Dorchester-born musician Freya Milliken has been nominated for a Music New Brunswick award in the Song of the Year category, for her song, “Wholeheartedly”.

CHMA called her up to find out how the recognition feels, and get an update on her career.

Milliken grew up in Dorchester, and has fond memories of finding her passion for music with help from teachers like Karen Olscamp, Heather Milner and Tanya Dunlop at Dorchester Consolidated and Tantramar Regional High.

After high school Milliken set off for Wolfville, Nova Scotia to study music at Acadia University. She graduated in May, and is choosing to keep calling Wolfville home, with her band nearby and a job she loves.

Milliken wrote “Wholeheartedly” a couple of years ago. “At the time, I was thinking about intimacy and how relationships in our society are often portrayed as being quite shallow,” says Milliken. She wanted a song to carry the idea of “wanting a real connection, as opposed to just something that just touches the surface.” And so a song was born.

Milliken says the Music New Brunswick nomination is “a pretty big step” in her career. “It’s my first award nomination ever, so that feels pretty good,” says Milliken. And regardless of whether or not she takes home the award on October 19, she’s hoping the nomination itself could lead to more exposure and connections that might see her expand her reach as a musician.

Recently Milliken released another single, “Tumbleweeds”, and the musician says she is working on an EP for release in November, and an accompanying tour. So far she has dates in Cape Breton and Fredericton, and Milliken says she might be back to play in the Tantramar region in the spring.

The Music New Brunswick awards will be announced in Moncton on October 19. Milliken’s music is available at bandcamp.com.