Last week, the wonderful folks at the Saskatoon Star Phoenix ran a wonderful story about the new album on the front page of their Arts section. It’s a really interesting and lovely thing to read about your own journey through someone else’s eyes. Thank you Stephanie McKay for a fun visit, and for sharing your fantastic story-telling talents!
You can read the article at The Star Phoenix website (or click the picture above)!
–SFar
Today I am thankful for my friend Jen Lane. Two summers ago, Jen was just an acquaintance. I was in a state, because the studio I was recording at was closing, the producer was leaving, and I wasn’t quite happy with the music we were making but I couldn’t pinpoint why.
I needed advice, so I called Jen and her husband John and asked if I could buy them lunch. Jen and John together probably have more than two decades of experience and lessons learned about the music business. They can always be counted on for a coffee or brain picking session. Their generosity with their time, energy and knowledge is well known in the Saskatoon music community.
So we had lunch, and after Thai food and no small amount of venting from me, Jen offered a few producers’ names—including her own. “No pressure!” she said “Just think about it and I’ll see you at Ness Creek in two weeks.” I didn’t need to think about it, but she didn’t want me to feel even remotely pressured into a decision.
I made this record with Jen, in the end, and I am so glad I did. I have gained an amazing friend in my life, and my record turned so beautifully. Jen has a wicked sense of humour and is fantastic at putting things in perspective. She enjoys the simple things in life, and has a sneaky talent for helping the people around her slow down and do the same. When you’re stressed out around Jen, you’ll often find yourself fed, watered and laughing your butt off at some gloriously stupid Youtube video before you even know what hit you. I still haven’t figured out if she’s doing it on purpose or not.
Working with an inspired, talented and intuitive female producer was an incredible treat. I feel like my record was a newborn baby in a carriage controlled by four untamed horses and hurtling away from me at lightning speed. You whispered the horses, grabbed the reins and put the baby back in my hands. I am so grateful.
Jen has released a song and video this week, which you can check out below.
She will be joining us at at The Bassment on Friday night to do some SANGIN’!!! Can’t wait!
Jen Lane – Shoe (Official Video): http://exclaim.ca/music/article/jen_lane-shoe_video
#heartbeats #gratituesday #whenyouranswercomes
Today, I am thankful for my friend Fionncara (Cara).
Cara and I cemented our friendship when we were roomies on the Grade 12 band trip. I was competing in a scholarship competition at the music festival and kept waking both of us up with stress nightmares. She was super cool about it, and we bonded over our mutual fascination with dream interpretation and Catholic spirituality. Since then, we’ve shared innumerable pots of tea, lamented about the necessary poverty of an artistic life, road tripped together at least once yearly, and regularly dressed up to dance to a buttload of cheesy 80’s music in our apartments.
Cara is an incredibly talented poet. She has a mysterious and secret relationship with words that makes you wonder if she was raised by them in the wild. She can get them to reveal things, paint pictures and show themselves in ways I never could. They will paint heartbreaking, hilarious and eloquent pictures for her. It’s sometimes spooky and always inspiring.
Cara understands the neurotic artist part of me that sometimes panics, gets discouraged and wants to quit. She’s gone through this too, but luckily we have rarely been in that headspace at the same time. I can rely on her to kick my butt back into action. From Cara, I have learned to allow myself to be human & that I’ll laugh at my foibles later on. I have learned how to listen on the wind and read the lines on people’s faces. Art is prayer. If I’m always praying, then I’ll always have the inspiration I need for the next project. I won’t get stuck in self-oriented neurotic ruts. The words will eventually learn to dance for me too.
I’m still a clunky amateur, but maybe one day I’ll get there.
Love you gurlll,
and thank you.
(And Happy Birthday-week! Wooooo!!!)
#GratitTuesday #heartbeats #whenyouranswercomes
Production was made possible with support from Creative Saskatchewan's Market & Export Development Program.
