New Album in the WORKS!

Hey readers :) I hope this note finds you well and strong after enduring weeks upon weeks of snow and cold (providing you are reading this note from Canada.) If you are reading from other, more warmer spots on planet Earth, I am jealous, but won't hold it against you. It is snowing again, as I type. As a little pre-cursor, my hubby wanted to check out Canada in the winter, usually we spend winter in HIS home and native land of Switzerland (which is experiencing warmer than usual temps these days) but not this year. We chose the coldest and snowiest winter (in these parts) in the last fifty years!! Not only did we choose to endure such temps and weather in Canada, but we chose to live in a trailer with no insulation!! It may seem pretty crazy, when written down, but really, it gets very warm in this little tin box, since we installed a wood-stove. It only feels like the  craziest decision of my life at four in the morning after the fire has long since burned out and the outside temps have frozen all the warm air inside. One morning I woke up and it was minus six degrees Celsius in our bedroom.  But the view is great and having spent eight weeks in a cast, not able to get around very well with a broken leg, it was a blessing, strangely enough, to have everything pretty much at an arms length. Oh and as a side note, you aren't trailer trash unless you live in a trailer park. Phew!!!

Aside from all of that winter weather nonsense, life has been wonderful, living in the middle of the Gatineau Hills and calling Wakefield home. What a wonderful little community, where there is always something happening, and even in the darkest days it can be pretty bright. Soon we are leaving these parts though, and heading back to the land of Chocolate and Cheese.  In the past, I have written blogs about dual-country living,  it is always hardest at the beginning and at the end. You get used to your life in one place, finally, then have to up-root to the other place, getting used to that place, only having to leave again. Don't get me wrong, these are shallow complaints, as we really do get the best of both worlds. One can't forget Canadian Poutine and Switzerland Fondue!

This time, we are leaving from Halifax on April 2nd, heading out on a little road trip, with hopes to play a few shows here and there on our way. It was a last minute decision, so booking has been a little hard but I am getting some bites and will post the gigs as they come. For sure I am playing in Seaforth N.S on on the 22nd! Message me if you would like details, linzferg@hotmail.com :)

Anyway getting on to the BEST TOPIC EVER (in MY life, anyway!) is my latest labour of Love, my newest musical project, my third record-in-the-works: "Chameleon." I have been recording and creating this melodic dream with Producer Extra-Ordinaire Mr. Brock Zeman. Brock is a musician through and through and is currently on tour in the United States, you can find his tour dates here http://www.brockzeman.com/gigs.html

Brock and I have shared the stage a few times... Take that time we opened for Steve Earle... Me first, then him, then Steve. Now THAT was cool. Having a history, I decided to ask him if he would like to help me out on my third record. Brock has been piecing together a studio over the years, in the basement of his riverside home, in the middle of Nowhere, Ontario. Apologies to those folks who live in Lanark, Ontario, but I am pretty sure you know what I mean... It IS however a small piece of paradise out there, even if the roads aren't plowed!! Haaaa. I have always Loved Brocks vision, musically, and thought, let's see if we can combine our talent for sound. Our musical performances are quite different from each others. His is more dirty, greasy folk rock and I am more raunchy pretty folk pop. Turns out the two sounds blend very well and let me tell you,  imaginations have run wild! I am so thrilled, in so many ways and can't wait to get it out there, but it will take some time. This time around, I have asked a few artists from across the globe to share their skills, (what with technology and all) one is as far away as Egypt! I guess I really wanted to take my time on this, no rushing and NO booking a CD release party before the actual CD was in my hot little hands! Hahaaa... Sometimes you learn your lessons!

Anyway, I just wanted to up date you all on what has been happening this winter of 2014. I hope things are running smoothly for YOU and that YOU TOO let your imaginations run wild from time to time....

Love Lindsay

Top 10 shows of 2009 in no particular order

ANA EGGE Last February I was a part of a winter festival in Halifax (In the Dead of Winter) and I had the pleasure of hearing this woman’s voice, or should I say, FEELING this woman’s voice, warm honey meets soft leather, I don’t know, it’s really smashing though. You should check this American Songstress out, she is truly something.

K’Naan

After years of being on the Canadian music scene, I was finally able to catch K’Naan and his awesome band, at Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest this Summer on The Black Sheep Stage. His performance was one for the books, his message powerful and his craft well tended to, he was just so darn good! Later in his set he invited all the kids to dance on stage with him and the chaos behind the scenes ensued shortly when it was time to get off. It is however, OTTAWA and it all came together in the end.

MOTHER MOTHER

This band is by far my favourite band right now. I saw them play twice this year. Lucky me!  They came to The Black Sheep Inn, in Wakefield Quebec and they blew the house down. What a great venue to see such a tight, inventive, precise, crazy wonderful band. I am a strong Lover of harmonies, and they are seriously KICK-BUTT in this department. If you see them coming to a venue near you, RUN like the wind. I promise you will NOT be disappointed.

