By Jim Barber
There’s a inventive storm brewing on Canada’s east coast. And it’s heading west, able to carry with it a torrent of powerfully compelling music, excessive octane performances, biting and daring lyricism and a fiercely potent message of self-confidence, freedom of spirit and uncompromising badassery.
On the eye of the storm is without doubt one of the most lauded singer/songwriters to return out of Nova Scotia in years, an interesting drive of nature whose power and eloquence is matched solely by her prodigious work ethic and drive to be an inventive distinction maker.
Elyse Aeryn is all of this, and extra – the extra is but to return, as she’s simply begun to mine the depths of her creativity, together with her second full-length album All people Loves You… set to be launched in October of 2025.
Quick changing into a family title within the Maritime provinces, and particularly in Nova Scotia, earlier this yr after incomes the title of Music Nova Scotia’s Entertainer of the 12 months for 2024, Aeryn made her first trek west to play a number of exhibits in Ontario and Quebec, dipping her toes into the maelstrom of the Central Canadian music scene, taking notes, taking names, and making armloads of followers at every cease. She was accompanied by her associate in life and in music, guitarist Garret Taylor.
“It was a blast. I simply maintain telling myself that that is the life for me. I cherished attending to play my songs for brand spanking new individuals in new venues. I cherished being in a special metropolis every single day, seeing the stops alongside the best way, making an attempt native eating places, you recognize, ingesting a special craft beer in a special city each night. It was actually enjoyable, and I can’t wait to do it once more,” she mentioned.
“I felt that we introduced the east coasters out to a lot of the venues we went to. We even had individuals from my hometown [on Cape Breton Island] at our Hamilton present, which I simply thought was so humorous. Past that, I believe it’s simply people who find themselves excited and hungry for brand spanking new music, and that’s the identical irrespective of the place I’ve performed. It’s simply that out west there, there’s a lot extra of it. The east coast is a reasonably small place exterior of Halifax. It’s just about all small cities and some small cities. So, it was cool to be in locations with such a big inhabitants density, which simply meant extra music followers occupied with extra distinctive sounds and in search of extra contemporary artists.
“Nevertheless it was additionally a reasonably good studying expertise. I made a little bit Tik Tok video on the finish of the tour and talked about quite a lot of the little issues that I by no means actually thought-about as to how they’d work out till I used to be within the second. For instance, we needed to drive a little bit bit after a few the exhibits to get nearer to the following location, however what I didn’t take into consideration was for those who don’t have a lodge booked, you have got nowhere to go once you get there. I simply had a lot occurring with the one popping out and dealing on a music video. I had additionally simply been at a songwriting convention on Prince Edward Island so, I had 1,000,000 issues on my plate after which I jumped into this tour. At one level we had been on the best way to Stratford understanding that we had been staying in Oshawa that night time, however then what can we do all afternoon, the place are we going to prepare? ‘I assume we’re going to hold round Stratford for the afternoon and get modified within the A&W car parking zone, and brush my enamel within the inexperienced room on the venue.’ So, I assume perhaps we gained’t do this subsequent time. That was one in all many takeaways and one other is routing: if you are able to do it in a straight line and never be zigzagging backwards and forwards, it would undoubtedly serve you higher. I believe I’ll plan the following journey extra prematurely in order that I may very well be a little bit extra selective with my routing, and never have to vary in any fast-food parking tons.”
The powerhouse first single from the brand new album, ‘Unstoppable,’ is a delicate however nonetheless anthemic polemic in opposition to self-doubt and the significance of connection – with others, however most importantly, with your self.
“I’ve been calling it an unintentional love track as a result of I’m not likely one to put in writing a love track. It’s simply not one thing that I actually was ever impressed to do. However ‘Unstoppable’ began to kind as a little bit of a love track. I used to be fascinated about the potential two individuals may have by being collectively and the way I believe a relationship is about a lot extra than simply the 2 individuals. I actually consider there’s a much bigger common drive at work when it’s bringing individuals collectively, whether or not it’s in a friendship or romantic or in any manner,” she defined.
