Geordie Gordon – The Tower (Victory Pool, 2021)
Release Date: September 2, 2021
Management: Victory Pool - Bryan Power - bryan@victorypool.ca

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2020 brought stillness to all of us. Why, even one of the most electrically charged, visually compelling performers of his generation, Geordie Gordon, was grounded. 

That March, the Toronto-based mastermind behind the electro-pop force, the Magic, and key contributor to U.S. Girls and Islands, was prepping for a long tour in support of U.S. Girls’ acclaimed, Polaris Music Prize-nominated 2020 album, Heavy Light, when all roadwork plans went out the window because of a raging pandemic. And so, with some measure of defeat pervading his heart and mind, Gordon retreated to his apartment to ponder the outside world, in isolation.

The gifted multi-instrumentalist inherited a familial DIY gene; the son of folk musician James Gordon and younger brother of subterranean rock music genius, Evan Gordon, Geordie Gordon was practically raised in the family’s home recording studio, Pipe Street, where, beyond developing engineering chops, he adopted self-reliance to bring his imagination to life. Gordon can play almost any instrument he picks up, which is handy because he has a lot of thoughts that could use rad soundtracks. 

And so, we have a new solo Geordie Gordon album called The Tower—a batch of pensive songs entirely conceived of and captured by Gordon, while cocooned in his Toronto apartment throughout 2020. The year has forced many of us into introspection due to an alienating, fear-inducing, plague-like illness but also—and it’s important not to leave this behind—because of racism, police violence, economic disparity, and civil unrest. The images and ideas and hidden truths we have been exposed to over the past year and change have angered and broken us but the response to such evil and hardship has also heartened and inspired us to not only do something, but to do more.

How did this era impact Gordon? He wound up on a chat thread with members of the Toronto band, the Bicycles, who initiated a “song a week” initiative, whereby everyone involved wrote and recorded one song within a week. A hard deadline, yes, but one that lit a fire under Gordon, who met the challenge by composing songs of their time but, as he is wont to do, feel timeless. 

Gordon has a great love for the first wave of popular rock ‘n’ roll—its brazenness, its rebelliousness, its hook-y, romantic infectiousness—but he is also hyper contemporary in his production style. He tends to give us songs that are lushly produced with multi-layered instrumentation that is both traditional and familiar yet synthesized and alien. In the end, the same Geordie Gordon song, all souped up with sounds, has as much power on a dance floor, as it might in your living room, rendered by him solo, with just a parlour guitar. It’s a gift he has, to write songs that meet the moment and move and compel us to listen. 

The Tower reflects that gift: songs about separation and disconnection, about bigotry and tragedy, about galvanization and hope, about love, love, love—these are songs for and about right here, right now, but because of how they’re presented, they’ll transcend this time and live with us forever. We’re fortunate that Geordie Gordon is welcoming us into his home, where he crafted The Tower, which also enables him to break free from an unprecedented kind of loneliness, and share a dynamic side of himself we haven’t quite seen before.

The Great Divide

Coming Soon late summer 2021! 
Written, produced, and performed by Matt Epp and Isaac Murdoch.
Gichi Mnido Nagamon written and performed by Shannon Paul. 
With special guests Shannon Paul and Nora Kotkas.
Additional musicianship by Walter Macdonald Whitebear, Chris Andrew, Joel Couture, Kyle Crane, Samantha Whelan Kotkas.

06 Indian Song

10 - The Coast

07 - Seabird

Toronto based singer-songwriter and poet Donna Dunlop joins us on Episode 602 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her career in music, and latest album "Backlight" which features songs that were originally recorded in 2000-2001, but revisited this past year with support and instrumentation from producer/engineer and guitarist Steve Sherman. Although Donna is no longer active as a live performer, she has a great music catalogue and lots of interesting stories to share. So, settle down and enjoy Donna Dunlop... in Conversation on Folk Roots Radio.

If you like the artists you hear on this show and want to support them, don’t just stream their music – BUY their music and then you’ll really make a difference to their income during this difficult time when it’s much more challenging to find live shows.

Folk Roots Radio is a labour of love - a full time hobby. If you enjoy this episode, please consider giving us a 'LIKE' and leaving a review/comment on your podcast provider and sharing the episode on social media. We'll love you for it!

