Tag: jazz

In advance of the premiere of her live-to-tape performance, we spoke with Laila Biali about playing through a pandemic, upcoming projects, and her favourite musical memory.

---

What has music-making looked like for you this year? What, if anything, has anything shifted in your personal practice?

Travel has been virtually eliminated. With the exception of a trip out west this summer to see family and capture some live-to-tape performances, we’ve been in Toronto since mid March. For freelance musicians used to traveling every few weeks – every few days, in high season – this has been a big shift. We quickly had to turn our own living room into a stage of sorts; and while the opportunity to reach wider audiences online held promise, it was also a daunting task, if I’m honest. That’s why it’s such a treat to finally be able to access venues that are observing safety protocols, to capture a live-to-tape performance where other people are assigned to handle the video and sound. Managing all of that on our own was overwhelming, to say the least – but a means to an end, of course.

Who are some of your favourite BC musicians?

Jodi Proznick, who joined us for a handful of performances this summer. I’m also a mega fan of Adam Thomas, who I get to work with a fair bit also. There are so many, too many to name here: Phil Dwyer, Brad Turner, Bruno Hubert, Bernie Arai, Steve Kaldestad, Jesse Cahill, Tilden Webb, Katherine Penfold, Jill Barber, and the list goes on…

Can you share one of your favourite musical memories?

Performing with Sting for the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree in New York City in 2015. I was pinching myself that I got to sing backup for an iconic artist at an iconic event!

Is there anything you’re working on this fall/winter/into next year? If so, can you tell us about it?

Always. I just released a single in celebration of Leonard Cohen’s Birthday – Anthem. I’m about to release another Fall single, to celebrate Joni Mitchell’s upcoming birthday. There will be a holiday single as well, and all the while I’m dreaming up ideas for my next album. I want to make it quite different than the past couple I released.

What’s the first thing you’ll do when the pandemic is over?

Travel to see family in other cities – my parents and sisters out west, who I was fortunate to see this summer, and my mother-in-law in Silver Spring, MD, whom I miss more than words can express!

Lastly, what was your favourite moment of the Frankie’s set?

We were really going for it as a trio, and there were a couple of times where, in my enthusiasm to try something new and different, I almost got totally derailed. But we all had a laugh, right there in the moment. (I’m not sure the audience will notice, and it certainly made for an exciting set!)

---

This special pre-recorded live performance was available for two weeks after its stream date. It is now available to donors above $50 as part of our performance archive. If you are interested in seeing it and have the means to support us through this difficult period, please make a donation.

In April, AKA one million years ago, we saw the entertainment world rapidly pivot to online performances as a way to stay afloat. Livestreams, recorded video content, and other innovative solutions to the no-gathering problem have been a life raft to many, but have also presented a very real set of difficulties to both artists and presenters alike.

At the same time, we saw a massive wave of community support and goodwill for artists. In the face of vast economic uncertainty, people spoke out about the necessity of the work artists do, and how crucial things like music, dance, and theatre are to our lives.

So we thought: people want to support artists, and artists are tired & working under difficult circumstances—why not encourage people to purchase the work that they’ve already sunk time and resources into? The audience gets high-quality, intentional work, and the artist gets paid for the hard work they have done.

And lo, “Buy a Record, Make a Difference” was born! We wanted to connect our community with the recordings local musicians were proud of, while also getting a glimpse into the backgrounds and processes of the artists in question. In the months since the series began, we’ve interviewed dozens of performers who were meant to take the stage at this year’s Festival, and heard about who they are, what they do, why they do it, and what other local music they love.

After three and a half months of interviews, we think there’s been something for everyone! If you’re in the mood for a new pop or neo-soul jam, we suggest checking out Katherine Penfold or Parlour Panther; if funk, hip hop, or blues is more your speed, there’s Missy D, Dawn Pemberton, and Dalannah Bowen. Into avant-garde? We’ve heard from stellar local players Julia Ulehla & Aram Bajakian, Peggy Lee & Dylan van der Schyff, Elisa Thorn, Jesse Zubot, and more. Looking for some cross-cultural exchange? Ruby Singh, Sara Kim, and Alvaro Rojas might fit the bill. And for fans of more straight-ahead jazz, there are always Vancouver gems Jodi Proznick, Anita Eccleston, and Daniel Hersog. These are just a handful of the many incredible musicians we’ve spoken with for this series—to browse them all, click here.

Moving forward, we’ll continue to share the work of local musicians with you, but not under the “Buy a Record” name, and not twice or three times a week as we have been doing with this series. We have some exciting things on the horizon that we’re starting to work on, and we can’t wait to share them with you.

In the mean time, we hope you have found something new to listen to or been reminded of a work you love by a local artist. The road ahead is long, and we’ll all need music along the way.

Buy a Record, Make a Difference is a new series we have created to help local musicians generate income during COVID-19. It is based on the principle that we should support and reward the hard work local artists have already put into recordings, as it is an immensely difficult undertaking to be creating new material under current circumstances. There is currently a lot of emphasis on livestreaming and innovation in our industry, and while those things absolutely have their place, we think it’s also important to boost projects that have already been completed.

In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask them to talk about other local musicians whose work they admire. It’s our hope that you’ll take the time to listen to & purchase the work of local artists, or at the very least share their work with others.

---

PARLOUR PANTHER

 

1. Who are you?

Steph and Lee are married and have a small black cat (the original Parlour Panther) named Waldo, and a new furry member – a sweet little puppy named Bigsby. Steph and Lee write Parlour Panther songs together, collaborating on musical and lyrical ideas. Steph is a true force who records, produces and mixes Parlour Panther’s music; they also design and create the band’s photoshoots and videos.

Steph grew up in Lakefield, Ontario, playing multiple instruments like guitar, bass, drums, banjo and mandolin, to name a few. Steph rocked and sang in various musical projects from a young age and moved to Vancouver twelve years ago. Lee is a pensive soul and vulnerable lyricist, always searching for deeper truths. They grew up mostly in Powell River on the Sunshine Coast and have lived in Vancouver for thirteen years. Lee began singing on stage as a young child and was trained as a classical singer. They developed some serious harmonizing muscles from years in professional choirs. Lee then discovered an ultimate love for synthesizers, bass guitar and rock & roll. Steph and Lee began writing Parlour Panther music six years ago and it has evolved into the dark dreamy pop it is today.