< >Andrea Menard
From her new CD Sparkle, laced with humour, to a screenplay taking up much of her time, Menard's voice is rising on many issues. Inspiration for the screenplay has come from the indigenous roots she feels in her heart, and from what Menard sees as the "divinity" inside every human. "The story is a beacon, believes Menard. It is meant to walk the planet."
Ancestry: Metis
Language: English
Genre: Acoustic, Folk
Albums
Awards, Nominations & Submissions
| 2009 | Best International Artist | Winner | |
| 2010 | Aboriginal Female Entertainer of the Year | Nominee | |
| 2010 | Best Music Video | Evergreen | Nominee |
| 2007 | Best Folk / Acoustic CD | Simple Steps | Nominee |
| 2006 | Best Songwriter | Nominee | |
| 2006 | Best Folk / Acoustic CD | Simple Steps | Nominee |
Videos
Biography
She is a fun-loving firecracker of a personality, but Andrea Menard also has her feet planted firmly on Mother Earth. Something is happening to Menard's outlook, something she describes as an awakening, a deepening awareness of a global consciousness. That doesn't change Menard's fiery, sometimes irreverent self-expression. She is simply exploring new directions, in exciting, passionate new ways.
From her new CD Sparkle, laced with humour, to a screenplay taking up much of her time, Menard's voice is rising on many issues. Inspiration for the screenplay has come from the indigenous roots she feels in her heart, and from what Menard sees as the "divinity" inside every human. "The story is a beacon, believes Menard. It is meant to walk the planet."
Menard feels tuned into the universal soul, a serious concept; but every soul also wants to laugh and sing, just like Menard.
The creative spark inside Andrea Menard has caught fire on her third album, a multi-genre original work that celebrates the glittering winter, but also embraces the beauty of summer. Sparkle is a Christmas release, but it encompasses roots and jazz songs for all seasons. "I called this album Sparkle, because that is my prayer for the winters ahead, to allow the spark within us to burst into flames and ignite a grand illumination all across the globe," says Menard. "So sparkle, my friends."
The original songs, written with long-time collaborator and producer Robert Walsh, cover a wide spectrum. Sparkle describes the crisp, clear winters, full of icicles, stars, snow, tinsel, and crackling fires, yet it also contains songs for all seasons including Evergreen, which describes Menard's own talent, fresh and evolving, with roots that run deeply into her Metis heritage.
From feasts to famine and reverence to irreverence, Menard's take on the winter season is definitely evergreen. The title song, Sparkle, which will be released as the first single, invites all of the human family to unite. A humorous, jazzy duet with actor Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas), called The Christmas Slump, will surely become the next "Baby, It's Cold Outside".
The talented songstress' first two award-winning albums, Simple Steps (2005) and The Velvet Devil (2002), both feature original songs, written by Menard and Robert Walsh, long time collaborators. Simple Steps, produced by Walsh, is "a little bit country, and a whole lot of folk". It won a number of awards for its outstanding performance and production. Menard's debut CD, The Velvet Devil is the music of her hit one-woman jazz musical play that swept up awards all across the country.
Both CDs have received much acclaim and interest across the country and internationally. Original music from The Velvet Devil was featured on the television series Queer as Folk as well as the soundtrack CD for Season IV. As a standout vocalist, Andrea is also featured on numerous compilation CD's including: Real Divas, a national compilation CD featuring Canada's finest female jazz artists.
