Sound, Phrase & Fury 6.1

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Janet Adamana

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ally Sigurdson PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR Steff Shields

SOUND, PHRASE & FURY is a Canadian music magazine out to promote musicians not usually covered in mainstream media.

All music, photos and articles used are for the purpose of spreading the knowledge of these artists and their music. We always encourage readers to support every act by purchasing releases, merchandise and attending live shows.

I'd Much Rather Die Trying To Make Something Sacred Note From The Editor

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Have Your Tape and Listen Too Industry profile on Birthday Tapes

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Setting The Stage Taylor Janzen continues to shine on the world's stage

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Artists To Watch in 2018 Our artist picks bound to

make waves in 2018

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Getting Raw & Real Bedroom Talk & their album Letters To Our Former Selves.

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In The Making Olivia Lunny embarks on her biggest year yet

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info@soundphrasefury.com @soundphrasefury facebook.com/soundphrasefury soundphrasefury.com

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+ EDITOR’S NOTE

I'D MUCH RATHER DIE TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING SACRED

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As many artists can attest to, with every bit of growth comes its own tribulations; it's own reckoning. But it’s all of you that keeps us pushing through.

Here we are in Year Six. You may have noticed we’ve tweaked a few things over the last little while. We’ve changed a bit of our look, our writing style and our overall approach to a lot of things in the SPF space.

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opportunity to continue growing, writing and doing what we love!

As many artists can attest to, with every bit of growth comes its own tribulations; it's own reckoning. But it’s all of you that keeps us Like many artists who evolve, reinvent and pushing through - every reader, every writer, explore with each new album, we too are every artist, and industry professional that learning, growing and changing with each has given us a chance to tell their stories. new volume in hopes to always be better than the year before. We’re evolving and reshaping Thank you for being a part of this amazing as we strive to become the best version of ride, whether you’ve been with us from the SOUND, PHRASE & FURY we can possibly be. start or just started yesterday. We are forever grateful for the opportunity to keep pounding We realize six years is a long time to be doing that pavement as we try to build something anything. We are immensely grateful for the sacred.

Don't stop chasing great Janet Adamana Editor-In-Chief

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HAVE YOUR TAPE AND LISTEN TOO

And unique they are. Birthday Wishes Vol. 2 stretches from the glitchy, gothy timbre of “Naivety” by Bored Décor to LOUNGE FM’s groovy, sleepy “Slumber Party.”

Bye Bye Blue’s moody rainy-day ballad “Selfish Girl” and notme’s gloomy shoegaze jam “October 1st” rest someone in the middle, or perhaps on two completely separate planes.

The reason for Birthday Wishes Vol. 2’s diverse tracklist and artist lineup is simple:

“At a birthday party, there’s lots of different people there,” Boulton said.

Like Birthday Tapes’ other album releases, Birthday Wishes Vol. 2 will celebrate its premiere with a live show at The Park Theatre on February 1. This tour de force concert will feature five artists featured on the compilation: JayWood, Ciel, LOUNGE FM, housepanther and Rust Owl.

STORY & PHOTOS

BY GRAEME HOUSSIN

As for what’s next for Birthday Tapes after their STORY & PHOTOS second album compilation’s release, Boulton isn’t

BY GRAEME HOUSSIN sure.

“We need to make shoes,” he said. “Kendrick Lamar made shoes. I want shoes.”

Winnipeg-based, tape label, Birthday

Tickets for the Birthday Wishes Vol. 2 album release show are $10. Visitbeen their Instagram or Facebook Tapes, have filling the nostalgic void page for more details. for analog since their launch in 2016. We sat down with co-founder/owner Austin Boulton, about their busy year, and their upcoming second compilation album, Birthday Wishes Vol. 2 featuring some of the best emerging acts.

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+ INDUSTRY

The era of cassette tapes is beginning again.

