There are many things that are exceptional about western Canadian country music artist Jordyn Pollard. There’s her obvious, abundant talent as a vocalist, stage performer, and songwriter. You can also point to her extraordinary natural exuberance, lovably quirky personality and the ease at which she can charm an audience, big or small. 

But what is just as special, is that for all her giftings, and the success that they have brought to her career as a rising recording and touring artist, Pollard has not allowed any of this to impact her core personality. She is the same hard working, simple living, family oriented farmgirl that she’s always been. No matter how great the accolades and accomplishments yet to come, Pollard is adamant that she will always be the regular girl from Lloydminster. This is reflected in the honesty of her music, and the unaffected way she handles her growing fame as a rising artist in the Canadian country music scene. 

“It is so important to me that people can relate to me and my songs. I want them to realize that I am a normal young woman who is trying to figure out life just like anyone else, I just process those issues and questions through my music,” she said. 

Her debut EP Good On Me came out in November 2019 and hit #6 in iTunes on its release date. The single of the same name also had significant charting success on Trax (#49) and BDS (#66). A second single from the EP, Back to Us, was dubbed the Stingray Trending Track for the month of October 2020, generating thousands plays on radio stations throughout the Stingray network. That same year, she won the Saskatchewan County Music Association Emerging Artist of the Year Award. 

The accolades and success were well earned – a source of both pride and gratitude, and reinforcement that Pollard’s music and voice touched the hearts and minds of many music lovers. But it has also given her confidence in her own judgement and choices as an artist, something that she said will help her as she moves further into her professional music career – relying on her prodigious prairie work ethic and authentic humility to carve a path that is as successful as it is emotionally rewarding. 

“Over the past couple of years, I have really learned how to stand my ground and to know what it is I want. I think those are important qualities to find in yourself because you want to take control and maintain control of you own career. This is my career and my life, and I am going to live it and conduct myself the way I think is best. You need to learn quickly in this business to follow your heart and follow your guy, and I am getting better at that every day,” she said. 

Like the maturing artist that she is rapidly becoming, Pollard used any extra time she had for reflection, contemplation leading to a wellspring for new, more thoughtful music. 

“In recent years I have learned to use all my time productively. Before I wouldn’t normally want to spend time to sit down and really concentrate on writing; I would only write if some idea suddenly came to me,” she explained. 

“By focussing on my craft and taking that extra time it’s allowed me to really dig deeper into my emotions and come up with more of an understanding and meaning for why I feel the way I do, why I think the way I do. That extra ‘alone time’ helped me process my emotions through music and lyrics, but also helped me think and plan more for what will happen down the road, in my case for my music and my music career.” 

The result is a collection of new songs that will be coming out in 2022, which lose none of Pollard’s trademark sassy attitude and abundantly upbeat energy, but still do reflect the observations and priorities of a young woman dealing with life, love and loss like the adult she has become. 

“It’s a lot of the same kinds of topics as on my first EP but filtered through the lens of someone who isn’t a high school kid anymore. Going through a lot of good and bad things over the last couple of years, with all that time to reflect, I think my perspective on a lot of things has changed,” she said, pointing to a new composition called Thank You, that sees Pollard, showing the sort of gratitude that comes from life experience and genuine growth as a human being. 

“I wrote it about my mom and dad, but I think it is something that we all have been going through during these tough times – what are we truly thankful for and what are the truly important things in life. A lot of us have lost someone, or been sick, lost a job or had struggles with mental health and I know for me I just came to realize what is really important in my life, and to always be grateful, even when things aren’t going your way. I think that’s why the music I am making now has more of a mature vibe to it.” 

Pollard’s artistry and recording career has blossomed since forming a partnership with veteran producer Bart McKay three years ago. He produced Good On Me and has continued to work with his protégé throughout the pandemic. Taking Pollard under his wing, she believes he has brought the best out in her studio performances, and also her writing. 

“He is just such a genuinely good guy. He always takes what I have to say seriously and works my ideas into the material. We come up with a lot of good ideas together spontaneously and collaborate in just such an easy way. Everything just goes so smoothly working with Bart,” Pollard said, adding that it’s hard to quantify the positive impact of someone with decades of experience in the music business can have on an up-and-comer such as herself. 

“He helped me find my sound. My music is very catchy and very sassy, and I am a very quirky individual, so I like to put that into my music, and I love coming up with interesting hooks and licks that get into people’s heads. I just love performing and dancing around onstage, and making music that people get and can identify with.” 

Pollard’s story, which is still in its early chapters, is one of a naturally talented, abundantly entertaining young women, imbued with the prairie ethos of hard work, humility and independence, taking advantage of the wisdom and knowledge of an industry veteran to become savvy and productive and successful at her craft. 

The lightness of her country-pop concoctions is matched by the depth of effort, spirit and soul she puts into every performance, be they in the studio or on the stage. The easy going charm she exudes masks an iron-willed determination to be the master of her own life and career. All of which makes Jordyn Pollard an artist whose voice will continue to capture the attention of music lovers for many years to come.