Even though she's entertained audiences across the province, the country and abroad, Karla Pilgrim is hesitant about taking to the stage at the Stephenville Arts and Culture Centre.
"I'm wicked nervous about this today," she says. "I think if I was playing at the Grand Ole Opry, I wouldn't be as nervous."
The musician has been asked to speak at a College of the North Atlantic graduation ceremony, telling graduates about trying to achieve one's dreams.
"It's so completely different, I feel like I'm naked without my guitar," she says. "I almost brought it with me, just to have in my hands - it's my comfort blanket."
Ms. Pilgrim graduated from the college's music industry and performance program a decade ago.
Since then, she's been living in the province's capital and working on her music career.
In 2006, she travelled to Tennessee to audition for a reality show, Nashville Star, and finagled her way onstage at Tootsies Orchid Lounge - where the likes of Tim McGraw and Terri Clark got their early starts. The following year, she performed for 12,000 Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan as part of the East Coast Kitchen Party.
She recorded her first album, I'll Think of You, in 2009. One of the release parties took place during last summer's Stephenville Theatre Festival.
Based on the album's success, she won Music NL's female artist and country artist of the year awards, along with an East Coast Music Association nomination for recording of the year. In addition, she played at various venues during the recent Juno celebrations in St. John's.
"It was a good year to release an album," she says.
Moving forward
She's currently working on material for a new album, which she plans to record in Tennessee.
"I can go down to Nashville and have my songs written and have everything written musically on paper," she says. "And then book a day in the studio and do three three-hour sessions - and have the album done."
Even with the hopes of breaking into the mainstream country market with the new album, Ms. Pilgrim maintains a pragmatic view of the future. She is heading back to school this fall to become a licenced practical nurse.
"It's too stressful to think if I don't have a gig in the next couple of months, I'm not going to be able to pay the bills," she explains. "I don't know, it takes the fun out of it for me. Some people might strive on that, but if I have to play to pay the bills, I don't enjoy it as much."
But for now, the future doesn't seem all that important. Ms. Pilgrim has only a few minutes to prepare for the graduation speech.
"I have to seem smart or have a bit of wisdom," she says, with a wry laugh. "People think I'm funny onstage, but it comes from nervousness and just trying to get through the talking part until the next song."
During the ceremony, Ms. Pilgrim takes her place at the podium to address the graduates.
"I hope each and every one of you will leave here today and grab every opportunity you can find or create to make your own dreams come true," she says. "And if any of you are heading toward a career in artist management - come and see me before I leave for Nashville."
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Ms. Pilgrim says she is looking forward to performing for local audiences this summer with a special one-off show during the Stephenville Theatre Festival.
"Last time [playing a festival show] it was with a full band, but this time I'm doing it all on my own," she says. "I think I'm more candid, more at ease when I just play. It's weird because I didn't used to be a talker onstage; I used to be frightened to death to speak onstage. Now it's hard to shut me up."
Eva Moore, the festival's artistic producer, likens Ms. Pilgrim's talent to that of Canadian musician Jann Arden.
"She's extremely talented," says Ms. Moore. "She has such a wide appeal."
In addition to the July 21 performance with Stephenville Theatre Festival, Ms. Pilgrim says she also plans to perform at the local Holiday Inn.
editor@thegeorgian.ca
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