Tag: vancouver jazz

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.

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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.

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.

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KATHERINE PENFOLD

 

 

1. Who are you?

I’m Katherine Penfold – an artist, songwriter, and producer who loves everything soul/R&B, jazz, and LoFi (plus a secret country music lover, but that’s another story). I was born in Nova Scotia, raised in Manitoba, and made the move to Vancouver in 2010.

Music, for me, is what gets me through the toughest times. My biggest goal is to create tunes and grooves that others can resonate with. I’m also a video producer, and my favourite thing is to create videos for my tunes so I can share another aspect of my music with my listeners. Most mornings when I wake up I can’t decide whether to reach for an instrument, mic, or a camera.