“However you recognize, as with so lots of my songs, and I believe it is a common factor that occurs with artists, you replicate again after the track is full and also you assume, ‘perhaps I used to be truly going by one thing else that I didn’t perceive on the time.’ I discovered myself singing this track to myself and even singing it to my youthful self and the way the connection an individual can have with themselves is what actually makes you unstoppable in life. My interior 16 yr previous loves music and artwork and dance and if she may see me now, she could be so proud and so grateful that I made a decision to pursue this dream. I’m giving it my all. I’m not going to look again and say I may have tried tougher.
The following single is stuffed with much more swagger and s*** kicking bravado. ‘Kinda Don’t Thoughts’ is an all-out rocker that, when performed by her full band and with Aeryn in full stage-dominating mode, will likely be a killer observe in a dwell setting.
“I needed to put in writing a rock track. I needed to put in writing one thing with quite a lot of power that I may put my all into after we had been onstage. We now have one other tune referred to as ‘Rock Me Up’ that we’ve been closing our exhibits with for a little bit over a yr now. And the band cherished it a lot, they stored asking for an additional tune prefer it and now this one is their favorite one to play,” Aeryn mentioned.
“I went in with the intention of writing a rocker. And on the time I used to be listening to what’s standard for me, basic rock. I used to be listening to quite a lot of Coronary heart, Ann and Nancy Wilson. I assumed, ‘man, I need to write a track that was one thing that Coronary heart may do.’ It’s received sort of bluesy notes within the vocal line, and it’s received a extremely fascinating chord development that’s not likely in the important thing of E, but it surely’s not likely in the important thing of E Minor both. It’s a little bit little bit of E impartial. And it’s simply received quite a lot of punch, but it surely’s additionally quite a lot of enjoyable. So, it’s a rock track for certain, but it surely’s sort of sassy and it’s received one thing actual enjoyable about it.”
Write what you recognize. That’s the recommendation given to everybody from screenwriters to novelists to poets and songwriters. Understanding oneself is prime to creating artwork that not solely provides a component of authenticity and emotional integrity, however which is well identifiable to others within the potential viewers. Aeryn at all times writes what she is aware of, even when it’s not at all times straightforward.
“It’s all from private expertise. I’ve written tales and created characters and typically I’ll meld a personality into a real story if I believe it’s going to ship the message. However the songs that are inclined to get launched and are typically most particular to me are those which are from private expertise,” she mentioned.
“I oftentimes can’t assist however carry a constructive message or put a constructive spin on it. I need to go away somebody feeling good. And I believe I did that with ‘Unstoppable.’ I additionally did that with ‘Cowboy’ and even my track ‘Prison’ [both from her 2023 debut album Joy State of Mind] there’s a little bit bit the place I’m like, ‘that’s cool, I’ll be the legal.’ I’ve received numerous songs that perhaps don’t a lot go that manner, however I believe on the finish of the day, I need to go away any person feeling good after they’ve been listening to one thing I wrote.”
Usually phrases, it’s a melody that appears to return first in Aeryn’s songwriting course of.
“I solely wrote a track from a title thought one time and that was with the track I used to be telling you about referred to as ‘Rock Me Up.’ I needed to put in writing a track with that title and I did, however typically I both have a lyrical melody come into my head, which is what occurred with ‘Unstoppable.’ I used to be getting within the bathe and I used to be listening to this line, ‘perhaps we may very well be unstoppable.’ And I simply stored listening to ‘unstoppable’ and I constructed the track out from that, which is difficult to do. It’s exhausting to be married to an thought and be like, ‘that is the refrain. It must be one thing; I’ve to construct round this.’ Nevertheless it’s enjoyable. It’s fund to dig at it and therapeutic massage it and get it to be what you need it to be,” she mentioned.
“Plenty of instances Garret brings me an fascinating chord development and there’s one thing about it that sounds so cool that I need to write to it, which is what occurred with ‘Kinda Don’t Thoughts.’ I used to be leaning into the Coronary heart vibe and he introduced me that chord development. He’s received an fascinating ear and he comes up with fascinating sounds.”