With less expensive production costs and a nostalgic quality to the medium, it’s easy to see why indie bands across Canada are releasing more and more music on tapes instead of the more modern CD or the expensive, hyper-vintage vinyl format.

When the artists he supported wanted to release their own music instead of solely performing live, Boulton’s path of transition was seamless. Orange Hat Entertainment dissolved into Birthday Tapes just in time for their first album release.

Enter Birthday Tapes, a Winnipeg tape label founded Birthday Tapes kicked off on August 19, 2016 with and owned by Austin Boulton, Zoe McRea and Isiah sinking, notme’s debut EP. The release show on the same day, hosted at The Handsome Daughter, also Schellenberg. featured Sam Singer, Fever Rose and Halcyon.

“We wanted to put out our own music, like everyone else was putting out their own music,” said Boulton. Since then, Boulton and Birthday Tapes have hardly had time to breathe. “We just started releasing rapid“We got inspired by everyone else.” fire tapes,” said Boulton.

The label’s name is a testament to the variety of music they release. The albums they’ve produced have Birthday Tapes has launched eight tapes since the run the gamut from upbeat to miserable, hopeful to release of sinking, including their first compilation hopeless. “Birthdays can be very happy, and they album, Birthday Wishes Vol. 1. Mmars, Viewing Party, can be very sad,” said Boulton. “All this fun stuff’s Sam Singer and Orlando Gloom were all featured happening and you’re just like, ‘yeah, I’m gonna die before their individual albums were released in 2017. “[Birthday Wishes Vol. 1 was] kind of like a ‘what’s to soon.’” come,’” Boulton said.

Birthday Tapes emerged from Boulton and Schellenberg’s desire to break into Winnipeg’s music Birthday Tapes’ first compilation heavily featured scene. “We couldn’t get our own shows, so we made Winnipeg artists. All 12 artists were locally based, with our own shows,” Boulton said. “We made our own the exception of Halifax’s Family Video and FISH FOOD of London, Ontario. music scene.”

Thus, Orange Hat Entertainment, Boulton’s nowretired event company, was born. He organized and promoted concerts for local artists, including Schellenberg’s own band, notme.

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Their second compilation, Birthday Wishes Vol. 2, is an expansion of the label and a true adoption of their slogan: “releasing new and old friends.” The upcoming album not only features Winnipeg artists like JayWood, iansucks and housepanther, but international artists

INDUSTRY Q&A +

like doubleu of New Zealand, Sad Photography of Vancouver and New York’s thanks for coming.

“They all have their own unique sound,” said Boulton.

“These are bands and artists I’ve found that I liked throughout 2016 and 2017.”

And unique they are. Birthday Wishes Vol. 2 stretches from the glitchy, gothy timbre of “Naivety” by Bored Décor to LOUNGE FM’s groovy, sleepy “Slumber Party.”

Bye Bye Blue’s moody rainy-day ballad “Selfish Girl” and notme’s gloomy shoegaze jam “October 1st” rest someone in the middle, or perhaps on two completely separate planes.

The reason for Birthday Wishes Vol. 2’s diverse tracklist and artist lineup is simple: “At a birthday party, there's lots of different people there,” Boulton said. Like Birthday Tapes’ other album releases, Birthday Wishes Vol. 2 will celebrate its premiere with a live show at The Park Theatre on February 1. This tour de force concert will feature five artists featured on the compilation: JayWood, Ciel, LOUNGE FM, housepanther and Rust Owl. As for what’s next for Birthday Tapes after their second compilation’s release, Boulton isn’t sure. “We need to make shoes,” he said. “Kendrick Lamar made shoes. I want shoes.”

Birthday Wishes Vol. 2 album release show takes place at The Park Theatre on February 1. Tickets are $10.

Visit Facebook.com/BirthdayTapes or Instagram.com/ BirthdayTapes for more details.

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We couldn’t get our own shows, so we made our own shows.

We made our own music scene.

