Wes Mack: Country Music, Singin' with Shania, Power Rangers #25

This episode sponsored by DoMatcha.com.From the largest stages and arenas to the director’s chair, from writing hit songs to creating characters on the silver screen as an actor; Wes Mack has established himself as a creative force of many forms. Mack broke into the country music scene in 2013 when he released his debut single “Duet” completely independently with no label, agent or management. The song reached number 9 on the Billboard chart and the video (Directed by Mack) went on to earn two CCMA nominations for Video and Video Director of the Year. 2013 also saw Mack win the inaugural CCMA Discovery Program as well as the Unsigned Only Music Competition, besting some 10,000 artists from around the world. Following these milestones, Mack spent much of 2014 writing and recording in Nashville. Armed with new music, Mack exploded outward in 2015: he released his 3rd and 4th top 20 singles “Before You Drive Me Crazy” and “The Way You Let Me Down”, picked up his 8th CCMA nomination, and performed with Shania Twain across the nation on her “Rock This Country” farewell tour. In late 2015 Mack released his debut album “Edge of the Storm” which was nominated at the 2016 CCMA awards for Album of the Year.“Edge of the Storm” debuted at number 4 on the iTunes chart in September 2015, but the music and writing that went into it began as early as Spring 2012. As an independent artist, Mack began writing and recording, piecing together one song at a time. The success of his debut single, along with powerful performances opening for Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert in 2013 propelled him into the thick of country music. Mack wrote and recorded extensively in Nashville; performed to ecstatic fans with Shania Twain (serving as her only opening act, and once again with a duet, performing her hit “Party for Two” each night with her on tour); took to the stage on the CCMA Awards show (while being nominated for songwriter of the year); and finally released the album, closing one chapter and beginning the next.Mack took to country music at a young age, fueled by his surroundings in his home province of Alberta. At 11, Mack’s father taught him to play the guitar (he too was a musician, having had a number 1 hit song in Canada in 1969 playing in the Sugar and Spice). Mack spent his teenage years growing out his hair, playing in a band, and learning to write and play numerous instruments. He moved to Vancouver with his band and received a degree from the University of British Columbia, and continued to cut his teeth playing in bars and clubs. As an indie artist Wes also leaned to produce music and direct music videos giving him another leg up and another way to create. Mack’s behind the camera skills have served him well, as he has gone on to direct 11 music videos including four of his own, which have earned him multiple CCMA and BCCMA nominations for Music Video and Director of the Year.While carving out his path as a musician, Mack has also chosen yet another form in which to create: as an actor. His resume has grown to include work on the television shows: Heartland, Smallville, Supernatural, The 100, Continuum, The Vampire Diaries, and Motive. He has also taken on roles in films: Power Rangers, Magic Beyond Words: The JK Rowling Story, A Dog Named Christmas, The Phantoms and in the upcoming Liam Neeson picture Hard Powder. Between his time on numerous creative ventures, Mack has worked to give back to a number of institutions to which he owes much of his life. As a young child, Mack underwent heart surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. Now, as an adult, Mack has paired with the Cardiac Kids (in connection with the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto) and the Alberta Children’s Hospital in an effort to raise awareness and money for these organizations.Between festival performances, Mack spent much of 2016 in Nashville writing for his second album, which is currently underway.

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