Check out the full playlist on the website: https://folkrootsradio.com/folk-roots-radio-episode-602-donna-dunlop-in-conversation-backlight/

Folk Roots Radio

Episode 602 - feat. Donna Dunlop In Conversation - Backlight

Zemblanity

Saffron A is an alt.folk artist and poet who describes her music as sitting where emotion and intellect intersect. Distinct from every young musician who starts out on guitar or piano, Saffron A creates her music on octave mandolin, mandocello and other members of the mandolin family. Saffron A. is about to release her powerful new single “Resilience” which will be followed by a full E.P., of the same name, on May 4. Resilience documents the emotional fallout from a sexual assault that occurred last summer. This fall, Saffron A will release a second E.P., “Resistance” which will further document her progress since the assault. That will be followed by the release of more new songs as part of a full concept album. Saffron A will be touring Ontario and further afield this spring and summer. Saffron A joined us in the Folk Roots Radio studio for an in-depth conversation about the project. For more information, visit http://saffronamusic.com. Music: Saffron A. “Resilience”, “No Words”, “Mind Over Mania”, “Where The Truth Lies” and “Give Me A Minute” from “Resilience” E.P. (2019, Self).

(TRIGGER WARNING: We are pleased to support this project knowing that sexual assault is an important societal topic that needs our attention and public discussion. However, we also appreciate that some listeners may be triggered by such conversations.)

Interview - Saffron A discussing her new single and E.P. "Resilience" (*TRIGGER WARNING*)

There's no doubt that 2020 is a very different year for everyone. But for that very reason I didn't want to let a pandemic get in the way of the annual Christmas song. I thought it was quite fitting to choose Christmas Star, originally from the Home Alone 2 score (get it - we're all home alone), but knew that getting guests into the studio would be a challenge. Instead, I reached out to the Sounds of Superior Chorus, who mobilized many of their members within days and soon the cellphone/iPad/laptop recordings of their individual parts started coming in. We knew this was the safest way to do the project. From the beginning I knew I wanted a women's choir, but for fun I invited Rod and Larry from the Gentlemen of Harmony to join in, as well as my sister Megan, who is a former member of the Sounds of Superior. We were also joined by trombonist Darlene Chepil-Reid.

We hope you enjoy our reimagining of "Christmas Star", and have a safe and happy holiday season, from your friends at the Sounds of Superior Chorus and I!

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CREDITS
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Originally written by John Williams with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse.

Produced by Jean-Paul De Roover Arranged by Jean-Paul De Roover Recorded and Mixed by Jean-Paul De Roover at Blueprints
Mastered by Jon Tornblom at Transparent Mastering

SOUNDS OF SUPERIOR CHORUS: Heather Bolduc Linda Bruneau Lana Bullough Pat Cupp Heather Hack Petersen Rowena Husch Juliet Johnson Sharron Kershaw Kathleen Milks Linda Mitchell Carol Morgan Pat Towell

Additional choral vocals from Megan De Roover, Rod Johnson (Gentlemen of Harmony), Larry Kamo (Gentlemen of Harmony) and Jean-Paul De Roover.

Darlene Chepil-Reid: Trombone.
Jean-Paul De Roover: Vocals, Harp, Piano, Music Box, Electric Guitar, Synths, Drums and Percussion, String/Horn Arrangements & Additional Programming.

Songs for the Holidays

Christmas Star (feat. Sounds of Superior Chorus)

Written while floating on a northern Ontario lake under the star filled midnight sky, ‘Connected…not the same’ is an ode to our universal connectedness, the uniqueness of our individuality and to finding the proper pace in which to be in love with both.  Produced with the uber sensitive brilliantfish ‘Connected…not the same’ is accompanied by the consummate guitar player, Cam MacInnes and the pure-in-voice singer, Sweet T. on backing vocals.

Connected...not the same

Sunshine

Folk Roots Radio is a syndicated radio show hosted and produced by Jan Hall that focuses on bringing new folk, roots and blues music and the voices of upcoming and independent artists to the airwaves. Visit us online at https://folkrootsradio.com.

Submissions: https://folkrootsradio.com/about-folk-roots-radio/music-submissions/

Interview - Saffron A discussing her new single and E.P. "Resilience" (TRIGGER WARNING)

Folk Roots Radio... with Jan Hall

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