By Emily Stonehouse
He said he’d ‘bring it home’, and he did.
When we interviewed local musician Ryan Van Lee in August, inquiring about his position in the Top 20 for Samsung’s True North Tunes competition, he knew he wanted to win.
While over 4,000 musicians hit the list, by August, it was whittled down to 20. From that point, there would be three top winners.
On Friday, Oct. 2, the winners were announced. Josh Moore from Vancouver, Angelique Dancel from Toronto, and of course, Ryan Van Lee, from good old Haliburton Ontario.
“We won the competition,” said Van Lee, a locally well-known country singer. “We brought it home to Haliburton, just like we talked about.”
The winners were decided based on over 875,000 votes from across the country. And truthfully, Van Lee didn’t think he had a shot. So when an unknown number called to share the news, Van Lee let it ring through the voicemail.
A voicemail that has changed the trajectory of his life. “They told me I won,” he said. “It’s been wild. I really haven’t processed it yet.”
“One of the most exciting things about Samsung True North Tunes has been seeing the depth of talent emerging from communities across Canada,” said Tafari Jilany, head of corporate marketing for Samsung Canada. “Ryan is a great example of an artist building momentum from his local community, while creating music that has the potential to resonate far beyond it. Ryan’s creativity, passion and dedication to his craft stood out throughout the program, and we’re thrilled to see him recognized as one of this year’s winners.”
Van Lee learned music from his grandfather, who taught him the accordion when he was a young boy. He went on to receive training from the iconic Johnny Burke, who gave him guitar lessons after Van Lee approached him following a local show.
He’s worked his way up to the national stage, touring the United States before the COVID-19 pandemic, which put his career on the backburner for a few years.
This past summer, Van Lee played to a full house during Music in the Park, presented by Haliburton Rotary. The local show had him buzzing, and reignited the passion and pride he has long harboured for his hometown.
So what’s next? Samsung has invited the local country musician to head down to the city. He’s going to be meeting with reps from the music industry, network, and continue to develop his brand and sound. “Through Samsung True North Tunes, we’re helping connect artists with mentorship, industry relationships and opportunities that can support the next stage of their careers, while using our platform and technology to help more Canadians discover their music,” said Jilany.
They’re even in the process of making a nation-wide beer with Van Lee’s name on it. “They wanted me to be the face of Samsung music in 2027,” he laughed, “I told them they should fire whoever came up with that idea.”
Through all the noise, Van Lee brings it all back to Haliburton County. He told his family and friends about the win, who had tears in their eyes upon the announcement. Even the local high school classes have been listening to his music, adding a new point of pride to their hometown roots.
“Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart,” shared Van Lee in a shoutout to his community via Instagram, shortly after receiving the news of his win. “It’s crazy how my hometown came together … It was truly a great experience. And so much more to come.”
Van Lee can be found on Instagram @Ryan_VanLee. While he aims to continue making music across the country, he knows he will always return to his hometown, through it all. “It just goes to show you, any kids out there watching from my hometown, sports aren’t the only option,” he said. “You can do things if you just set your mind to it, and you don’t give up.”
