Good to be a Canadian girl The Daily News (Halifax) ETERNIA - It's Called Life Reported by: Shauntay Grant > Toronto-bred MC Eternia has a lot to look forward to this year. Her first solo album, dubbed It's Called Life, racked up a recent Juno nomination. After the Juno awards, the 25-year-old hip-hop artist will embark on her first European tour. She'll then join the 411 Initiative For Change on their upcoming Canadian tour to educate youth about violence against women. I caught up with Eternia last week from her new home base in New Jersey. HFX: How do you like living and working out of New Jersey? Eternia: Technically, it's New York. The reason why I'm in New Jersey is because it's cheaper rent. But I got a bus that takes me into New York City in like 45 minutes. HFX: Why New York? Eternia: I built a little bit of a buzz in the '90s 'cause I used to be out here a lot. I definitely have a home base in Toronto - I'm not knocking that. It was just time for me artistically in every way to spread my wings. There's just certain things about staying in one place as an artist - you either get complacent or lazy, and creatively you need something different to inspire your lyrics. So it was definitely time for a change. HFX: You're back and forth a lot? Eternia: I'm back and forth all the time. I live in between Toronto and New Jersey. But I'm trying to live off my music and I don't think I can live off it in Canada. I'm not saying that America is where it's at, but if you look at any Canadian hip hop artist like Socrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, the sales don't really match up to the interest when it comes to fan and media support. And I'm just trying to think realistically before I get too old to be doing this. HFX: The Junos are comin' up ... how do you feel? Eternia: Oh man, it's my first red carpet! I invited my brother to be my date since he introduced me to hip-hop HFX: What was your initial reaction to the nomination? Eternia: I was really surprised. There's certain things in my life that I kinda feel I have in the bag, but I didn't feel like I had a Juno nomination in the bag at all. I feel like everyone in the category has been around longer, done more. I felt maybe my second or third album might get to the Junos, so it's dope that with the first album, I'm there HFX: And you're the only female nominated in the category. What's the 411 on being a female MC in Canada? Eternia: It's easier being a female MC in Canada than it is being a female MC in the States (laughs). I might of felt like I faced some kind of discrimination or hardship back home, but it's nothing compared to (the U.S.). There might have been times when I've had to open shows for someone who has less experience than me … But at the end of the day, Canada is a lot more egalitarian, liberal, open minded... I like to dress like a woman, and in America everything seems to be about uniforms. Because I don't dress like a hip-hop head, people really get thrown off. Back home I can rock onstage in a dress and heels and people don't really mind - it's not an issue. HFX: Future aspirations? Eternia: The No. 1 goal is that I'm just trying to make a living off my music this year. I've jumped in the deep end - I gave my two-weeks notice to the job I was working in Jersey in order to come back for the Junos, and to go on tour. After the two months are done, I have no idea how I'm gonna pay my bills. HFX: That's tough. Eternia: In a way, yes. At the same time, I like a challenge. It definitely adds fuel to my fire.