I always enjoy promoting Canadian talent, especially if they are from Calgary. Kate came to my attention in January of 2019 and I am just getting around to introducing you to her now. A bit of a brain break.
Kate Stevens is singer songwriter in the story teller vein. She has a very nice voice, reminiscent of many artists, notably a laid back version of Andra Day and quite jazzy. Definitely worth a listen.
If you enjoy the video, her music and her story in an expanded way are viewable here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Visual Single Release: Good Girl FEB 20th, by Vancouver based Singer Songwriter Gena Perala (pronounced Jenna).
Gena Perala releases a haunting new single Good Girl on the 20th of February. Reuniting with long-time producer Chris Gestrin, the two have a powerful connection, moving seamlessly through genres and sounds, creating dark melodies enhanced by Perala’s sultry vocals and intensely honest lyrics.
Good Girl opens with beautiful yet ominous “ooohs” and “ahhhs” setting the tone before getting straight to the point: “She’s too good for you and you know it’s true. I think it’s killing you, instead you’re killing her, murderer, murderer, murderer.”
With a voice that is both warm and chilling, Perala creates a style all her own – soft yet strong. “The song is about an abusive relationship and ultimately how every day my friend stayed in this relationship, it was killing her,” Perala explains. “But it’s important to understand how complicated and wrapped up in our past these situations are, so the song is also about the enabling that went on with the abuse and then my own helplessness and anger around men fucking with women, especially when those women are my best friends.”
The visual single premier is an eerie depiction of the artist floating in water surrounded by darkness and at times drowning. Dancers writhing underneath fabric represent the relationship eliciting visuals as unnerving as they are interesting. “Sometimes we know something isn’t good for us and we know we need to get away but we just can’t. Like there’s a force outside ourselves, the fabric drawing us together or the water drowning us and no matter how hard we try, we just can’t get out, Perala says, shedding light on some of the unsettling yet stunning imagery in the video.
Good Girl is the first of a string of releases Perala plans for 2018. It is bit of a departure from her last album (Exactly Nowhere, 2014): Perala trades in her piano for a synthesizer and her drummer for a drum machine. Good Girl is a minimal down-tempo electronic synth song that flirts with pop elements.
Perala’s upcoming releases will feature more of this electronic sound: “Going into the studio I had very specific ideas of what I wanted and co-produced the songs with Chris Gestrin. I love working with Chris anyway but he was the perfect person for this project since his studio is literally packed with synths and drum machines, a lot of them from the 80’s, he loves that stuff so a great fit for the poppy sounds I was going for. He’s also just really good at making my ideas a reality.” Good Girl leans more towards avant-garde pop but then again, Gena Perala is pretty avant-garde herself.
Being as how we are in the Kootenays, it seems appropriate to post a tune by Castlegar’s own Frazey Ford. It doesn’t hurt either that it is a terrific tune.
This weeks number 1 song (Via CBC Radio 2) and album (As per CKUA) are
Death Cab For Cuties song “Black Sun” as single
and
Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project as the top album
Two very different bands with 2 very good sounds.
Death Cab For Cutie is a well established American Alternative band out of Washington state that have been playing and recording since 1997. They feature some interesting musical and instrumental variations and the distinct vocals of Ben Gibbard.
Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project features Jayme Stone, a Canadian banjoist. The project is a working of Alan Lomax’s collection of folk songs. Some interesting material here as Jayme has gathered some of North America’s finest folk artists to assist in the making of the album.
More info here.
Thought it was going to be a terrible drive in today. Radio said to avoid the route I usually take due to a massive water-main break on Glenmore. Unfortunately I heard this as I was at the point of no return. Rolled the dice and won, everybody else went to alternate routes and me and the other cars I saw sailed right through. Actually got to work 5 minutes earlier than normal. Enough about the drive, time for the music.
Today’s tune is by St Vincent and is called “Digital Witness”. St Vincent is actually Anne Clark and hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma, residing in Manhattan. A singer songwriter, leaning to alternative, I hear some Annie Lennox, not much, but some. Interesting tune with some decent hooks.
