By Jim Barber
There’s a artistic storm brewing on Canada’s east coast. And it’s heading west, able to deliver with it a torrent of powerfully compelling music, excessive octane performances, biting and daring lyricism and a fiercely potent message of self-confidence, freedom of spirit and uncompromising badassery.
On the eye of the storm is without doubt one of the most lauded singer/songwriters to return out of Nova Scotia in years, an enticing drive of nature whose power and eloquence is matched solely by her prodigious work ethic and drive to be a creative distinction maker.
Elyse Aeryn is all of this, and extra – the extra is but to return, as she’s simply begun to mine the depths of her creativity, along with her second full-length album All people Loves You… set to be launched in October of 2025.
Quick changing into a family identify within the Maritime provinces, and particularly in Nova Scotia, earlier this 12 months after incomes the title of Music Nova Scotia’s Entertainer of the 12 months for 2024, Aeryn made her first trek west to play just a few exhibits in Ontario and Quebec, dipping her toes into the maelstrom of the Central Canadian music scene, taking notes, taking names, and making armloads of followers at every cease. She was accompanied by her associate in life and in music, guitarist Garret Taylor.
“It was a blast. I simply hold telling myself that that is the life for me. I beloved attending to play my songs for brand new folks in new venues. I beloved being in a distinct metropolis day-after-day, seeing the stops alongside the way in which, attempting native eating places, you understand, ingesting a distinct craft beer in a distinct city each night. It was actually enjoyable, and I can’t wait to do it once more,” she mentioned.
“I felt that we introduced the east coasters out to many of the venues we went to. We even had folks from my hometown [on Cape Breton Island] at our Hamilton present, which I simply thought was so humorous. Past that, I believe it’s simply people who find themselves excited and hungry for brand new music, and that’s the identical regardless of the place I’ve performed. It’s simply that out west there, there’s a lot extra of it. The east coast is a fairly small place exterior of Halifax. It’s just about all small cities and some small cities. So, it was cool to be in locations with such a big inhabitants density, which simply meant extra music followers fascinated with extra distinctive sounds and searching for extra recent artists.
“However it was additionally a fairly good studying expertise. I made somewhat Tik Tok video on the finish of the tour and talked about lots of the little issues that I by no means actually thought of as to how they’d work out till I used to be within the second. For instance, we wished to drive somewhat bit after a few the exhibits to get nearer to the following location, however what I didn’t take into consideration was in case you don’t have a resort booked, you’ve gotten nowhere to go once you get there. I simply had a lot happening with the one popping out and dealing on a music video. I had additionally simply been at a songwriting convention on Prince Edward Island so, I had one million issues on my plate after which I jumped into this tour. At one level we had been on the way in which to Stratford figuring out that we had been staying in Oshawa that evening, however then what can we do all afternoon, the place are we going to prepare? ‘I assume we’re going to hold round Stratford for the afternoon and get modified within the A&W parking zone, and brush my enamel within the inexperienced room on the venue.’ So, I assume perhaps we gained’t try this subsequent time. That was one in all many takeaways and one other is routing: if you are able to do it in a straight line and never be zigzagging forwards and backwards, it’s going to positively serve you higher. I believe I’ll plan the following journey extra upfront in order that I could possibly be somewhat extra selective with my routing, and never have to vary in any fast-food parking heaps.”
The powerhouse first single from the brand new album, ‘Unstoppable,’ is a mild however nonetheless anthemic polemic in opposition to self-doubt and the significance of connection – with others, however most importantly, with your self.
“I’ve been calling it an unintentional love track as a result of I’m not likely one to put in writing a love track. It’s simply not one thing that I actually was ever impressed to do. However ‘Unstoppable’ began to type as a little bit of a love track. I used to be fascinated by the potential two folks may have by being collectively and the way I believe a relationship is about a lot extra than simply the 2 folks. I actually imagine there’s an even bigger common drive at work when it’s bringing folks collectively, whether or not it’s in a friendship or romantic or in any method,” she defined.
