Meet The Final 4: Canada’s Next Country Star Could Be One Click Away

From small towns to big dreams, four rising voices from across the country are stepping into the spotlight for Country Rising presented by Cottage Springs. After a nationwide search, Cam Galloway, Makinna Givens, Brooklyn Rae and Mac Rumbolt have been named the finalists—each bringing raw talent, compelling backstories and a shared passion for country music. With public voting now open until May 26, fans have the power to launch one of these artists into stardom. We caught up with all four to hear about their journeys, their music, and what this opportunity means to them. —Noa Nichol

Cam Galloway

Your songs are known for their catchy energy and heartfelt lyrics — where do you draw your inspiration from when writing?

My inspiration comes from all over the place! Since I was little, I’ve been listening to a wide variety of music. Pop, Rock, Country, a little bit of everything. Some of my favourite artists to draw inspiration from include Tom Petty, Ed Sheeran, Owen Riegling, NF, Tyler Childers, Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip, Chris Stapleton, Neil Young, Morgan Wallen, and so many more. I think the idea of writing lines that sound so simple on the surface but have much deeper meaning when you peel back the layers is a really cool aspect of songwriting.

How has growing up in Bracebridge influenced your sound and style as a country artist?

I guess I would say it has influenced me to just remember to never try to be something that I’m not. Ever since I started playing my first gigs in Bracebridge, I’ve been marching to the beat of my own drum and learning that it doesn’t really matter what everyone else thinks about you as long as you are happy. When I make music with my buddies, I make songs that I would love to listen to. My sound and style are just creating what I enjoy. That’s why I love it.

What was your reaction when you found out you were a finalist for Country Rising?

I was extremely grateful to be part of such a cool opportunity! For anyone who knows me around Muskoka, they know that I’ve been chasing this dream for quite some time now and it feels really cool that my hard work is starting to pay off. Last year, I played just shy of 200 small shows around my area and I’m on track to do more this year! Opening for The Reklaws at the Kee to Bala would be so insane to me! I love the Kee and have been watching concerts there for a while now, including The Reklaws 2 years ago. Being up on that stage would be such a full-circle moment.

You’re known for blending upbeat vibes with emotional depth—how do you strike that balance when creating music?

I think it’s interesting how music can have the ability to portray multiple emotions. Take a song like “Build Me Up Buttercup”. If you’re not paying attention to the lyrics, that song seems like a happy, feel-good song and could put you in a great mood! But if you sit back and listen to the words that ‘The Foundations’ are singing, you’ll realize it’s actually quite sad. I think it depends on the song, but blending upbeat vibes with emotional depth can be a cool way to say what you want to say but have songs that are still going to get the crowd pumped up at a live show! 

If you had to pick one song to introduce your music to new fans, which would it be and why?

I think I would have to go with my single “Distance”.  It’s a relatable tune that I feel a lot of people could connect with emotionally and I would say that song could fit into lots of genres giving it more mass appeal to different listeners. Also, it is my most streamed song, and the numbers don’t lie.

Makinna Givens

Your music has a raw, honest quality that really resonates. How do you tap into that vulnerability when you write?

I’ve never really had a filter from childhood forward, and I’ve always been obsessed with the “why” of things — why do we feel what we feel? Why do people do what they do? I’ve always been that person who needs to understand things to the core. And as an empath, I feel everything deeply, whether I want to or not. When something happens, I sit with it, turn it over in my mind, and look at it from every angle.

Eventually, after all that unpacking, the truth of the feeling is usually pretty simple. And that’s what I write about—those raw, honest moments that might start from something personal, but end up being deeply universal.

Tapping into that vulnerability means sharing the parts of myself that most people would never say out loud—my heartbreak, my fears, my longing. It’s like handing someone your diary. But the more I do it, the more I realize I’m not alone in what I feel—and that connection is what keeps me going back to that place every time I write.

What stories or themes do you find yourself returning to again and again in your songwriting?

The theme I find myself coming back to, over and over, is this quiet, aching question: What if I never get where I’m going? That fear has followed me, but so has the fire—this deep pull to honour the dreams of my childhood. I write for the little girl who used to close her eyes and picture herself on a stage, long before she knew how heavy it would feel to carry a dream that big.

Songwriting helps me navigate that constant tension between self-doubt and belief—between wanting this life and wondering if I’m allowed to. Choosing music has been both the scariest and most rewarding thing I’ve done, and the truth is, you don’t choose it once—you choose it every single day, even when it’s hard, even when no one’s clapping.

So I keep writing. I keep honouring that little girl who believed it was possible. And I keep fighting the voice that says it isn’t, and I think that theme comes out a lot in my music.