Craig Cardiff

Craig was a part of a musical showcase that I organized at a music conference called Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. His slot was at 3:30am, yes in the morning! It’s a long weekend of music and conferences and showcases, and by that hour, we are all tired and looking for something new in order to keep us awake! Well, Craig played his heart out, like I have never seen or heard him before.  There’s no doubt about it, he’s got the soul and he shares it.

Paulo Nutini

This guy has a voice, and stage presence and the SONGs he writes, no wonder he is Scotland’s gem right now. I had the pleasure of standing on the side of the stage for his show, as it was the same stage I performed on during The Ottawa Bluesfest and what a THRILL!! Run out and get his music, somewhere! He is worth every note.

Fever Ray

There are almost no words to describe the best show of the year. Yes, this list is supposed to be in no particular order, but she, her band was unREAL at Monreal’s Metropolis and yes, the best show of the year. I have to thank my brother for introducing me to this band… their live show is outstanding and is not comparable to anything I have ever seen. Google-ing them will not do justice. Since they are from Sweden, chances are, well you might not get the chance to see a live show for quite some time. The stage was covered in old lamps that turned on and off in rhythm with the beats, and their laser show was surreal, floating colours all through the venue. The bass was so load your whole body moved even when you tried to stand still. What a brilliant time spent.

Magoo & C.R Avery

I went to Blueskies Music festival this year, and this show was the grande finale to a beautiful camping weekend. Magoo is the M.C of the festival and has been for many years. C.R Avery is a poetically musical beat boxer who blows most beat boxers out of the water… but when C.R challenged Magoo to a musical duel, he rose to the occasion blowing every single listeners mind. No one had ever seen such an outstanding performance by Magoo, in all the years, I guess he kept his beat boxing secret… but BOY was he phenomenal, I almost fell off my feet, it was the BEST moment of the weekend by far.

Delhi 2 Dublin

Delhi 2 Dublin was the grande opener to Blueskies Music festival. They brought the entire ‘house’ down with every single attendee dancing up a storm to an amazing band from Vancouver. I have never seen such dancing at Blueskies and this is a festival KNOWN for its dancing and dancers. They even had non-dancers jiving and Loving every minute of it (including me!) Check them out, their mix of Indian singing and Celtic music is quite the combo.

Divine Brown

This was probably the biggest professional show complete with lights, dancers, and a whole separate sound board, almost bigger than the length of the bar at The Black Sheep Inn, and what a BABE! Divine Brown, what an awesome performer, costume changes, dancing, dancers and craziness! All at a little juke box jive joint on the Gatineau River. What a show!!

Steve Earle

I had the pleasure of opening up for Steve Earle at this year’s Ottawa Bluesfest. I got to stand on stage watching him sing solo with guitar, only feet away. It was such an honour to listen to songs like his one’s I have grown up with and made life memories to. What a treat. His voice is still as sweet as ever and his heartstrings still get played and he plays yours too. Singing aloud to Copperhead Road… what a blast.

Lindsay LIVE with The Lost Boys... 2moro Night!

Greetings Websurfers, Indeed, I have a gig 2moro night in Wakefield Quebec. That's Thursday the 7th, at The Black Sheep Inn. We've been practicing some new songs as a band, and boy, sometimes they sound SO MUCH BETTER with a band then when I am standing in the kitchen singing to the taps! I will also be on CKCU Radio from 8am til 9:30am in the morning, that's 93.1fm in Ottawa...I may bring out some older recordings for a treat or a laugh... depending...! I will also be performing a few live songs as well... solo style...without the taps. Maggie Meyer from Newfoundland and Megan Hamilton from Toronto will also be singing souls on Thursday night at The Sheep, so if you are in for a trek out to the hills, come join us, the fun starts at 9pm!!!

Life as a music maker is a little slower for me these days, as I am spending my daze, writing new tunes for a new album. I would LOVE to get it released next Spring, Spring 2010. My last album, released September 2007 took a year to organize, so it appears I may indeed have the time to reach my goal date, but I will of course keep you posted on all of that, I still have to choose the right studio, and that's half the battle. The songs are flowing freely and I am stoked to get them recorded...all in good time I suppose!!

Summer will see me traveling a bit, out to the East Coast of Canada for some shows and then out to the West Coast, to the Rocky Mountains!! With an exceptional gig in between at at The Ottawa Bluesfest, on July 10th, where Jackson Browne, Steve Earle and Sam Roberts will also e performing... I am SURE it will be a fabulous night for all!!

As an independent musician, I am always looking for shows. I do all my own booking (so far) and if you have anything exciting happening and are in need of Music Makers, drop me an email. With or without band!! Keep in mind there are 2 Lindsay Styles...or ring me! My number is up there at the top of this page...

On another note, I have fallen in Love with a new band called "Mother Mother" maybe they aren't so NEW, but new to me... I saw them perform a few days back, and it was one of the BEST performances I've ever seen. An amazingly dynamic, creative, melodic, harmonic, and RAW talent type of band. Check them out sometime. One more Canadian Gem to add to our musical roster of greats....

Talk soon, Lindsay xo