“However you understand, as with so lots of my songs, and I believe this can be a common factor that occurs with artists, you mirror again after the track is full and also you assume, ‘perhaps I used to be truly going by means of one thing else that I didn’t perceive on the time.’ I discovered myself singing this track to myself and even singing it to my youthful self and the way the connection an individual can have with themselves is what actually makes you unstoppable in life. My interior 16 12 months outdated loves music and artwork and dance and if she may see me now, she could be so proud and so grateful that I made a decision to pursue this dream. I’m giving it my all. I’m not going to look again and say I may have tried more durable.
The subsequent single is stuffed with much more swagger and s*** kicking bravado. ‘Kinda Don’t Thoughts’ is an all-out rocker that, when performed by her full band and with Aeryn in full stage-dominating mode, will likely be a killer observe in a stay setting.
“I wished to put in writing a rock track. I wished to put in writing one thing with lots of power that I may put my all into once we had been onstage. We’ve one other tune referred to as ‘Rock Me Up’ that we’ve been closing our exhibits with for somewhat over a 12 months now. And the band beloved it a lot, they stored asking for an additional tune prefer it and now this one is their favorite one to play,” Aeryn mentioned.
“I went in with the intention of writing a rocker. And on the time I used to be listening to what’s regular for me, traditional rock. I used to be listening to lots of Coronary heart, Ann and Nancy Wilson. I believed, ‘man, I need to write a track that was one thing that Coronary heart may do.’ It’s obtained form of bluesy notes within the vocal line, and it’s obtained a extremely attention-grabbing chord development that’s not likely in the important thing of E, however it’s not likely in the important thing of E Minor both. It’s somewhat little bit of E impartial. And it’s simply obtained lots of punch, however it’s additionally lots of enjoyable. So, it’s a rock track for positive, however it’s form of sassy and it’s obtained one thing actual enjoyable about it.”
Write what you understand. That’s the recommendation given to everybody from screenwriters to novelists to poets and songwriters. Realizing oneself is key to creating artwork that not solely provides a component of authenticity and emotional integrity, however which is definitely identifiable to others within the potential viewers. Aeryn at all times writes what she is aware of, even when it’s not at all times straightforward.
“It’s all from private expertise. I’ve written tales and created characters and generally I’ll meld a personality into a real story if I believe it’s going to ship the message. However the songs that are inclined to get launched and are usually most particular to me are those which can be from private expertise,” she mentioned.
“I oftentimes can’t assist however deliver a constructive message or put a constructive spin on it. I need to go away somebody feeling good. And I believe I did that with ‘Unstoppable.’ I additionally did that with ‘Cowboy’ and even my track ‘Legal’ [both from her 2023 debut album Joy State of Mind] there’s somewhat bit the place I’m like, ‘that’s cool, I’ll be the legal.’ I’ve obtained plenty of songs that perhaps don’t a lot go that method, however I believe on the finish of the day, I need to go away someone feeling good after they’ve been listening to one thing I wrote.”
Generally phrases, it’s a melody that appears to return first in Aeryn’s songwriting course of.
“I solely wrote a track from a title concept one time and that was with the track I used to be telling you about referred to as ‘Rock Me Up.’ I wished to put in writing a track with that title and I did, however typically I both have a lyrical melody come into my head, which is what occurred with ‘Unstoppable.’ I used to be getting within the bathe and I used to be listening to this line, ‘perhaps we could possibly be unstoppable.’ And I simply stored listening to ‘unstoppable’ and I constructed the track out from that, which is tough to do. It’s onerous to be married to an concept and be like, ‘that is the refrain. It must be one thing; I’ve to construct round this.’ However it’s enjoyable. It’s fund to dig at it and therapeutic massage it and get it to be what you need it to be,” she mentioned.
“A number of instances Garret brings me an attention-grabbing chord development and there’s one thing about it that sounds so cool that I need to write to it, which is what occurred with ‘Kinda Don’t Thoughts.’ I used to be leaning into the Coronary heart vibe and he introduced me that chord development. He’s obtained an attention-grabbing ear and he comes up with attention-grabbing sounds.”
