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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, August 29, 2014 | 74 The Lovelocks climb country music ranks Artscene "Connected to your Community" Bestselling author to share story of kidnapping in Somalia Ali Raney and former Oakville resident Zoe Neuman, who together form the country group The Lovelocks, are one of six emerging artists selected for the Canada Country Music Association's Discovery Program. | submitted photo by Abigail Cukier Special to the Beaver When Ali Raney and Zoe Neuman met through singing at their church, the two could have never dreamed they would later rocket up the iTunes chart together. Friends for more than 11 years, Neuman and Raney comprise the female alt-country duo, The Lovelocks. When they released their debut EP on Feb. 11, they watched as it rose up the iTunes Canada country music chart from No. 22 to No. 18 to No. 12, all the way up to No. 2, right under Eric Church. "It was unbelievable. We took so many screen shots of the iTunes home page that day," says Neuman. Since then, The Lovelocks have been nominated for a Canadian Country Music Association Roots Artist of the Year Award and Raney has been nominated for a CCMA Fiddle Player of the Year Award. They are also among six emerging artists selected for the Canadian Country Music Association's Discovery Program. This has included Music Indus- try Discovery Week in May. They spent the week learning the tools of the business and received an industry mentor. The six finalists will perform on Sept. 4 during Country Music Week in Edmonton. The winner will receive the We both had a love of music and we both played violin. We decided to explore songwriting. Every Sunday afternoon, we would get together and drink tea or wine and write songs. Zoe Neuman The Lovelocks CCMA Discovery Award. "We couldn't have asked for a warmer welcome to the country music industry this year," said Raney. "We only released the album within the last six months and to be given this nomination with such a prestigious organization was a complete shock. It's been pretty amazing." Neuman says she was drawn to Raney from the moment she saw her on stage at church singing and playing her fiddle. "We both had a love of music and we both played violin," said Neuman, who grew up in Oakville. "We decided to explore songwriting. Every Sunday afternoon, we would get together and drink tea or wine and write songs." At the time, Neuman was working in the corporate advertising world and Raney was playing her fiddle and providing background vocals for other artists. The pair played a few gigs and received compliments for their harmonies and original songs. They played many gigs without a name. "We realized we needed a name and to officially become a band," Neuman said. They soon realized how expensive it is to produce a record and started a crowdfunding campaign on RocketHub, offering various rewards based on contribution level. "We ended up baking cookies on the hottest day in my un-airconditioned apartment," Neuman said. "We drove around the city delivering these cookies." see Duo on p.75 Iraq, describes how she was held hostage for 460 days after being kidnapped on only her fourth day in Somalia. She proceeds to convert to Islam as a "survival tactic" and describes how her captors moved her between several abandoned houses in the desert before she makes a daring escape. In June, it was announced the movie rights of Lindhout's memoir had been optioned by Oscar-nominated actress Rooney Mara and Hollywood production company Annapurna Pictures. The company has produced by Michael Gregory Oscar award-winning films such Oakville Beaver Staff as American Hustle, Her and Zero International bestselling author, Dark Thirty. An award-winning humanitarjournalist and humanitarian ian, Lindhout is the founder and Amanda Lindhout will bring the former executive director of the story of her 15-month abduction at the hands of insurgents in So- Global Enrichment Foundation malia to the Oakville Public Li- (GEF). The non-profit organization was founded in brary Sept. 29. 2010 following her The 33-year-old escape and promotes Canadian has docusustainable educational mented the lifeand community-based changing experience empowerment proin her acclaimed cograms in Somalia. authored memoir The Oakville Public A House in the Sky, Library is asking anya New York Times one wishing to be notibestseller and refied when tickets for the garded as one of the event become available, best books of 2013. to visit the OPL website It was written (www.opl.ca) and subwith the assistance mit their information. Amanda Lindhout of New York Times The evening takes contributing writer place at Queen Elizabeth Park Sara Corbett. Community & Cultural Centre, In the memoir, Lindhout, a television journalist with experi- 2302 Bridge Rd., and tickets cost ence reporting from war-ridden $15. Participants must be aged 19 countries such as Afghanistan and or older. Oakville singer/songwriter in semis of CNE talent competition Oakville singer/songwriter Julianna Collarile made it through the preliminary rounds of the Canadian National Exhibition's Rising Star Talent Competition and will perform Friday night for a chance at the finals. The 13-year-old was one of six contestants selected after performing one of her original songs City Lights. Collarile is competing in the 13-25-year-old age category against other solo artists, bands and dancers. The $2,500 grand prize for the youth category will be awarded on Sunday after the finals. Other Oakville performers in the competition included Sydney Quinlan and Andriana Ozymtchak.