After nearly four decades on stage, Regina artist Melanie Hankewich, who performs as Belle Plaine, plays her first arena gig with Canadian country legend Terri Clark.
“I can’t parse out what part of me is nervous for the show, and what part of me is not sleeping enough, thinking about everything that is going to happen before I can exhale.”
When asked about her feelings about sharing the stage with certified platinum artist Terri Clark, Melanie Hankewich had many emotions. She brought up the fact that Terri Clark moved to Nashville right out of high school.
“There’s just these bold moves that never even crossed my mind, and so I’m very much in awe of her.”
“In doing this show and reading about her and looking at the work that she did and the fun that she had, it’s just great to see an artist looking like they’re having fun.”
Belle Plaine spoke about success and what it means to her.
“The idea of success feels, in this industry, like it’s a moving target – it’s hard to not strive. And to just celebrate.”
“When I see someone at the top of their game, it moves me to that realm of my personality where I’m just overly emotional about that. Because I want that. And so my wanting it makes it difficult for me to talk about, I just want to do it.”
From her humble beginnings as young singer from a farm outside of Rose valley, Belle Plaine has risen to the level of a Juno nominated recording artist. She spoke about when she first started singing,
“I sang right from kindergarten, and I was never afraid of doing it… I probably thought I was awesome.”
“I had someone doing my hair and picking my outfits and carrying my gear, I had whole support network that doesn’t exist at forty-six… I gotta do it myself now…”
What also makes this concert special to Belle Plaine is that it takes place on the same day that she releases her third studio album “The Weather”, and one day before she launches the tour in support of this album.
“If it was just the show, it would be easy, but it’s not just the show – it’s a whole structure of an album coming out that day.”
She goes on to speak about the new record,
“I feel good in short, the work is good, I’m not obsessing over it, I don’t listen to it and want to change it, and the whole process of making it was deeply joyful- so that makes it easier to give to people”
Belle Plaine is bringing old and new music to the arena audience this coming Affinity place in Estevan this Friday, September 18th. When asked on how it was possible to align these two milestones, Mel said
“It’s the way it all worked out… that’s kinda the sport of it.”
