London, Ont. –
Aaron Allen was so shocked to win the Nation Music Affiliation of Ontario (CMAO) Male Artist of the Yr, that he wasn’t even close to the stage when his title was known as.
“I used to be similar to, ‘Okay, you guys wish to recount the ballots?’” Allen, the London, Ont. artist instructed CTV Information simply hours after profitable.
It was an enormous evening for Allen, 40, on the ninth annual CMAO’s in Ancaster, Ont. Sunday.
He received Album of the Yr for ‘Freeway Mile,’ to go together with Male Artist of the Yr.
“I used to be fully shocked,” says Allen.
“I did not assume that I had an opportunity, to be trustworthy with you, however we will clearly see that folks voted. Being an impartial, generally you assume you are going up in opposition to the majors and the way’s this going to occur? I assume generally miracles occur.”
Allen has been performing for twenty years, however this previous 12 months has been a whirlwind. The former tattoo artist won the CMAO ‘Rising Star’ a year ago when his observe “Freeway Mile’ took off on radio.
After his win on the drive-in awards present, Allen says it was an evening of celebration, and little or no sleep.
“There was a celebration, and we received kicked out of room 1414,” says Allen.
“We went to a different room and so we have been up just a little bit late, I’ve misplaced my voice. It was nice to rejoice once more and see folks and discuss music. That was the very best half within the evening we talked about music as a result of It has been so lengthy.”
With new music in manufacturing and his lately launched single ‘Simply getting by,’ Allen plans to get that tune out to radio and “see what occurs.”
He plans on ‘rockin’ the remainder of the summer season and are available again sturdy subsequent 12 months when the world opens up.
“I have been contracted to be on for festivals for concerning the final three years now however they preserve getting reduce so hopefully these festivals are working subsequent 12 months,” says Allen.
“I am actually excited to play them, as I used to be imagined to play after Blue Rodeo which is insane.”
After a couple of extra reveals to finish the summer season, Allen will fly again to Nashville, Tenn. the place he is working very often.
“I have been doing it over zoom for the final couple years, and my new singles I am all the time writing with folks in Nashville. We’re persevering with to do this, however I feel in January I is likely to be flown all the way down to Nashville, that is the earliest my label can get me on the market.”
For now, he’ll let his voice recuperate, and prepare to get again on stage.
“This was a significant step we did not see coming,” says Allen.
“You do not know who’s listening, and you do not know who’s voting for you, so this simply lets me know we’re on the appropriate path and we’re doing one thing proper. So, preserve doing it, do not mess it up now.”