Basia Bulat’s romantic interlude

“I’m kind of all over the place right now,” Basia Bulat says over the phone about her current “homeless” state. Today, the 25-year-old is fighting her way through the bitter cold Montreal weather to get to the office of her label Secret City Records. Tomorrow, she has no idea where she’ll be. Thus has been the folk pop artist’s life since releasing her critically acclaimed and Polaris-nominated debut Oh My Darling in 2007. “I travel so much that I feel like I don’t have a proper home right now.”

Bulat had never toured in her life before setting Oh My Darling free three years ago. Now she wheels her autoharp and jubilant tunes around all over the world. If you’re lucky, you might be able to pin her down in Montreal, Toronto, or at Western University in London where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in English literature (her degree is on hold at the moment, for obvious reasons).

The absence of a physical home hasn’t dampened the spirits of this self-proclaimed literature nerd who harbours an intense adoration for the Bronte sisters. The insane touring schedules and constant movement that accompanied Oh My Darling awoke Bulat’s idyllic spirit. She was forced to write from the road, something she’d never done before, which gave rise to all sorts of emotion-drenched convictions. The result is her sophomore effort, Heart Of My Own. “[The record] is me trying to find that constant part of myself, regardless of where I am and where I’m going.”

“Gold Rush,” the first single off of Heart Of My Own, was inspired by the Yukon and Bulat’s aspirations to travel as far north as she could. Bulat dreamt of going to the Yukon while all other kids dreamt of Mickey Mouse and Disneyland. “A lot of my ideas about [the Yukon] are just my imagination. That’s kind of what my music is like too.”

The song was written long before Bulat finally found her way to the Yukon’s Dawson City Music Festival in 2008. It romanticized yet warned her of this ideal place she’d created in her mind. “I was thinking a lot about going there, and I was thinking a lot about the reasons why people go there. There’s love, there’s passion, there’s obsession; will going up there also be destroying the thing that attracted me there in the first place? Sometimes the thing that attracts you to the place, the fact that you’re pursuing it, can almost erode what attracted you to it in the first place. The song is also kind of a warning. And really, it can be about any relationship ― with a place or with a person.”

Bulat describes her trip to the Yukon as a fortifying experience. Her travels to that far and distant land eventually influenced the sparse and quiet, yet loud and frolicking, nature of Heart Of My Own. Even the title track, according to Bulat, tries to reconcile emotional extremes as it explores the part of us that stays constant and true while everything else whizzes past.

Bulat’s absent “home” is a great muse on Heart Of My Own, but she has no idea if she’ll find what she’s looking for in the future, or what will happen if she does. “I don’t know. It’s hard to say.” She pauses. “But anywhere that I have my guitar, songs and autoharp, then I feel at home.”

Article featured in the February edition of Exclaim! Magazine

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Basia Bulat

Heart Of My Own

By Amanda Ash

Since the release of Basia Bulat’s debut album, Oh My Darling, the folk pop songstress has been touring the world non-stop with her beloved Autoharp in tow. The road gave her time to reflect on her 2008 Polaris Prize shortlist nomination, to absorb her sudden leap into the indie spotlight and, of course, to write many of the absolutely spirited songs found on her sophomore effort, Heart Of My Own. In contrast to Oh My Darling, Heart Of My Own features songs that are slightly longer, more lyrically sophisticated and sonically rounded. The tunes are still as ebullient and carefree as Oh My Darling’s little gems, like “In The Night” and “Before I Knew,” except they’ve lost that girly feeling and gained a graceful wisdom. Bulat kicks off the album with “Go On,” which serves as a perfect hook for the rest of the record. The vibe is uplifting and hopeful, yet a thread of steadfast caution ties it all together. Many of Bulat’s songs profess romantic ideals, whether they’re of home or of far-off places. “Gold Rush” is a rolling, thundering number inspired by the Yukon. Other songs play a little softer, like “Heart Of My Own.” But the real winner is “Run,” an inspiring song bound to be one of this decade’s top singles. If Heart Of My Own is any indication, Bulat will soon be spending much more time on the road touring her best work yet. (Secret City)

Review featured on Exclaim.ca.

Music from the mailbag

Every day I get a number of fantastic CDs in the mail (and via e-mail) that I simply don’t get a chance to write about, so I’ve decided to post first impressions and mini-reviews of some of the great music I receive.

In today’s mailbag:

Kate Maki, Two Song Wedding (Released January 12 on OWOM Records)

Two Song Wedding is very sparse, very raw and very visceral. It’s one of those records you don’t actively listen to; it’s an album you let your bones interpret.

This song is called “Bloodshot And Blistered.”

Matthew Barber, True Believer (Out February 23 on Outside Music)

True Believer is full of hooks. It’s kind of like wandering through the Temple of Doom, except you’re confronted with romantic folk whispers, lovely melodies and a fiery rock effervescence with every step.

This song is called “Revolution Of The Sun.”

