Thunder Bay's Coleman Hell to perform at Juno Awards

Superior Morning6:30Coleman Hell - Junos

From The Foundry to performing live and being nominated for an award at the Juno Awards.. it's been quite a year for Thunder Bay's Coleman Hell.

A Thunder Bay-born singer-songwriter is waiting for his chance to perform on Canada's biggest musical stage this weekend.

Coleman Hell is nominated for the Juno for breakthrough artist of the year for his hit 2 Heads. He will be performing at the awards show on Sunday.

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It's a long way from the days of making music in his living room, he told CBC Superior Morning's Lisa Laco.

"I'm in it, so I gotta believe it, but it's pretty surreal," he said. "And of course I am performing as well, so that's pretty exciting."

Now based in Toronto, Hell is up against Scott Helman, Alessia Cara, Francesco Yates and Tobias Jesso Jr. for the artistic distinction. He signed with Columbia Records last spring andis expected to release his first full-length album this year.

In addition, Hell said he will be releasing a new single after the Junos.

Hell, who is currently on tour something he describes as not glamorous, but fun finds himself performing in front of larger audiences these days.

"You don't get to necessarily walk up and touch the audience on the head or look them right int he eye," he said of performing in bigger venues. "It's just like a giant collective energy. It's a different beast, but it's just as rewarding."

With his breakthrough to the big leagues of the Canadian music industry, Hell is still focused on making music.

"As for fame, haven't sat down to think about it, to give myself a pat on my back," he said. "[I'm] trying to keep the ball rolling."