Victoria Banks

As a child in rural Muskoka, Ontario, no one would have guessed Victoria Banks would grow up to be named the Canadian Country Music Association's (CCMA) 2010 Female Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. It wasn't until adolescence that Victoria discovered rock n' roll in a high school band. With an inextinguishable passion for music and songwriting, not quelled by a Zoology degree from the University of Toronto, Victoria worked an array of odd jobs from waiting tables to painting houses to save up enough money to pursue her dream of a career as a professional songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee. Victoria scored her first major hit with Sara Evans' ASCAP and SOCAN-award-winning "Saints & Angels." Labeled "one of the best songwriters in the business" by Nashville's Music Row Magazine, Victoria's impressive catalogue of hits now includes Jessica Simpson's Billboard record-breaking country debut "Come On Over," One More Girl's breakout hit "When It Ain't Raining," Doc Walker's chart-topping "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" and Johnny Reid's smash "Dance With Me," for which Victoria was named 2010 CCMA Songwriter of the Year. Victoria's self-produced, self-penned debut record When You Can Fly made her 2009's most nominated female artist in Canadian country music. To support the critically acclaimed album, Victoria toured with superstars Reba McEntire, Randy Travis and Johnny Reid. With her sophomore album "Never Be The Same," Victoria has created a collection of songs that dig deeply into life, articulating joy and pain in a way that is distinctly her own. In a world where authenticity often takes a backseat to marketability, Victoria's music is unique, a breath of fresh air that has earned her a place as one of the most respected singer-songwriters in the Canadian music industry.