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SETTING THE STAGE

STORY & PHOTO

BY ALLY SIGURDSON

Between self-recording her debut EP to sharing the stage with one of her biggest idols, Taylor Janzen’s musical career was filled with amazing opportunities from the start. We sat down with the singer/songwriter to talk about her musical inspirations, her DIY approach and the incredible opportunity she got to sing with pop-rock’s royalty, Paramore.

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AS: How did you get into music?

TJ: I started singing with my church when I was really young. I grew up singing with the church and at school.

Up until recently I had only covered other artists. But I’ve been writing privately for a long time. I recently started playing my own music in front of people this past June, so I’m new. I guess I did it because I knew I always wanted to, and I finally felt ready to start doing that.

The same goes for Torres. She’s a great songwriter.

Sometimes she has a band behind her and other times she’s alone with her guitar. She can rock out and suddenly be really vulnerable. Honestly, she’s probably the artist that I’m the most inspired by right now. She’s so versatile, but always herself. There’s also, obviously Paramore. Hayley Williams was the first female I saw fronting a band. She’s the type of performer that makes you feel like you can do it too.

AS: Where does your inspiration come from?

TJ: In general, I’m really inspired by artists that have the courage to be really transparent in their writing. The first artist I heard that was like that was Julien Baker. She’s one of my favourite songwriters. The first time I heard her music I thought ‘I didn’t know you could be that honest and get away with it.’ She’s a huge inspiration to me.

AS: What’s the biggest show you’ve played so far?

TJ: One show I really enjoyed was when I got to open for Walking On Ropes at The Park Theatre. The Park Theatre is a venue. It’s a real venue. I’ve played a lot of restaurants; people eat food and talk over you and stuff. I love playing those too, but The Park Theatre is what all Winnipeg artists hope for.

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I am very protective over my music because it’s so honest. It’s a piece of me. It’s an extension of who I am.

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AS: You recorded all of your music on your own in your basement. Do you prefer to have more control over the recording process?

TJ: I do. I can be a little picky about my music. When I recorded my acoustic EP, I did it because all I had was AS: I know you’ve had an interesting experience one microphone. Most of my live performances aren’t with Paramore, care to elaborate on your Parahoy! acoustic, but I had to make it work. I actually put the story? microphone in-between my knees and I would strum TJ: They have this competition on the Parahoy! [cruise] into the mic. That was how I recorded my EP. ship where you can audition to sing with Paramore. At the time, I was only 14 years old. You had to audition I am very protective over my music because it’s so over the phone and I applied for all eight of the songs honest. It’s a piece of me. It’s an extension of who I that were listed. I remember pacing around my room am. It freaks me out, but not enough to hide it. It’s a singing Paramore songs into the phone. I wanted it so mix of pride and anxiety knowing people can put their bad. opinion onto something that I had all the control over.

The last time I was there before that, I was seeing Andy Shauf, and he’s one of my favourites. So, when I performed there, I was in the bathroom and I was like ‘Oh my god I just shared a toilet with Andy Shauf. Wild.’

I was really excited, but it was also terrifying. It hit me that if I won, I’d be performing a Paramore song in front of Paramore! Plus, the whole boat is there, and they’re all staring at you. I still think knowing Paramore was right behind me on stage was scarier than all those people watching.

I ended up winning, which was wild for me. It was the first time I sang in front of that large of a group. The whole experience was pretty surreal. Getting validation from the band I look up to the most, was incredible. I still keep in touch with people from the trip. Now that I’m older and releasing original work, they’re supporting it and listening to my stuff, which is amazing.

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In all honesty, I am really excited to record outside my basement. I think getting help from others will help me expand my creative boundaries. I have a new project I’m planning for this year that I’m hoping people will like.

Grab a copy of Taylor Janzen’s EP Fear & Faith at TaylorJanzen.Bandcamp.com. Stay up-to-date and view new musical clips through twitter and Instagram @taylorjanzenn.