Utilizing the conduit of a full LP as a tableau for concepts, for digging deep right into a theme, or collection of episodes which have some type of connective lyrical or non secular tissue is one thing Aeryn believes is vital to how she not solely processes life in the course of the time the album is being penned, but additionally provides the listener a cohesiveness of tone and vibe and emotion that they can also delve into extra comprehensively.
“Once more, I discover it simpler to know that when reflecting again. I used to be trying again on Pleasure State of Thoughts as I’m engaged on this subsequent file and I bear in mind being requested, ‘what does Pleasure State of Thoughts imply to you?’ And it was exhausting for me, on the time, to elucidate it, or articulate it. However once I appeared again, what I can see is what I needed out of life was to not be pleased, as a result of I believe happiness is a few sort of vacation spot. I needed to really feel pleasure. I simply needed to get up every single day and really feel like I’m residing the life that I’m meant to dwell. And thru pursuing music, that’s what I get to do. I really feel that I’m residing a life now the place I get up every single day and know that is what I need to do. It’s by no means, ‘oh, I assume I’ve received to go to work.’ I get up and know I’m actually residing the dream and that’s what I used to be going by and making an attempt to speak about all by Pleasure State of Thoughts. I used to be making an attempt to create that life for myself,” she mentioned.
“And with this new file, I believe I used to be making an attempt to be the fullest expression of myself regardless of what I assumed anybody else may say or may assume. I didn’t fear this time if I wrote a track and I knew somebody would understand it was about them. Or I didn’t fear if I sang a lyric that was so sincere, as a result of there’s a few songs that there’s no denying who they’re about and I do know these individuals will hear them. However I don’t need to not categorical myself on this manner, or not put out this track as a result of I’m apprehensive somebody may hear it. No, it was like, ‘for those who had been a part of my life, you’re a part of my songs and also you’re a part of my file.’ I used to be fully sincere on this file and I dug into all the pieces that makes my sound distinctive. And I didn’t fear about what style I assumed it was or what individuals would say about any of it. I determine that someday it’s going to be throughout after which who’s going to care? So, I’d as nicely be precisely who I need to be proper now. And I believe that theme is it bits and items of all of the lyrics on this album.
“You’ll hear repetitive lyrics from track to track on this theme. There’s one track that’s referred to as ‘On The Edge’ and I maintain saying, ‘I’m dying to be residing on the sting,’ and ‘I don’t need to dwell in useless.’ There are lyrical concepts all through the totally different songs. They’re about various things and totally different experiences I’m going by as I’m writing them. However they’re all related. And I do know they resonate with different individuals too. I need to be that sort of artist who makes individuals really feel the best way my favorite artists make me really feel.”
There’s a compelling subtext to all of the speak and writing about residing the dream, and never listening to what others say about that dream. Aeryn had a day job for a decade – an excellent day job, one which had a profession path that would result in nice pay, advantages, respect throughout the trade. Nevertheless it wasn’t fulfilling, so she took the proverbial leap of religion, believed in her skills and expertise and centered dedication to be an artist of some significance. And it labored.
“I went to high school for chemical engineering at Dalhousie College and I labored within the pulp and paper trade for nearly 10 years once I left to do that. I used to be burnt out. I used to be unfulfilled and uninspired. A change was a very long time coming. I simply don’t assume that I’d ever seen anybody pursue their artwork efficiently. I grew up in a small city and folks didn’t do this,” she mentioned.
“I needed to have freedom and independence so I assumed, okay, I would like an expert diploma and I must make my very own cash and I’m not going to do this with a guitar. However then after you reside a little bit little bit of life, you marvel, what’s the purpose of something for those who’re not doing the factor you’re keen on? Like, the more cash you have got, the more cash you spend. I don’t know, it’s similar to I had an awakening. However, I imply, my household was not impressed, they mentioned, ‘you’re throwing all the pieces away, your schooling, all of the work you place in to get right here.’ Over time, my mother is aware of I put my coronary heart and soul into something I do, and I believe she was simply involved for my security and safety. However as soon as she noticed me flourishing, doing this factor that I like to do, she’s been my largest fan.”
