Katelyn Lehner Translates Creative Saskatchewan Funding into First EP

Katelyn Lehner, a Saskatchewan country singer-songwriter traces her desire to record music to her days growing up in Prince Albert. Now, with the help of Creative Saskatchewan’s Sound Recording Grant she has one to call her own.

“It was that next step that I felt like I needed to take in my career. I had these songs that I had written that I wanted to get out into the world. Growing up being such a lover and fan of music, and hearing my favourite artists have CDs come out and rushing over to the store to have a physical copy of something. I think that that’s just something that I have always wanted to have for myself.”

The EP, 10 Bucks, is a record that mixes pop music flair with country songwriting sensibilities. It’s a four-song romp through relationship reflection, having confidence in yourself, and playful heartbreak recovery. Lehner says that the project is one that takes a nod from some giants of the industry.

“Growing up, but I feel like I was either listening to Shania Twain or Britney Spears. This record is pop-country. It has those traditional elements of country music with the songwriting, and the storytelling, and the banjo and all of those live instruments that people love in the genre. And it also mixes in that modern country feel that is really starting to become more accepted.”

Lehner, who has also received Creative Saskatchewan funding to produce her first single and a number of music videos was named the Artist of the Year by the Northern Saskatchewan Music Zine and has both won and received additional nominations at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards.

She’s also opened for the likes of Dean Brody and Blue Rodeo, graced the stage at the Calgary Stampede, and was booked as the Saskatchewan Roughrider Labour Day Classic Halftime show performer. Part of the challenge of being a solo-artist, and a new one at that, is having to wear so many hats. Lehner says that Creative Saskatchewan’s funding has helped relieve some of the pressure of doing everything from booking her own shows, to selecting marketing materials, to drilling down into the writing and recording that keeps her career moving forward.

“Being kind of a one woman show over here. It’s a lot. It’s a lot of stress, it’s a lot of trying to figure things out on your own. You obviously get into those moments of self-doubt, if you’re ready for it, if this is something that you can take on or not. And so the financial support from Creative Sask was such a huge part and such a huge stress reliever of this project.”

As she continues to build her career—while also snagging a sizeable amount of new followers on various social media platforms— Lehner has an eye on new music. She recently released a new single, “Cross The Line” and is soon going to be announcing an updated slate of summer tour dates. For her, slow and steady, regardless of the bpm of her music, is how she likes it.

“A career in music is a lot of baby steps. It is a marathon, not a sprint, even though I was a sprinter in track and field for Team Canada… I look at it as just baby steps. One more thing, trying to get closer to the big goals that I have.”

By John Loeppky

We mentioned a slew of social media channels where Katelyn has gained some level of notoriety. You can find her on all the regular music channels (like Spotify and Apple Music) but also on those sites we all like to scroll: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. If you’re looking for show dates, merch, or more information about her career then you can head to her website.