By Ryan Dahlman
Leader
Dodie Greenwald has inadvertently applied the 100-Mile Diet philosophy to producing a country music CD.

The 100-Mile Diet is when someone only eats food which was produced from within a 100-mile radius of where that person lives.

The idea is it helps everyone as the local food producers get increased business and the consumer benefits by enjoying fresh, safe products from close to home.

Greenwald applied that same principle with the production of her second collection of original country songs.

The Fox Valley-area cowgirl’s second effort Sagebrush and Roses, was recorded and produced in the professional recording studio surroundings of Outlaw Studios in nearby Leader by owner Al Rodgers who also played guitar in some of the songs.

Greenwald was thrilled with the results.

“We went with a totally different producer,” says Greenwald, was far happier with the results this time around. “I thought I’d lay down a few tracks for him. He seemed to get into it and then we just worked together.”

Rodgers, who actually is more of a rocker by trade, talked to Greenwald during a Grand Old Opry show in Leader, where he was helping out as a sound man.

Music is extremely popular in that part of Saskatchewan. The Leader/Fox Valley/Eatonia regions are known for producing many extremely-talented musicians and singers such as Jesse Zubot, Amber Schneider and Maria Danvers, just to name a few. Greenwald and Rodgers agreed they should collaborate and the results are obvious.

Add in some local musicians and background singers and you have a smart, nicely-produced and packed collaborative — truly a southwest Saskatchewan effort.

Sagebrush and Roses is much more reflective with emphasis on storytelling compared to Sand in my Boots from a few years back.

With songs such as Sometimes a CowGirl’s Gotta Cry about a young cowgirl losing her horse, to the sombre and heartache-filled waltzs Like We Used To, about a wife missing her mate and the lonely-sounding Nights Like These, (arguably the best song on the CD) Greenwald has definitely matured as a singer-songwriter with this effort.

“My songwriting has improved a lot,” explains Greenwald. “What I did for the first one was just sing as fast as possible. I’d rush and finish the song and it was weak to me. Now, I get an idea from something I experienced, but I wait for the rest of the story (to unfold) before I finish the song. Now, that’s worked out great for me. In a way, you’re kinda song writing all the time.”

She says now, she will write a few points down about an idea for a song and this way it will stick with her longer.

While, it’s definitely a more polished collection of songs, Greenwald hasn’t forgotten her roots. It’s still celebrates the family farm life and the CD itself reflects that with some excellent photographs of Greenwald on the farm. The pictures and graphic design were done by her family including Jade and Emma Greenwald along with her sister Dixie Lorentz.

One won’t have to go a 100 miles to see Greenwald. She says there are plans on doing some local shows in the near future, which she will announce soon.

If you want to hear for yourself some samples or order her new CD check out her website at www.dodiegreenwald.com