The Manitoba country artist opens up about music, Indigenous heritage, authentic storytelling, and the journey that continues to shape his career.
Manitoba’s Jerry Sereda has built his career on more than country music — his songs are rooted in lived experience, Indigenous heritage, and a genuine passion for storytelling.
Recently named the Manitoba Country Music Association’s 2025 Indigenous Country Artist of the Year, Sereda continues to make his mark on the Canadian country scene. His career includes multiple #1 singles on the Indigenous Music Countdown and Canadian Indie Country Countdown, numerous MCMA nominations, and performances alongside artists including Johnny Reid and Jason Blaine.
But Sereda’s impact reaches well beyond the stage. With a Master’s Degree in Education, he is also committed to mentorship, decolonizing learning frameworks, and supporting the next generation of Indigenous talent. For Sereda, music and education are both opportunities to strengthen community, celebrate heritage, and create meaningful connections.
We caught up with Jerry Sereda to learn more about his journey, his approach to songwriting, the importance of his Indigenous roots, and what’s ahead in this next chapter of his career.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m a Manitoba Indigenous country artist from the Parkland Region of Treaty 2 territory, who loves telling honest stories through music. My goal has always been to write songs that people can connect with, whether it’s about love, heartbreak, chasing dreams, or finding hope. I grew up on country music, and being able to share my own songs with audiences across Manitoba and beyond is something I never take for granted. I also have all my music on www.JerrySereda.com and I give it away for free as my gift back to all those who have supported me throughout my journey.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
My newest single, “What’s Coming to Me,” was released on August 31, 2026, and it’s a song about trusting the journey and believing that the hard work you put in eventually comes back around. Life doesn’t always move on our timeline, but sometimes the best things arrive when we least expect them. I hope listeners hear a little bit of their own story in the song and come away feeling hopeful about what’s ahead.
Walk us through your creative progress when creating music.
Every song starts with an idea or a feeling that’s been sitting with me. Sometimes it’s something I’ve experienced personally, and other times it’s inspired by conversations or watching the people around me. I’ll usually start with a lyric or melody, then build the story from there. I like songs that feel honest, so I don’t rush the process. Once the song is written, it’s about finding the right production to bring the emotion to life without losing what made the song special in the first place. Lots of my ideas come to me when I’m working out, or doing house or yard work.
Now that the music is out, what does the ‘road ahead’ look like? Beyond tours and videos, what’s one ‘bucket list’ goal you hope to achieve with this release?
I’m excited to get this song in front of as many people as possible and keep building momentum through live shows and connecting with fans. One bucket list goal would be hearing “What’s Coming to Me” receive significant radio play across Canada and seeing it connect with listeners from coast to coast. As a songwriter, there’s nothing better than knowing a song you’ve written has become part of someone else’s life.
Every artist has a ‘lightbulb moment’ where things just clicked. Looking back, what’s the one performance or milestone that made you realize, ‘Okay, this is what I was meant to do’?
I think every show reinforces why I do this, but there was one moment when I looked out into the crowd and saw people singing along to one of my original songs. That was a reminder that music really does bring people together. When people connect with something you’ve written, it’s a pretty incredible feeling, and it confirmed that this is exactly what I’m meant to be doing.
We love championing Canadian talent. If you were curated a ‘Must-Listen’ playlist of emerging artists right now, who is the first person you’d add?
There are so many talented Canadian artists coming up right now, but I’d have to say Nelson Little or Mitchell Makoon. They’re creating great music, working hard, and representing Canadian country really well. I think people should definitely keep an eye on them
There’s nothing like the energy of a live room. Where can fans catch you on stage next, and for someone seeing you for the first time, what should they expect from a Jerry Sereda live experience?
I’ll be performing at the Beausejour Rodeo on September 12, followed by shows at McPhillips Station Casino on November 13 and 14. If you’ve never seen me live before, you can expect a high-energy country show with a mix of original music and crowd favourites. I want people to leave having had a great time, singing along, and feeling like they were part of the show. At the end of the day, it’s all about creating a memorable night together.