Aidan Knight, Versicolour (Out March 2 on Adventure Boys Club)

Versicolour is a charming pop album that’s got a rugged sonic shell and a soft, melancholic centre. Knight reminds me of the of Vancouver singer-songwriter Dan Mangan.

This song is called “Jasper.”

Webathon for Haiti

If you read the CBC Radio 3 blog yesterday, then you’ll know we’re planning a full-day webathon tomorrow to support relief efforts in Haiti.

I’ve copied the Radio 3 blog entry here, because it summed up the entire effort quite nicely:

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The Haitian earthquake is the worst natural disaster to hit the Western Hemesphere in recorded history. As many as 200,000 people are feared dead, with 250,000 injured, and 1.5 million homeless.

This Friday, January 22nd at 8pm ET, close to 100 broadcasters across North America will put aside their corporate differences to simulcast Hope For Haiti Now. Canadian broadcasters, will also carry the program, and have joined forces to produce Canada for Haiti, an hour-long pre-show starting @ 7pm ET.

In support of relief efforts, CBC Radio 3 is planning a one-day open-source webathon in support of Haitian quake victims. Throughout the day, we will be urging the Radio 3 community to come together and donate as much as they can to NGOs working in Haiti. But unlike a traditional telethon or radiothon, a webathon is someting everyone can participate in. Don’t think of this as a Radio 3 thing, so much as an open source web community thing.

:: If you have a blog, push your readers to get involved.Who cares if you usually write about music, or hi-larious cat videos… take the time today to shift gears and help fight the good fight.

:: If you Tweet or are on Facebook, don’t be shy, tell your followers who you’ve donated to. Every little bit helps. And be sure to use the hashtag #haitiwebathon.

:: CBC has compiled a list of NGO’s working in Haiti. We encourage the online community to push people here, or if you have your own NGO you’d like to promote, by all means, please do.

We know this is short notice, but the web was built for speed, flexibility and creativity. Even a single blog post can help keep this disaster fresh in the minds of people who’ve yet to donate, so don’t be afraid to go all PBS fundraising drive on theirs asses.

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Here’s an updated list of benefit concerts, via CBC Radio 3.

The good people over at NXEW also have a list of upcoming events (including many indie music concerts) across Canada that are happening in support of relief efforts in Haiti. Click HERE for that list.

NXEW did miss one event, though: If you’re in Vancouver on February 5, there’s the “Rio Showcase Presents an Intimate Piano Recital” featuring local artists Adaline, Dan Moxon (Bend Sinister), Jody Glenham, Prairie Cat and Dominique Fricot (The Painted Birds). Partial proceeds go towards the Red Cross to support the Haiti relief fund. Check out the Facebook event for more details.

If you know of any other indie concerts happening to support Haiti, please feel free to link to it in a comment below.

Woodpigeon talks Die Stadt Muzikanten, home, and oil money

Mark Hamilton of Woodpigeon, performing at the Biltmore.

Mark Hamilton, a.k.a. the main man and foundation of folk-pop band Woodpigeon, took the time before his show at the Biltmore Cabaret yesterday to chat about his new album, Die Stadt Muzikanten.

Die Stadt Muzikanten is the Calgary musician’s third release, largely influenced by Hamilton’s explorations and ruminations about his heritage. Sonically, Die Stadt Muzikanten is full of lush instrumentals and vibrant, melodic landscapes; it’s a fantastic record that’s as refreshing as a walk in the woods.

He’s a quiet man, Mr. Hamilton, but he’s definitely not outspoken. Our conversation strayed a bit near the end, touching on Alberta’s oil culture. We were even graced with some cheesy dance music and a laser light show at one point, which was kind of annoying. Oh well. When you hear it, just pretend it’s background music.

Here’s the interview:

As for the concert itself: the show was great. Pretty low-key, although it was definitely a bit heavier sounding since Hamilton played with a full band. I saw him play solo when he opened for Basia Bulat at St. James Hall a while back, and comparing the two shows, I prefer his acoustic sets. I find Hamilton’s songs extremely intimate, so the bigger “band” sound didn’t quite do it for me.

Also, he didn’t play any of my Die Stadt favourites—”Empty-Hall Sing-Along,” “Morningside,” “Enchantée Janvier,” or my favourite from his last record Treasury Library Canada, “7th Fret Over Andres.” I was a bit sad, but it was still a great night overall.

Here’s “Enchantée Janvier” and “7th Fret Over Andres.”

And here’s a video of last night’s performance of “Spirehouse,” a song that can be found on Die Stadt Muzikanten.

Tiesto (Feat. Tegan & Sara) releases video for “Feel It In My Bones”

Watch this video once and you’ll be hooked. It was released on January 13 and I’ve already replayed it about twenty times. “Feel It In My Bones” has become one of my favourite songs of all time. So go ahead. Hit repeat. Yup, I knew you’d do it …

Basia Bulat discusses her new record Heart Of My Own

I had a chance to interview folk-pop musician Basia Bulat before Christmas about her upcoming January 26 release, Heart Of My Own. The interview was done for Exclaim! Magazine, and you can read the entire feature in February’s issue. For now, though, here’s a snippet of what the past Polaris-nominated artist has to say about her sophomore effort.