More interviews, reviews, streams and videos

Independent Music Magazine

SOUNDPHRASEFURY.COM

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ARTISTS TO WATCH IN New Year, New Tunes & New Tours

EAT YOUR HEART OUT

Alt-Rock • Newcastle, Australia

Giving us Damone and Paramore vibes, with a glorious dose of additional grit, Eat Your Heart Out easily solidified a spot on our radar. Since signing to Fearless Records, the quintet has embarked on a bustling year of gigs opening for the likes of Deaf Havana and Tonight Alive. Sparking befitting momentum upon the release of their latest EP Mind Games, EYHO is slated to kick off the new year opening for genre heavy-hitters, Four Year Strong for their 10 Year Anniversary of Rise or Die Trying and the multi-venue fest, Mountain Goat Valley Crawl. With such a huge career burst at the end of 2017, we’d be shocked if 2018 wasn’t the year of EYHO. EYHOband.com • Facebook.com/EYHOband • found.ee/MindGames • @eyhoband

J.T. BROWN

Rock/Folk • Saint Petersburg, Florida

J.T. Brown gifts the world with some intensely soul-filled folk-rock. The multiinstrumentalist singer/songwriter oozes mellow and cozy Southern vibes.

Spending the later half of 2017, frequently releasing new singles, J.T. Brown teased listeners with a new evolved sound, and a new EP full of ‘Travelin' Songs’ undoubtedly inspired by the spectrum of emotions felt during times on the road. With his musical brilliance and the fearlessness to take risks in the name of artistic growth, J.T. Brown has the makings of a folk-rock legend and we’re excited to see what he produces next.

JTBrownandco.com • Facebook.com/JTBrownmusic • JTBrown.bandcamp.com • @jtbrownandco

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2018

COMPILED BY JANET ADAMANA

We’ve compiled a collection of artists who are bound to make a lot of noise in the new year.

NORTH SHORE

Pop-Rock • Kenora, Ontario

Canadian pop-rock band North Shore have spent the last few years steadily gaining ground in their local scene and across Canada with 2018 fixed to become the year that skyrockets the band to immense popularity. Most of their past year was spent recording their upcoming album and playing a slew of shows and festivals including opening for indie-pop’s pride & joy, Royal Canoe, all the while gaining larger audiences and artistic progression.

With their new full-length album slated to release in early 2018 and possible tours to follow, it’s setting up to be one big year for North Shore.

Facebook.com/WeAreNorthShore • WeAreNorthShore.Bandcamp.com • @wearenorthshore

WOES

Pop-Punk • Scotland, United Kingdom

Off the cusp of a busy year is UK band, Woes. Despite their name, the poppunk quartet have a lot to be happy about. They spent 2017 in the studio recording their new EP, playing to crowds of thousands on a nightly basis and embarking on massive tours with artists like pop-punk IT band Neck Deep. The list of achievements goes on as Woes also began working with international booking agency Artery Global and their single, “Worst Friend” was featured on the GOOD VIBES ONLY compilation for Keep A Breast Foundation. 2018 is undoubtedly bright for the boys, as their upcoming EP comes out and they kick off the year with a tour opening for Seaway.

WoesUK.com • Facebook.com/WoesUK • @WoesUK

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BLEED AMERICAN

Pop-Rock • Winnipeg, Manitoba After a multi-year hiatus, 2017 saw the reunion of Winnipeg’s rambunctious pop-punk group, Bleed American. Kicking off their revival with the release of the single, “It’s Legal” and spending half the year in the studio creating their sophomore album It Probably Isn't, they didn’t waste any time getting back into the game. Historically known for their passion for performing, the last year also saw them hitting the stage at the newly-revived locals only punk series, DEADBEATS. With their new record finally out and hints of more music and tours in the new year, we’re keeping our eyes and ears out for more Bleed American.

Facebook.com/BleedAmericanMusic • BleedAmerican.bandcamp.com • @bleedamericanca

RAYANNAH

Indie/Alt/Pop • Winnipeg, Manitoba

Giving us constant feel-good musical chills is indie, alt-pop artist, Rayannah.

The past year has proved to be a busy one for the francophone singer/ songwriter. Her whirlwind year kicked off with tours across Germany and Canada, writing and recording a new album, leading music panel discussions and workshops, performing large-scale shows including a set with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and being featured on ICI RadioCanada’s music series, Prise de son. Having such a huge year, new music on the way and so much momentum to feed off of, we’re excited to see more of Rayannah in the coming year.

Rayannah.ca • Facebook.com/RayannahMusic

• @rayannahmusic

SPF 6.1 ARTISTS PLAYLIST Snag a listen to the artists featured in Sound, Phrase & Fury 6.1 on Spotify.

SoundPhraseFury • SPF 6.1 Artists 16

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SOUNDPHRASEFURY.COM

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+ Q&A

GETTING RAW & REAL STORY BY JANET ADAMANA

PHOTO BY ED AARDWOLF

JA: Your songs paint a dark introspective look at growing up. Can you talk about the things that influence your work?

TZ: They do for sure, can’t deny that! [Laughs].

Yeah, I mean to put it simply, it's just a very personal thing. I’ve always been a fan of music that can speak to someone on a deep, emotional level. For myself, I’ve always been one to use music as a way to express that’s what matters most in music. No matter how myself. I think it’s something that has become a part blunt a lyric is, they are usually the ones that cut to of who I am. Whenever I had those low moments the core for someone, especially if it’s projected and in life and felt absolutely terrible - being able to sung in a certain way in the song. transfer those feelings and thoughts onto paper and into a piece of music was my personal way of As far as those dark moments that have influenced coping. That’s what helped take the anxiety away the work, a lot of it stems from battling with and helped me put my mind at ease when nothing depression and really bad social anxiety over the else could. Bedroom Talk was honestly just a course of 10 years. It’s also just from many life ‘Musical Diary’ so to speak [laughs]. The great thing experiences - dealing with the deaths of loved ones, about that is, that hasn’t changed. It will always be losing good friends and/or long-term relationships, a very personal and honest project. Having a new self-image issues, internal conflict, existential member (Cody Muraro) in on the writing process despair and having that sort of ‘nihilistic' view on and vocals has really helped the band form into life. I know Cody has been through some similar stuff, so a lot of times when we write separately we what it is now. I couldn’t be happier about that. manage to combine our writing very well.

JA: How did Bedroom Talk start?

TZ: The band started as a solo project and an outlet for myself back in 2012/2013 to release rough acoustic demos/song ideas on YouTube & Soundcloud simply because I needed to get stuff off my chest.

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What started as a solo project aimed at simply releasing some pent-up emotions, has quickly grown into Bedroom Talk; a Vancouver-duo on track to become Canada’s next biggest poppunk exports. We spoke with frontman, Tyler Zanon about the impact music has on his battle with depression/anxiety, and details on their upcoming album, Letters To Our Former Selves.

JA: Tell me about your new album, Letters To Our Former Selves.

TZ: We pretty much started writing new songs right after we released our EP Grinding Teeth back in May. Over the course of the summer, we were super busy writing a bunch of new tunes together. The process went insanely smoothly and very fast as I was able to record/mix & master all of it on my own. The whole record is something I am very excited to share with anyone who is stoked on Bedroom Talk. There are about three older songs on the album that we decided to re-record and make into something new.

One of them is the title track and possibly one of the most meaningful songs to me. It reflects back on a time with someone who once truly meant the world to me. In the end, it turned into something very toxic and I think it’s a great feeling to give those times and my ‘Former Self’ a final goodbye through expression of song.

JA: You’ve gotten so much amazing feedback and have people from all over the world begging you to come play! Along with that, how has the past year been for you guys?

TZ: It’s been crazy and very surreal. The response/ feedback from complete strangers has been insane.

It’s incredibly humbling to know that there are people out there that genuinely care about the songs we’ve released. That’s all I could ever ask for. Just having one person that has felt moved by the lyrics I’ve written at some of the darkest points of my own life; to have that actually mean something to them is mind-blowing. On top of all that, seeing people show they seriously want to see us play places I’ve yet to travel to leaves me speechless. All in all, the past while has been going way better than I could have ever imagined. Things are picking up fast and quite positively that I actually get anxious from it all because I’m not used to it. [Laughs]

JA: Speaking of former selves, what’s one thing you would actually say to your younger self?

What would you ask your future self?

TZ: That’s a fantastic question. There are too many things that come to mind but I think if I could tell the old me some advice it would probably be: No matter how blinded you are by all the terrible things going on for yourself right now, life does have a plan. You are not alone in this, so stay close to the ones that matter to you and keep doing what you’re doing. I can’t say for certain that life gets better, but you’re on the right track. As far as asking my future self a question, I'd probably want to know how he’s doing.

I would be curious to see where I’d be in 10 years.

JA: What do you have in store for 2018?

TZ: Quite a lot! We will be releasing our full-length sometime in the new year. The official date isn’t confirmed yet, but stay tuned and keep an eye out for announcements on that! We promise it’s going to be worth the wait. Aside from that, we should be starting to tour/playing lots of shows throughout the new year. We just starting practicing as a full band, so hopefully we’ll make it out to lots of different new cities to share our music with some new faces.

Like them at Facebook.com/BedroomTalkPopPunk.

Listen at BedroomTalkBC.Bandcamp.com and follow on Instagram @ bedroomtalkbc.

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IN THE MAKING STORY BY JANET ADAMANA From a very young age, Olivia Lunny began to build the solid foundation for her now bustling music career. With years of continuous writing and musical explorations, the singer/ songwriter has always strived for artistic growth and we’ll be seeing most of that in the coming year. We sat down with the singer/songwriter to talk about her life-long dedication to her craft, the importance of collaboration, and her upcoming EP (Out Winter 2018).

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JA: When did you get started in music?

OL: Basically, all my life. That sounds so cliche but actually. I think when I was four or five my parents enrolled me in Suzuki Music; that’s basically like play by ear. I did that for three or four years. When I was young I just hated it. I hated practicing. I hated every aspect of it, so I was like ‘Okay, piano lessons aren’t for me.’

of a domino effect. I got three or four other Park Theatre gigs. I got to play Fringe Fest. I had a set at ManyFest. Through mutual people I met, someone showed my music to Murray Pulver from the Crash Test Dummies. He’s a producer in Winnipeg. I contacted him and he’s like ‘Hey, let’s collaborate.’

I really wanted to go into the studio, so it’s kind of interesting how that worked out. Finding a producer is like finding a teammate. You don’t just want to My dad has been a big influence. He’s super into work with any random person. Murray and I really music. He was in a band back in high school and clicked and we brought on board, Roman Clarke, music is just his passion. He plays guitar so he he’s another Winnipeg musician from The Middle taught me guitar when I was 12. I’d say around then Coast. That was my first kind of co-write. From there I started writing. When I was 13, [my parents] sent I started planning my EP, then all of September, me to this [program]; it wasn’t classical training but October, November and beginning of December has they would teach me how to write songs. It was a just been devoted to recording those three songs. different approach to music lessons and I really did enjoy that. Throughout that whole time, I think my Another gig that sort of helped me up was Leif song writing progressed. You have to write a lot of Vollebekk. He was touring and someone from the bad songs to get good songs. So from 12 years old West End [Cultural Centre] found me and they were until now, I’m 18, I’ve just written a lot of songs, like, ‘Hey want to open for this guy?’ so that one was collaborated with lots of artists. That’s kind of where a big one for me. Through making connections with I am now. people at the West End, in January I’m opening for Daniel Champagne (Jan. 25th). Slowly, things are JA: You’ve had a pretty busy year - what have coming together and I’m super excited to release been some of your favourite highlights? the EP. OL: 2017 was awesome. I feel like this past year has been an important one as far as my goals and where JA: Talk about your style, you started out acoustic, I want to be in, let’s say the next five years. but now you’re melding different elements.

OL: Yeah. I find it hard to find just one genre or to January last year, I was playing coffee houses, little put a sticker on me. I think the studio really helped brunch places, stuff like that, and then I got accepted me establish those different genres and elements. I into the [Stringray] Young Performers Program for would always listen to artists and be like, ‘I want my [Winnipeg] Folk Fest. I think that was my 4th year. guitar to sound like that. I want my drums to sound Slowly, I just started getting more gigs. I opened for like this,’ but without a studio or other musicians to Nic [Dyson] and played a Manitoba Music event. collaborate with it’s hard to do that.

It was called 204 Unlocked and that was another big thing for me. That was at The Park Theatre, so that drew a big audience. From there, it was a bit

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JA: You mentioned you have this five year plan for your career.

OL: I don’t have a plan for every year but my end goal is to just make music a career. I don’t need to be the next Justin Bieber. I’m realistic about it, but I just want to be able to do something I love. I can’t see myself doing anything other than music. I don’t think I’d want to otherwise I’d be miserable [laughs].

JA: Are you thinking of doing more collaborating Whether at the end of the day that means getting a because you did do We Are Fury’s “Waiting”? job in the industry. I’m open to that but I want music OL: Yeah. That was super random and cool how to be the centre of my career. If I can play or record that came about. I play ultimate frisbee with this my own songs that’s a bonus. That would be my girl and she was like, ‘my brother writes lyrics for ultimate dream. this electronic group.’ I thought, well that’s cool and she put us in touch. I thought, why not? It’s good to Leading up to that, in the next few years I want to get yourself exposure. A lot came from that [song]. I tour. I want to record more music, hopefully get a few think we have almost 300,000 views on YouTube and grants, work with more artists, and get more familiar I would have never even thought! I wouldn’t say I’m with the business side of things because it’s crazy; an electronic artist or that trap music is my thing, but and just have a large audience. I’m not going to put a I think that just shows how you have to take every number on that, but I just want to be known. I really opportunity, every gig, every collaboration and every try to write about things that are relatable. Music is co-write. It’s just important. this universal art and it’s really interesting being a musician and trying to connect people through that.

JA: What’s your favourite part about playing in Winnipeg?

JA: Anything else you’d like to add?

OL: The thing is, it keeps getting better. I feel like OL: Basically, I’m really happy and proud to be a some people think in Winnipeg you can hit this roof, Manitoban musician. So much great talent has come but I haven’t felt that. There’s so many upcoming from this province and city and it’s exciting. There’s artists. There’s so many people willing to collaborate. so many young musicians now, like Taylor Janzen, There’s so many people who tour through here. It’s Erika Fowler, all bound to be big scale. It’s crazy and an empty canvas and there’s so much that can come cool that there’s other artists chasing the same goal. from that.

A big influence for me is the Paper Kites. I love them.

I love their folky-singer-songwriter lyrically but instrumentally, they are mellow, alternative, indie but kind of pop. Something that is an important goal of mine is having that pop aspect. I think that's super popular right now. It’s modern and there’s high demand for that.

Catch Olivia Lunny opening for Daniel Champagne at the West End Cultural Centre on Jan. 25. Also catch a special set with Lunny and Erika Fowler on February 22 in association with Festival du Voyageur 2018. Like at Facebook.com/OliviaLunnyMusic. Listen at Soundcloud. com/OliviaLunny and follow on Instagram and twitter @olivialunny.

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