<\/p>\n
Award-winning singer-songwriter Caroline Parke is gearing up to release her new album in the New Year.<\/p>\n
Read more: A local lens: The Kim Cap story<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The Lloydminster artist has been developing her musical craft and is excited for the new project.<\/p>\n Kicking off her musical career young, Parke started simple.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always enjoyed music a lot in my adult life and just played basic cowboy stuff, basic chords on my guitar for many years, and while I was having my family,\u201d she said. \u201cI just kind of dove in the last few years.\u201d<\/p>\n She began performing in the musical sphere into adulthood.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always been a fan of music since I was quite young, but I didn\u2019t start playing and singing until I was 24 or 25,\u201d said Parke.<\/p>\n Her performances were often frequently posted on YouTube.<\/p>\n \u201cI was doing (a video) a week years ago when I first started,\u201d she said. \u201cAs I learned the song or as I learned a collection of songs, I\u2019d pick my favourites and I would play it and post it.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Parke, her motivation was simple.<\/p>\n \u201cI was young and single and had time on my hands. I thought, \u2018This is fun and interesting,’\u201d she said, explaining she\u2019s thankful for the outlet to post freely as it gives independent artists more agency.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful time to be an independent musician because we have so many things available to us,\u201d she said. \u201cIn the past, it was like if you\u2019re independent you\u2019re kind of just locked out.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, you can have your own broadcasting channels and post and you can edit your stuff the way you like it.\u201d<\/p>\n While she plays multiple instruments, Parke predominantly plays the guitar. Her choice of musical style was something that resonated with her and where she\u2019s from.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I just really like the roots and folk because it\u2019s just so close to the culture of Alberta people,\u201d said Parke. \u201cI actually was initially drawn to jazz and really love jazz.<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up with the likes of Ian Tyson. Now, when I listen to Ian Tyson, I can hear these undertones that he does do a little bit of jazzy stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n She says the simplicity of the style is part of its appeal.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t need anything electronic to make the music,\u201d said Parke. \u201cYou can literally pick up a guitar and make it sound like Ian Tyson had it.\u201d<\/p>\n She says when you\u2019re surrounded by music, it\u2019s a different way of interacting with the world around you.<\/p>\n \u201cI think when you live, eat and breathe music, it\u2019s just a different way of interacting with the world,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Parke\u2019s venture deeper into music began after she was the victim of a rural crime.<\/p>\n \u201cIt all started after the rural crime incident that we had. I thought after I released my first album and I had the trial, I kind of thought I would just go back to regular life, and just never have,\u201d she said. \u201cI keep writing and writing and I just feel I\u2019m compelled to.\u201d<\/p>\n After the incident, she found music was a way for her to heal and recalled what it was like picking up the guitar.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter that event, I actually had what they call classic PTSD. I had a hard time conversing; conversations with my kids felt hard,\u201d she explained. \u201cI had been playing fiddle for three years at that point and I hadn\u2019t really been playing guitar.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, when I went back to little faithful and started strumming, I could feel the vibration of the instrument against my body. It helped me relax in a way that nothing else could.\u201d<\/p>\n Parke continues to talk about mental health, including in a single she will be releasing in the new year about the issue of seasonal affective disorder.<\/p>\n \u201cI wrote a song called The Worst Part of the Year<\/em>. I feel like sometimes those short winter days are really hard for me and I need to have something to look forward to,\u201d said Parke, explained the release date for the song is symbolic.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was either Jan. 1 or the first Monday in January is the highest day for suicides,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m going to hashtag it with a bunch of mental health awareness (tags) because I\u2019ve had my bouts in the winter where I really struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019s been releasing singles from her new album, including a dream collaboration of hers featuring Molly Mason and Jay Ungar on her newest release, Harvest is Long. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAs time has gone on, I\u2019ve started to collaborate and reach out with people that I admire,\u201d said Parke. \u201cI\u2019m pleasantly surprise they just keep saying yes, all these different folks that have collaborated with me. It\u2019s a real gift to share and make memories with people.\u201d<\/p>\n In her musical journey, she\u2019s made a switch in her guitar playing.<\/p>\n \u201cI recently switched to being a left-handed guitar player and I taught myself how to play guitar all over again in the last seven months,\u201d said Parke. \u201cBut now, I have all these different techniques available.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, I\u2019m doing bluegrass picking. I can do rhythm guitar and I\u2019m still learning the finger picking.\u201d<\/p>\n Playing live has been something Parke has taken part in, getting out whenever she can.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve done a couple of gigs,\u201d she said, explaining she does have a family to take care of but still tries to get out and perform. \u201cI have been trying to get a few gigs here and there and play more with people.\u201d<\/p>\n Parke has new music on the horizon having released Harvest is Long <\/em>on <\/em>Oct. 16.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve released three singles off of this album and I\u2019m going to do another single Jan. 1, 2026. The entire album will be rolled out in February,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s called All the Movies Hearts<\/em> and it\u2019s all about farm life and being a farm wife.\u201d<\/p>\n Parke\u2019s music is available on streaming platforms and her music videos are posted on her YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read more: Rock N\u2019 Gem show an oreganic hit in Lloyd<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n