recorded it
because I loved it. After we finished writing it, I knew it was going
on the album. It was honest and real and reflected where I was at
that time.
because I loved it. After we finished writing it, I knew it was going
on the album. It was honest and real and reflected where I was at
that time.
R: Many of those who watch your videos
may have noticed that you like to reflect on the past in them. Each
video has a touch with the past: The cameras and super8 movies in “I
Wish I’d Known”, the VW van and soda shop in “I’m Never
Gonna Let You” and the car and dress styles in “If You Ask
Me To”. Is this MacKenzie Porter’s style and personal touch on
them?
may have noticed that you like to reflect on the past in them. Each
video has a touch with the past: The cameras and super8 movies in “I
Wish I’d Known”, the VW van and soda shop in “I’m Never
Gonna Let You” and the car and dress styles in “If You Ask
Me To”. Is this MacKenzie Porter’s style and personal touch on
them?
M: Definitely. I
love anything vintage! My apartment has that feel to it as well. I’m
drawn to anything that looks like it’s had a previous life. Second
hand stores are my jam!
love anything vintage! My apartment has that feel to it as well. I’m
drawn to anything that looks like it’s had a previous life. Second
hand stores are my jam!
R: How has your acting career helped
with your music videos?
with your music videos?
M: I feel
comfortable in front of a camera, and I feel comfortable acting so I
think that shows in the videos. We like the videos to feel like
little short films so I can do the two things I love in one project.
comfortable in front of a camera, and I feel comfortable acting so I
think that shows in the videos. We like the videos to feel like
little short films so I can do the two things I love in one project.
R: You’ve now opened for the male
country artist of the year Blake Shelton, What’s next for MacKenzie
Porter?
country artist of the year Blake Shelton, What’s next for MacKenzie
Porter?
M: We will tour
the album even more. We have many surprises coming, especially in the
new year. Next year, I’ll release my next album. I would love to
put an album out every year!
the album even more. We have many surprises coming, especially in the
new year. Next year, I’ll release my next album. I would love to
put an album out every year!
R: Let’s tell your fans something
they wouldn’t know about you?
they wouldn’t know about you?
M: I am obsessed
with seaweed. I could eat it every day, all day. The flavoured kind
or just the salted ones, It’s like eating chips to me.
with seaweed. I could eat it every day, all day. The flavoured kind
or just the salted ones, It’s like eating chips to me.
R: Is there any person or group if you
could have perform with you on your next album, who would it be?
could have perform with you on your next album, who would it be?
M: I would love to
do a duet on the next album. I’d like it to be with someone
unconventional; maybe a pop artist or a folk artist, or maybe just my
bro. Thank you to MacKenzie Porter for
spending some time with us and sharing her music, we look forward to
hearing more, in the future, from Mackenzie.
do a duet on the next album. I’d like it to be with someone
unconventional; maybe a pop artist or a folk artist, or maybe just my
bro. Thank you to MacKenzie Porter for
spending some time with us and sharing her music, we look forward to
hearing more, in the future, from Mackenzie.
You can check her out on AMC’s “Hell
on Wheels” as Naomi Hatch, starting Saturday August 2 at 9pm
Eastern.Mackenzie will also be appearing during
Country Music week in Edmonton in the CCMA Legends Show, a tribute to
Yesterday and Today on Friday September 5th 2014, at the
Winspear Center in Edmonton, tickets available at Legends
Tickets (note this show always sells out) CBC will be showing the Canadian
Country Music Awards on Sunday September 7th, 2014 at 7pm
Eastern and a repeat will appear on CMT. Key words: 21st-century Canadian
actresses, 21st-century Canadian singers, Actresses from Alberta,
Canadian child actresses, Canadian country singers, Canadian female
singers, Canadian film actresses, Canadian pianists, Canadian
television actresses, Canadian violinists, Musicians from Alberta,
Canadian Country Music artist, CCMA, Female Country Singer,
self-titled album, I Wish I’d Known , Never Gonna Let You, If You Ask
Me To, MacKenzie Porter
on Wheels” as Naomi Hatch, starting Saturday August 2 at 9pm
Eastern.Mackenzie will also be appearing during
Country Music week in Edmonton in the CCMA Legends Show, a tribute to
Yesterday and Today on Friday September 5th 2014, at the
Winspear Center in Edmonton, tickets available at Legends
Tickets (note this show always sells out) CBC will be showing the Canadian
Country Music Awards on Sunday September 7th, 2014 at 7pm
Eastern and a repeat will appear on CMT. Key words: 21st-century Canadian
actresses, 21st-century Canadian singers, Actresses from Alberta,
Canadian child actresses, Canadian country singers, Canadian female
singers, Canadian film actresses, Canadian pianists, Canadian
television actresses, Canadian violinists, Musicians from Alberta,
Canadian Country Music artist, CCMA, Female Country Singer,
self-titled album, I Wish I’d Known , Never Gonna Let You, If You Ask
Me To, MacKenzie Porter
Ron Palmer for Country Music News International Magazine
Photos: Ron Palmer Edmonton Alberta