Heart of My Own was produced by Howard Bilerman at Hotel2Tango in Montréal and will be released on Secret City Records. You’ll have to wait until the 26th (which, as the English lit-groomed Bulat pointed out, is also Virginia Woolf’s birthday) to hear the whole thing, but take it from me: the record is unbelievable. Start saving your pennies.

Here is the first track off of Heart Of My Own. It’s called “Go On.”

Canadian Futures: Dan Mangan

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked by the National Post to flex my future-seeing eye. The Ampersand approached a select number of Canadian music critics, bloggers and mega-fans for an answer to this question:

If you were buying stocks in music, which up and coming Canadian musical act would you invest in?

Here was my response:

I would invest in upcoming Vancouver singer-songwriter Dan Mangan. His 2007 debut album Postcards and Daydreaming was a sleeper hit, giving him indie cred with the kids who had their ears to the ground. However, it’s his sophomore disc Nice, Nice, Very Nice that will be akin to lighting a stick of dynamite with a short fuse. Sure, Mangan’s already making waves in the Canadian indie scene, but it’s a no-brainer to say Mangan will continue to impress with his colorful, folk-infused narratives and husky voice. When Nice, Nice, Very Nice was released, it sprang to number one on the iTunes Canada singer/songwriter album chart, garnered rave reviews and earned him a handful of international tour dates. He’s even brandished a few awards since the album dropped in August: Mangan won “Artist Of The Year” from XM Satellite’s Verge Music Awards (which came with a nice cash prize of $25,000) and two CBC Radio 3 Bucky Awards for “Best Vocals” and “Best Song” (for his tune “Robots”). The excited chatter over this bearded bard can be heard far and wide. One part rugged heartbreaker, one part genius songster and a million parts charming, Dan Mangan will be a sound investment for years to come.
-Amanda Ash, freelance journalist

(Article was posted December 28, 2009).

Nightwood release video for “Bright Girls Of Summer”

Nightwood are a heavy, dark, punk-infused rock trio from Montréal. They kind of remind me of The XX, Black Mountain and Blondie put together. Nightwood recently released their first full-length album Carta Marina, which crashes and sways with vengeful drums, spastic guitars and deep sea imagery.

Here is the video for “Bright Girls Of Summer,” which was posted yesterday.

The song may be the last on the album, but that doesn’t mean it’s inferior to the rest. It’s probably one of my favourite tracks on Carta Marina. The video itself is pretty cool; it involves a series of studio time lapses that mirror the timeless, unattached feel of the song.

A most interesting interview with: The Zolas

Zachary Gray of The Zolas. Photo by myself.

The Zolas are going to take your iPod by storm. Or perhaps they already have?

The Vancouver-based indie-pop duo Zachary Gray and Tom Dobrzanski released their debut album Tic Toc Tic recently and it’s a killer. Filled with infectious pop hooks, refreshing rock melodies and a whole lotta style, Tic Toc Tic puts The Zolas right up there with some of Vancouver’s top talent such as Said The Whale, Hey Ocean! and Hannah Georgas, amongst others.

I had the chance to talk to The Zolas on Friday, December 18 before their show at the Vogue Theatre with Hey Ocean! and Current Swell. Our conversation included Tom “showing” listeners his super cool piano scarf, a debate over whether Zach’s den was actually a living room, and Tom getting in trouble for not putting his girlfriend on the guest list.

Listen to the interview below.

And here are a few great Zolas songs: “You’re Too Cool,” “The Great Collapse” and “Marlaina Kamikaze.”

(For more photos of The Zolas’ show, visit my Flickr photostream).

The Racoons a rowdy bunch at Fortune Sound Club

Photo by Christine McAvoy

Last night I had the pleasure of witnessing one heck of a sweaty, slamming show, compliments of Victoria’s The Racoons at the Fortune Sound Club.

I saw The Racoons perform this past summer at the Victoria Fringe Festival Block Party, but that was before I really started digging their album Islomania. I’ve become so addicted to them lately that I was beyond pumped to see them again.

The Good News opened the evening with their 60’s-inspired indie pop. If you haven’t heard of The Good News, you should definitely check them out. Think of Winter Gloves minus the electro vibes.

The Racoons, as expected, were phenomenal. They played songs off of Islomania and a few new songs off their upcoming album. They were head banging on stage, hopping about and sweating everywhere. The small room made the band sound a lot louder, harsher and more intense, which was a nice change from their poppy-sounding record. And the fans there must’ve agreed, because they too were jumping and flailing all over the dance floor.

(The photo above was taken by Christine McAvoy, a Twitter acquaintance that so happened to be taking photos of the show. Check out some of her other work HERE).