There’s a stereotype, one fostered by the massive variety of Celtic-inspired acts from the east coast who made waves within the Canadian music trade within the Nineteen Nineties (The Rankins, Ashley MacIsaac, Rita McNeil, Nice Large Sea, Natalie MacMaster et al) that each one musicians had been weaned on kitchen events and ceilidhs. These stereotypical thinkers typically overlook about a little bit band out of Nova Scotia referred to as April Wine.
“I didn’t develop up listening to the standard stuff. It wasn’t what my dad and mom had been into. I used to be launched to it a little bit later in life, but it surely simply didn’t ring a bell with me – pun unintended. In my home it was April Wine, and later Haywire [from Prince Edward Island]. I’ve vivid recollections of April Wine music enjoying in my family. My dad and mom had an 8-track participant and a vinyl file participant they usually listened to all the pieces from Rod Stewart to The Seaside Boys, The Eagles. And as we moved into the Nineteen Nineties, my mother was listening to Cher, Shania Twain. Girls’s nation music of the Nineteen Nineties was so totally different than what nation is as we speak. There was Tanya Tucker, Lorie Morgan, Reba McIntyre – all that had an affect on me,” she mentioned.
“My dad and mom cherished to bounce, so that they had been at all times listening to the Rolling Stones and Elton John. They went out each Saturday night time and their factor was to rock and roll. That was the music they cherished. And after we’d be within the automobile on street journeys and even simply round city, I needed to take heed to one thing that everybody was having fun with. And people data and songs turned my favorite ones, and I nonetheless take heed to them. I imply, I’m taking a look at my file assortment proper beside me and we’ve received Aerosmith, Don Henley, Meatloaf, the Matt Minglewood Band, the Oak Ridge Boys. After which Fleetwood Mac – they’re one in all my favourites. I’ve a tattoo of Stevie Nicks on my proper arm. They had been actually the band the made me take into consideration how iconic some artists may be. I like Stevie as a result of she made so many cool solo data after Fleetwood Mac, I cherished all that stuff. And he or she’s additionally so present. She’s collaborated with Sheryl Crow, now Haim and Maggie Rogers, a bunch of my present favorite artists, and Taylor Swift too. She’s such a help system and an instance for younger feminine artists as we speak. I simply love who she is. And he or she grew a lot with the music over time. Her sound modified within the Eighties after which into the Nineteen Nineties. I really feel like she’s at all times maintained some sort of present nature about her music and herself. And I believe by her music she allow us to in a little bit bit greater than different artists did, and perhaps that’s what’s it for me. She’s simply an icon.
“Maggie Rogers is my favorite new artist of the final decade or so. I like the sort of present she places on. I like the best way she writes. She’ll by no means say something predictable or anticipated. She makes you concentrate on all the pieces in her lyrics. It’s imprecise, so you may derive your individual which means from the songs. And I’ve discovered that she hasn’t given into the traits and having to be no matter on Tik Tok or social media and the way vital it’s to have ‘followers.’ She’s by no means given in to that. She’s at all times simply been herself and carried out her personal factor. And now she’s promoting out arenas. I’m so impressed by somebody simply being completely themselves and being profitable doing so. I additionally love Chris Stapleton. He’s a little bit extra of a mainstream instance. And one other nice artist, extra on the rock aspect, is Marcus King. I’ve cherished watching his journey as nicely. He’s an important guitar participant, actually making wonderful music that’s not mainstream, however having quite a lot of success doing it and touring and releasing data. I simply assume it’s potential. You don’t must be making an attempt to put in writing hits to be making nice music and have individuals eager to hear.”
Nice music, on her personal phrases, is one thing that Aeryn not solely admires, however with the forthcoming launch of her second powerhouse album, is one thing that she has indubitably achieved – with tons extra on the horizon.
For extra data on All people Loves You… upcoming exhibits and extra, go to https://www.elyseaeryn.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and creator based mostly in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Apart from his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising and marketing specialist and is an avid volunteer in his neighborhood. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
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