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UPDATED: Kootenaians soak up Emmy experience

When the golden statues were handed out earlier this week, local talents Robert Neufeld and Adham Shaikh didn’t get their Emmy Awards.
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Local musical talents Adham Shaikh (left) and Robert Neufeld (right) are all smiles at the Emmy Awards ceremony held earlier this week in New York City.

When the golden statues were handed out earlier this week, local talents Robert Neufeld and Adham Shaikh didn’t get their Emmy Awards. But Shaikh is still glowing about the experience.

The duo was up for Outstanding Music and Sound for their work on the National Geographic project Untamed Americas, a four-part series.

Shaikh said he was a “wee-bit sad” about not winning the prestigious award but relished in the adventure that the Emmys provided.

“There’s always that moment of deflation,” he said, “but to even be included in this slice of reality has been a trip. It’s been an amazing journey since the first demo cue I wrote to try and get on the project.”

Shaikh made his first trip to New York City with the help of Kootenay folks wanting to see the independent artists benefit from schmoozing in the Big Apple — in turn benefitting the Nelson area.

“I have enjoyed myself. Met lots of interesting people,” Shaikh told the Star. He expressed gratitude for the generosity that got him there.

BC filmmakers Velcrow Ripper, who Shaikh worked with on Fierce Light, and Nova Ami toured the Slocan Valley-based composer, producer and DJ around the city. Wednesday night he planned to see his “good buddy” Nicodemus NYC do a private show with Kruder of Kruder and Dormeister fame.

Neufeld has worked on documentary and fiction projects for internationally-known clients as BBC, CBC and Nova, Discovery Channel. He was previously nominated for an Emmy in 2008 in the same category recognizing a project on the Titanic for the History Channel.

This year, HBO’s In Tahrir Square won the Emmy for Outstanding Music and Sound.

“The film that won was a more journalistic piece which was lighter on music but had some great location sound from Tahrir Square,” Neufeld described.

He and Shaikh spoke highly of their collaboration for the National Geographic project, though it proved trying at times.

Of Emmy night Neufeld said, “We had a fun evening. It was an honour to be nominated.”

He and Shaikh spoke highly of their collaboration for the National Geographic project that proved trying at times.

The duo relied heavily on the talents of local musicians such as featured guitarist Rylan Kewen, Craig Korth who played dobro and mandolin, Andy Parks on electric guitar, Soniko Waira on native flute, and guitarist Darren Mahe.

Shaikh said of his and Neufeld’s trip to the Emmys, “really we are just getting warmed up.”

Of returning home to the Kootenays he said, “Now back to chopping wood and carrying water.”