Utilizing the conduit of a full LP as a tableau for concepts, for digging deep right into a theme, or sequence of episodes which have some kind of connective lyrical or non secular tissue is one thing Aeryn believes is essential to how she not solely processes life in the course of the time the album is being penned, but in addition offers the listener a cohesiveness of tone and vibe and emotion that they can also delve into extra comprehensively.
“Once more, I discover it simpler to know that when reflecting again. I used to be wanting again on Pleasure State of Thoughts as I’m engaged on this subsequent file and I bear in mind being requested, ‘what does Pleasure State of Thoughts imply to you?’ And it was onerous for me, on the time, to clarify it, or articulate it. However once I regarded again, what I can see is what I wished out of life was to not be blissful, as a result of I believe happiness is a few form of vacation spot. I wished to really feel pleasure. I simply wished to get up day-after-day and really feel like I’m residing the life that I’m meant to stay. And thru pursuing music, that’s what I get to do. I really feel that I’m residing a life now the place I get up day-after-day and know that is what I need to do. It’s by no means, ‘oh, I assume I’ve obtained to go to work.’ I get up and know I’m actually residing the dream and that’s what I used to be going by means of and attempting to speak about all by means of Pleasure State of Thoughts. I used to be attempting to create that life for myself,” she mentioned.
“And with this new file, I believe I used to be attempting to be the fullest expression of myself regardless of what I believed anybody else may say or may assume. I didn’t fear this time if I wrote a track and I knew somebody would understand it was about them. Or I didn’t fear if I sang a lyric that was so sincere, as a result of there’s a few songs that there’s no denying who they’re about and I do know these folks will hear them. However I don’t need to not specific myself on this method, or not put out this track as a result of I’m anxious somebody may hear it. No, it was like, ‘in case you had been a part of my life, you’re a part of my songs and also you’re a part of my file.’ I used to be utterly sincere on this file and I dug into all the things that makes my sound distinctive. And I didn’t fear about what style I believed it was or what folks would say about any of it. I determine that sooner or later it’s going to be throughout after which who’s going to care? So, I would as effectively be precisely who I need to be proper now. And I believe that theme is it bits and items of all of the lyrics on this album.
“You’ll hear repetitive lyrics from track to track on this theme. There’s one track that’s referred to as ‘On The Edge’ and I hold saying, ‘I’m dying to be residing on the sting,’ and ‘I don’t need to stay in useless.’ There are lyrical concepts all through the totally different songs. They’re about various things and totally different experiences I’m going by means of as I’m writing them. However they’re all related. And I do know they resonate with different folks too. I need to be that form of artist who makes folks really feel the way in which my favorite artists make me really feel.”
There’s a compelling subtext to all of the discuss and writing about residing the dream, and never listening to what others say about that dream. Aeryn had a day job for a decade – a great day job, one which had a profession path that would result in nice pay, advantages, respect throughout the trade. However it wasn’t fulfilling, so she took the proverbial leap of religion, believed in her abilities and expertise and targeted willpower to be an artist of some significance. And it labored.
“I went to highschool for chemical engineering at Dalhousie College and I labored within the pulp and paper trade for nearly 10 years once I left to do that. I used to be burnt out. I used to be unfulfilled and uninspired. A change was a very long time coming. I simply don’t assume that I’d ever seen anybody pursue their artwork efficiently. I grew up in a small city and other people didn’t try this,” she mentioned.
“I wished to have freedom and independence so I believed, okay, I want an expert diploma and I have to make my very own cash and I’m not going to try this with a guitar. However then after you reside somewhat little bit of life, you marvel, what’s the purpose of something in case you’re not doing the factor you’re keen on? Like, the more cash you’ve gotten, the more cash you spend. I don’t know, it’s similar to I had an awakening. However, I imply, my household was not impressed, they mentioned, ‘you’re throwing all the things away, your schooling, all of the work you set in to get right here.’ Over time, my mother is aware of I put my coronary heart and soul into something I do, and I believe she was simply involved for my security and safety. However as soon as she noticed me flourishing, doing this factor that I like to do, she’s been my greatest fan.”
