We're already 1.5 months into 2016. I spent 3 weeks in January at The Banff Centre working on new songs and taking a much needed break from travelling, city life and a lack of routine. It takes a strong spirit to stay on the road for the better part of a year. Right now I don't have my own place but my stuff is in boxes at my folks' wonderful home in Lacombe. They are pretty kind to let me crash there when I do. I sneakily moved away from Edmonton at the end of December. Nine big years were spent in that city and sometimes you feel something so strongly in your guts and for me, it was that it was time to get out of Edmonton. Moving/purging was a trip! It's amazing how many memories are associated with the things we have. Hard as it is, some of those things need to be left behind, passed along or destroyed. Felt good overall. So I will be moving to my own place in the spring. Where? Well ain't that the million dollar question! It's the wait and see game now.
In other news, I'm currently at The Banff Centre again to be part of an artist fund promo video. I really cant recommend this place enough to all creative people. It's a place where you're given permission and opportunity to prioritize your craft above anything else. I've been thinking a lot about the artistic journey and process and how counter cultural it is. Why? Because it defies the norms of human time. Let me explain. We are all used to focusing on what we do in a day, week, month, year... all of which make up a life time. In North American society, time is a commodity and the governing factor in most of our decisions. When we focus on what we do in our defined blocks of time, we don't get many opportunities to be creative. For anyone who understands how precious creative space is, you know that time is often the enemy of that space. When you are in the creative "zone" you're not concerned about anything but what you are working on which is outside the bounds of time and everyday expectations that surround us. It is that transcendence that makes the world a better place and generates the best art which is eternal. I think it's pretty rad that there's an institution situated in some of the most beautiful mountains in the world that truly values that creative transcendent space. From my experience, it is counter cultural to value creative space so much that it becomes priority. The Banff Centre gave me permission to do that and the learning I did while here is immeasurable but tremendous.
A few highlights from my time in Banff: I was able to meet and work with Stephen Fearing, one of Canada's best song-writers. A true wordsmith with a super satisfying approach on guitar. He gave me valuable feedback on my songs and helped me make one I was working on stronger. I took a performance workshop with my colleagues here lead by Rhea March from Edmonton. She offered great insight around what an audience sees in a performance that we often don't realize as performers. As a side note, I'm pretty sure she's an angel. Even though my residency is finished, I got to have a session with Mary Gauthier. What an incredible human! She knows songwriting like no other and gave me writing advice I've never heard before but resonated. Mary's songs are so clear, straight to the point and believable, just like her. I have a lot to learn from her and so much to work on.
Tonight and tomorrow night I play another background music pub gig here in Banff at The Bears Den Inn. Another big highlight of my residency at The Banff Centre was meeting Polly Virr, a beautiful soul and amazing cellist from the UK. She will be playing with me tonight and I will be trying to find ways to get her to move to Canada and tour with me.
Next week will be my first ever showcase at Folk Alliance International down in Kansas City. I've never done anything like this before and I look forward to what everyone describes as a wild experience. Below is my showcase schedule for anyone else in that crazy hotel.
Thank you for reading along. Keep on keeping on.
Much love from yours truly.
In other news, I'm currently at The Banff Centre again to be part of an artist fund promo video. I really cant recommend this place enough to all creative people. It's a place where you're given permission and opportunity to prioritize your craft above anything else. I've been thinking a lot about the artistic journey and process and how counter cultural it is. Why? Because it defies the norms of human time. Let me explain. We are all used to focusing on what we do in a day, week, month, year... all of which make up a life time. In North American society, time is a commodity and the governing factor in most of our decisions. When we focus on what we do in our defined blocks of time, we don't get many opportunities to be creative. For anyone who understands how precious creative space is, you know that time is often the enemy of that space. When you are in the creative "zone" you're not concerned about anything but what you are working on which is outside the bounds of time and everyday expectations that surround us. It is that transcendence that makes the world a better place and generates the best art which is eternal. I think it's pretty rad that there's an institution situated in some of the most beautiful mountains in the world that truly values that creative transcendent space. From my experience, it is counter cultural to value creative space so much that it becomes priority. The Banff Centre gave me permission to do that and the learning I did while here is immeasurable but tremendous.
A few highlights from my time in Banff: I was able to meet and work with Stephen Fearing, one of Canada's best song-writers. A true wordsmith with a super satisfying approach on guitar. He gave me valuable feedback on my songs and helped me make one I was working on stronger. I took a performance workshop with my colleagues here lead by Rhea March from Edmonton. She offered great insight around what an audience sees in a performance that we often don't realize as performers. As a side note, I'm pretty sure she's an angel. Even though my residency is finished, I got to have a session with Mary Gauthier. What an incredible human! She knows songwriting like no other and gave me writing advice I've never heard before but resonated. Mary's songs are so clear, straight to the point and believable, just like her. I have a lot to learn from her and so much to work on.
Tonight and tomorrow night I play another background music pub gig here in Banff at The Bears Den Inn. Another big highlight of my residency at The Banff Centre was meeting Polly Virr, a beautiful soul and amazing cellist from the UK. She will be playing with me tonight and I will be trying to find ways to get her to move to Canada and tour with me.
Next week will be my first ever showcase at Folk Alliance International down in Kansas City. I've never done anything like this before and I look forward to what everyone describes as a wild experience. Below is my showcase schedule for anyone else in that crazy hotel.
Thank you for reading along. Keep on keeping on.Much love from yours truly.