Betsy Kline
Castlegar News
Castlegar singer Christina Amelio is one of the contestants in the CBC Searchlight competition. CBC promotes this competition as “The hunt for Canada’s best new artist.”
Amelio’s entry is Who Do You Think You Are, a song she co-wrote with her producer, Mark Zubeck of Zedd Records in Toronto. After a several month process of writing and perfecting the song, she recorded the single in January. Amelio decided to push the original release date up to March 20 in order to enter the Searchlight contest.
The song, which was inspired by relationships in Amelio’s own life as well as those she observed around her is about being bullied or mentally abused and standing up for yourself.
Amelio has spent most of her life here in Castlegar and has been giving voice lessons at Supercat Studios since 2009. She first got serious about singing in high school when she was involved in the Miss BC Ambassador program. While she was attending Selkirk College, she began her vocal training with award-winning jazz singer Cheryl Hodge, who Amelio still looks to as a mentor.
Another inspiration in Amelio’s life is her step brother Josh Evin, the pro skateboarder who was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident in 2010. She says,“He taught me to go for your dream and do what you love.”
Amelio’s previous EP Spell and Reflections as well as the new single can be purchased through her website, ninaamelio.com. The songs on the EP have a laid back, blues feel to them although Who Do You Think You Are has more of a pop sound.
Although locals know her as Christina, musically she goes by Nina Amelio. Voting for the Searchight competition has started and will continue until April 13. You can vote for her at www.music.cbc.ca/artists/Nina-amelio.
If you would like an opportunity to hear her live, Amelio will be performing in Castlegar at Spring Fling May 2 at Kinsmen Park and in June at the Endless Adventures Kayak Festival in Krestova.