There’s a stereotype, one fostered by the massive variety of Celtic-inspired acts from the east coast who made waves within the Canadian music trade within the Nineteen Nineties (The Rankins, Ashley MacIsaac, Rita McNeil, Nice Huge Sea, Natalie MacMaster et al) that every one musicians had been weaned on kitchen events and ceilidhs. These stereotypical thinkers typically overlook about somewhat band out of Nova Scotia referred to as April Wine.
“I didn’t develop up listening to the normal stuff. It wasn’t what my dad and mom had been into. I used to be launched to it somewhat later in life, however it simply didn’t ring a bell with me – pun unintended. In my home it was April Wine, and later Haywire [from Prince Edward Island]. I’ve vivid recollections of April Wine music taking part in in my family. My dad and mom had an 8-track participant and a vinyl file participant and so they listened to all the things from Rod Stewart to The Seashore Boys, The Eagles. And as we moved into the Nineteen Nineties, my mother was listening to Cher, Shania Twain. Girls’s nation music of the Nineteen Nineties was so totally different than what nation is at the moment. There was Tanya Tucker, Lorie Morgan, Reba McIntyre – all that had an affect on me,” she mentioned.
“My dad and mom beloved to bounce, so that they had been at all times listening to the Rolling Stones and Elton John. They went out each Saturday evening and their factor was to rock and roll. That was the music they beloved. And once we’d be within the automotive on street journeys and even simply round city, I wished to take heed to one thing that everybody was having fun with. And people data and songs grew to become my favorite ones, and I nonetheless take heed to them. I imply, I’m my file assortment proper beside me and we’ve obtained Aerosmith, Don Henley, Meatloaf, the Matt Minglewood Band, the Oak Ridge Boys. After which Fleetwood Mac – they’re one in all my favourites. I’ve a tattoo of Stevie Nicks on my proper arm. They had been actually the band the made me take into consideration how iconic some artists might be. I like Stevie as a result of she made so many cool solo data after Fleetwood Mac, I beloved all that stuff. And he or she’s additionally so present. She’s collaborated with Sheryl Crow, now Haim and Maggie Rogers, a bunch of my present favorite artists, and Taylor Swift too. She’s such a assist system and an instance for younger feminine artists at the moment. I simply love who she is. And he or she grew a lot with the music over time. Her sound modified within the Eighties after which into the Nineteen Nineties. I really feel like she’s at all times maintained some form of present nature about her music and herself. And I believe by means of her music she allow us to in somewhat bit greater than different artists did, and perhaps that’s what’s it for me. She’s simply an icon.
“Maggie Rogers is my favorite new artist of the final decade or so. I like the form of present she places on. I like the way in which she writes. She’ll by no means say something predictable or anticipated. She makes you consider all the things in her lyrics. It’s obscure, so you may derive your personal which means from the songs. And I’ve discovered that she hasn’t given into the traits and having to be no matter on Tik Tok or social media and the way essential it’s to have ‘followers.’ She’s by no means given in to that. She’s at all times simply been herself and completed her personal factor. And now she’s promoting out arenas. I’m so impressed by somebody simply being completely themselves and being profitable doing so. I additionally love Chris Stapleton. He’s somewhat extra of a mainstream instance. And one other nice artist, extra on the rock facet, is Marcus King. I’ve beloved watching his journey as effectively. He’s an incredible guitar participant, actually making superb music that’s not mainstream, however having lots of success doing it and touring and releasing data. I simply assume it’s doable. You don’t must be attempting to put in writing hits to be making nice music and have folks desirous to pay attention.”
Nice music, on her personal phrases, is one thing that Aeryn not solely admires, however with the forthcoming launch of her second powerhouse album, is one thing that she has indubitably achieved – with heaps extra on the horizon.
For extra data on All people Loves You… upcoming exhibits and extra, go to
Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and creator primarily based in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. In addition to his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising specialist and is an avid volunteer in his group. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
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