Musician, singer-songwriter and teacher Jackie Kroczynski is known as Jackie K. (Submitted photo/Mark Kotchorek)

By Angela Brown

St. Patrick's Day show

Local singer-songwriter Jackie K. releases new CD: ‘She’s a Story’

Mar 17, 2023 | 4:27 PM

Battlefords area folk-roots singer-songwriter Jackie Kroczynski, known as Jackie K, has just released a new CD called “She’s a Story.”

The album, comprised of 10 songs inspired by the stories of women, was released on International Women’s Day, March 8.

Kroczynski said she is “super excited” to have her CD now out.

“It was such a long process between writing the songs, editing, demoing, and recording them,” she said. “It takes a long time. I have four kids. And I said to my husband, this was kind of like having a baby. It feels great. It feels like a real accomplishment for me.”

“There is a real variation of styles on the album,” Kroczynski added.

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Red Pheasant Cree Nation singer Falynn Baptiste contributed some spoken word in Cree on a song, called “Honour Her Spark,” which Kroczynski wrote to remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

As well, local Indigenous artist Azby Whitecalf, from Sweetgrass First Nation, designed the cover art for this particular track.

Proceeds from “Honour Her Spark” will be donated to the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre.

Kroczynski, joined by her band, will perform songs from her new CD, as well as some traditional Irish songs and a few pop numbers during a show at the Legion Hall at 1352 100 St. in North Battleford today, for a St. Patrick’s Day night out.

“We have a whole mix of songs,” she said. “It’s going to be lots of fun.”

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. with the show starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are available in advance or at the doors.

Kroczynski, who is also a music teacher at North Battleford Comprehensive High School, recently came back from a voyage to Monaghan, Ireland, where she was invited to participate as one of the official showcase artists at the inaugural event, called “Your Roots are Showing: Ireland’s Folk Conference.” She was awarded a Creative Saskatchewan grant, as well as support from the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR), and the Canada Council for the Arts to help cover her costs to take part in the conference.

“I’m very grateful for the support,” Kroczynski said. “We are really lucky in Canada to have all that support.”

She said there are lots of opportunities for grants and financial backing in Ireland for artists there too. But Kroczynski finds that it isn’t the case in the United States, in comparison, where emerging artists have a much harder time finding the support they need to help further their career and get ahead.

Next, Kroczynski is looking forward to playing more live concerts at home around the Prairies this summer.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow