Joanna Chapman-Smith
9th Annual Acoustic Song Winner
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Genre: Acoustic
Wound Up Records
www.joannacs.com
HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Nouveau Gyspy Folk, with a touch of Jazz and Blues
ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: Myself, Dawn Zoe on accordion, Wayne Adams on percussion and Justine Fischer on bass
WHERE WAS SONG RECORDED? Rear Window Studios (woth Adam Popowitz) in Vancouver
WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? Through my Web site, CD Baby, ITunes, or from me! (Feel free to send an email and say “hello!”
NAME OF ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: Contraries
DESCRIBE THE STORY BEHIND THIS SONG: I live in a big yellow house with a crazy crew of artist-types. One day, I was downstairs and the sound of their laughter was rolling down through the halls, and got me writing about the beautiful moments that just sort of… happen and fade away again as quickly as they come. It was a warm moment to be sitting there musing on points of beauty in my life.
WHY DID YOU SELECT THIS TRACK TO SUBMIT TO THE IMAs? I had a good feeling about it. I am proud of this song.
WAS THIS ALWAYS INTENDED AS AN ACOUSTIC TUNE OR IS THIS RE-WORKED? I mostly work acoustically. There’s a complex, subtle and physical quality to acoustic sounds that I love.
WHAT UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS OR TECHNIQUES DID YOU USE ON THIS ALBUM? I had a lot of fun arranging the back-up vocals for this track. The middle section has this Andrew Sisters thing going on (Adam Popowitz’s reference, not mine) that carries me away a little. The instrumentation has an eastern European flare to it, which I love (accordion, clarinet). Any excuse to play clarinet is reason enough for me.
WHAT’S THE SECRET TO MAKING ACOUSTIC SONGS STAND OUT? No secret; just many qualities to any song that works. In my song, I think I’ve captured a fun energy with the band, while leaving space for the lyrics and the voice. I also think there are a few playful elements (such as the count-in… which is in the quality of gibberish I use when I play for dancers). That catch people by surprise.
DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Indirectly; CD sales from my first album helped a lot, and the work I have done with dancers covered quite a bit of the cost.
WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE? In Vancouver (where I live) is some of my favorite audience. They show up in elaborate costumes, laugh hard, scream out loud and dance all night to Balkan beats. On the other side of the spectrum, I am quite fond of the gentle house concert/Folk club crowds who smile big and shed a tear every once and a while.
WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? They just are! Each beautiful, one-of-a-kind, individual one!
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Within communities – be it a suburb of Paris, small-town British Columbia or East Vancouver.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST EXCITING MOMENT TO DATE? This year has been full of exciting moments. I got featured for NPR, got this nomination, toured across Europe, joined up with a circus for a month as their musician… pretty exciting year all round, especially after 2008 – a year filled with challenges!
WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010?: European tours, summer festivals and accompanying a play in Toronto, Canada with an original instrument constructed from old rotary phones (lovingly dubbed “the phone machine”). Also, navigating the Olympics in my home town late-February. That should be a trip. Oh! Here’s a political moment: Trying to navigate the 92% Arts Funding cuts that just hit British Columbia, my home province! Anyone who is shocked, please share your comments. I am so worried for all the festivals and inspiring arts groups such as the Leaky Heaven Circus. I was going to join them for a month this summer, but the cuts hit them, too.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS….. Like someone you get to know over a long period of time.
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Feeling successful.
WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? Surprise: I don’t have one!
NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: Ane Brun from Sweden – amazing. Royal Wood, Morlove, Hanne Hukkelburg, Kyrie Kristmanson, Ora Cogan and The Gallus Brothers. I have a more complete list on MySpace.com/joannacs.