How did it feel to be selected as one of the four finalists in a nationwide search for Canada’s next country star?

Completely surreal—I’m honestly still shaking! Opportunities like this don’t come around often, especially when you’re from a small town in Northern Ontario. We’re pretty far removed from the fast-paced city music scene, so to be chosen as one of the finalists feels incredible. It means so much to be able to represent where I come from and the community that raised me and shaped the music I love. I feel deeply honoured and grateful.

Has there been a defining moment in your career so far that made you feel like you’re on the right path?

One of the most defining moments for me happened after the funeral of a family friend. We were all gathered together afterward, just trying to hold space for each other, and someone asked me to sing. I ended up playing my song “If We Meet Again.” At the time, it wasn’t recorded, and I hadn’t even thought about releasing it.

As I sang, the room fell completely silent. People were crying, and for a moment I thought I’d said something wrong. But afterward, they came up to me and shared how much the song had meant to them—how it reminded them of their loved one and helped them feel seen in their grief.

That was the moment I knew I was on the right path. I had written that song from my own experience, but seeing how it could speak to someone else’s pain—how it could help heal something like that—it changed everything for me and will stay with me forever.

What’s your go-to comfort food or ritual before stepping on stage?

My go-to pre-show ritual is pretty simple: a spoonful of honey, a few squat jumps, and belting out Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.” It helps me burn off the pre-show nerves and warm up my voice at the same time. I always get a dry throat before I go on stage, and honey is the only thing that seems to fix it—swear by it every time!

Brooklyn Rae

You’ve been performing since you were six—what was the moment that made you realize this could be a lifelong career? 

I think a big moment for me that made me truly believe I could do something with this;

The last few years, I’ve started sharing my passion more, sharing my music more, and I have had nothing but positive feedback, with a lot of people asking, “what are you doing here?”

Having these people question why I wouldn’t be pursuing this dream, and for me not having an answer, really changed my perspective, so I quit my job and started doing music full-time.

How did leaving your small-town roots shape your music and your perspective as an artist? 

At home, I’m just Brooke. I am happy-go-lucky, fun, farmer girl, Brooke. Leaving home, I was able to truly become this version of myself that I’d been kind of hiding for so long, I was afraid to show this side of myself to the people who had never seen me like this before.

Country Rising is about elevating fresh voices—how do you think your voice stands out in today’s country scene? 

There are such amazing, talented people out there. I hope my passion shines through and people can see and hear the love I have for the music I make.

What do you hope listeners feel or take away from your music? 

I love when people understand my music and when it makes them feel something deeper, but truthfully, I just want people to enjoy listening to it. I hope people dance, I hope people smile, I hope people cry, I hope people drink to it.

I just love sharing, and I hope people love listening to my songs as much as I love listening to my favourite music.

Can you share a favourite lyric you’ve written—and the story behind it?

“Eyes won’t shut, but I’m stuck here waiting. Trying to keep up with the expectations.” It’s about me lying in bed awake at 3 in the morning. Unable to do anything, because it’s the middle of the night, thinking about what everyone wants me to do, what I want to do, what I am doing, and what I’m supposed to do. My song “3 am” kind of explains why I made the leap I did to change. I was just sick of being so lost and stuck.

Mac Rumbolt

Your story is incredibly inspiring. How did music become a part of your healing journey after your accident? 

While being laid up in the hospital, not being able to walk or move around much, I would sit in the hospital bed playing guitar and harmonica to help bring me back to a sense of normalcy, doing something I loved. Fast forward to being healed physically, sitting in my bedroom playing guitar or piano, writing very emotional songs that were true to me. That was a type of therapy — being creative and turning my pain and life experiences into something beautiful that hopefully someday people would listen to.

What does resilience mean to you, both as a person and as a songwriter?

Resilience to me is the ability to keep pushing forward regardless of the adversity that is put in front of you, physically and or mentally, and turning that adversity into strength and opportunity while being creative.

What message do you hope your music sends to others going through their own tough chapters? 

I hope that my music allows people to feel joy, sadness, and all the emotions of healing as it does for me, while being able to feel connected on a deeper level knowing that we are all human and all have a story of hurt and joy as we go through this wild ride of life.

You’re about to perform on some major stages—what are you most excited about? 

I am absolutely mind blown and grateful to have the chance to play and sing on a stage filled with incredible talent, and also to be chosen as a finalist and have the opportunity of meeting some amazing people in the music industry.

What’s one song that always lifts your spirits—and would you ever consider covering it?

There are so many great songs I could think of, but one that always just puts me in a boot stompin’ mood is “Hard Livin” by Chris Stapleton. I would definitely consider covering it, in hopes I could do it justice.