Hey! Can you describe the personal journey that led to the creation of “Little Bit a’ Love” and its themes?
A: Hey there! Thanks for having me! My journey creating “Little Bit a’ Love” was a process of self discovery and embracing authenticity. As an artist, I realized the importance of incorporating the raw emotion and experiences that define me as a person and shape the sound of my voice.
Someone close to me encouraged me to share the parts of my past that I had kept hidden, including the pain of losing a loved one to self-abuse and my own battles with depression and anxiety as well as some dark roads I took to get here. These experiences, once seen as sources of shame, became the fuel for my songwriting.
I realized that a little bit a’ love was always at the heart of overcoming, for yourself, for others, from others, sometimes imperceptible, like a homeless man bringing me coffee as a trade for much needed conversation, one that changed both of us forever; or a lot, like a therapist donating their Wednesday afternoons to help me find my path again, after being so lost for some time. A little bit of love is all that’s needed sometimes to make a big wave of change.
How did your collaboration with Thomas McKay influence the sound and production of this album?
A: Thom is a ball of heart, skill and elbow grease. I first came to him to record some vocals on the album that was written and arranged and mostly recorded.The technical issues that first needed to be addressed before we could begin re-recording were crazy. ( I mention this because I’ve heard so many stories of this happening to artists. I’m willing to chat if this has happened to anyone reading this!). I explained to Thom what happened and that it would be a slow process to finish the album as funding was spent. When he heard the music, he just rolled up his sleeves and vowed to help. He comped and edited, sometimes outside of our regular hours (which I didn’t know about til after) because he felt so bad for what I had gone through and believed in the music, bless him. We recorded all my vocals, plus many overdubs and some of the bed tracks. Thom also introduced me to many new players I hadn’t worked with before; Chendy Leon when I wanted percussion on Little Bit a’ Love and Catch Her and She Gone and Rob Christian when I was looking for that perfect horn on “Fluffy The Abandoned Cottonball”. He helped me match the right players with the sound I was looking for and also did some on his own such as the vibraphone and finding that perfect riff on Big Bad Wolf when I hit a wall trying to figure out that one piece of magic that would finish the track. He was relentless in making sure the vision for the sound of each song and the cohesiveness of the album was there. We ended up making great producing partners and have begun work on the next record teaming up with Drew Jurecka.
“Little Bit a’ Love” explores deep emotions like loss and depression. How did you approach these topics through your music?
A: With songs like Tangled Thread I wanted to show instead of tell. The song is a toe tapping catchy little number with a roller coaster like vibe, but underneath, the lyrics are a cry for help. Hiding behind a happy façade that buries our true experience is a common occurrence in many sufferers of depression. In my own experience, I called out during my breaking point, literally shouting to the skies over lake Ontario to send help. Many sufferers will withdraw which can be a most dangerous phase in the disease. I hope that by sharing my story through music, I can offer a glimpse into the struggles of those battling depression and encourage greater understanding and support.
With a departure from your previous projects, how do you feel “Little Bit a’ Love” represents your evolution as an artist?
A: A DJ once wrote me a prediction that I’d stray from my initial manouche/folk inspired album, and at first, I was annoyed by the suggestion. But then I realized, why not embrace the diverse influences that have shaped me? Instead of proving him wrong, I decided to break free from genre constraints and create without limitations. Working through all the stuff I mentioned above, I began to trust the process and just serve the songs. I spent more time arranging and dove deeper into production this time, stretching past my previous limitations. I learned so much about myself from making this album. I felt like I unlocked a new era.
Winning songwriting awards and a JUNO nomination are significant achievements. How do these accolades impact your musical direction?
A: Being recognized for a JUNO nomination is incredibly humbling and inspiring. It’s funny because a few weeks before the nomination I was feeling quite the opposite, experiencing that wave of self doubt that creeps up on us sometimes. Awards and playlist lotteries should never make or break an independent artist. But I do have to say, to have the recognition of my musical peers and be amongst musicians that I look up to is pretty darn exciting and career-affirming. Hopefully I can get some distribution deals and expand my team for the follow up albums already in the making to sweeten the odds of the game and allow me to share my music to a much broader audience.
Your music blends various genres. How do you balance these influences to create a cohesive sound, especially in “Little Bit a’ Love”?
A: This time around, I created music that I wanted to play and sing without worrying about which boxes it would fit into. Correction, I told myself not to worry about it very regularly! Like I said earlier, it’s our experiences and influences that make up our “sound” for the most part. My voice will always be rooted in Jazz and blues because that’s what I listened to and copied when I was a pre-teen trying to teach myself to sing like Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin and Astrid Gilberto. But I also grew up listening to music off the beaten path like Jamaican Ska, punk, Motown, Country and Jazz when most of my friends were listening to top 40. It also helps when you have a fabulous mixing engineer like Les Cooper to bring it all together!
Looking back at your career, starting from “What About Wool Wishbags” to now, how do you see your musical identity having transformed?
A: I think it was the letting go, stretching out and the constant learning that you do as an artist. I feel like I started to really get to know myself in isolation and made peace with the scars. That helped me grow so much. I loved the Wishbags album so much and I’m also excited to show Denielle 3.0 in the next album. There is always so much inspiration out there with new and amazing artists hitting the airwaves all the time, I think it’s important to learn from the masters but also important to listen to where music is headed. I want to keep evolving and keep that childish exuberance I get with every new artist I discover and every new project I embark on.
With your next album on the horizon, co-produced with Drew Jurecka, can you share any thematic or stylistic directions you’re exploring?
A: It’s storytelling to the hilt, Jazz based, country, blues infused, smoky, end of the night, after the show vibes, with cinematic themes. Think mystical dark creatures. It’s about taking control of your worth, standing to your full height instead of wilting in the shadows like we sometimes get used to. I have had to wear my vintage knuckle gloves for this one.
Live performances seem integral to your connection with fans. How does the energy from your live shows feed back into your studio work?
A: That was exactly what I wanted for “little Bit a’ Love”. The goal of the songwriting/arranging and production was to have a volume of songs that would be playable in any configuration from a ukulele on a busy Paris street to a full orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall.
As you continue to gain recognition and expand your audience, what long-term goals do you have for your music and career?
A: I’ve always wanted to write an Oscar winning song and write the music for a Broadway Musical. There is no limit to where I want to go with music. I’d like to work with Jacob Collier on an album! I’d like to travel the whole world performing songs for fans in the farthest corners of the world. I’d like to write an album in French and explore more styles and genres of music.