BeatRoute BC Print Edition March 2018

22
FEATURED CONCERTS
VICTORIA, BC
THE DEARS
PLUS LOU CANON
CAPITAL BALLROOM // THURSDAY, MARCH 8
CARMANAH
PLUS STEL AND DOUGAL & CLAIRE
CAPITAL BALLROOM // FRIDAY, MARCH 9
FRASE
PLUS BOUSADA
LUCKY BAR // FRIDAY, MARCH 9
BAND OF RASCALS
PLUS STINGING BELLE AND YEAR OF THE WOLF
CAPITAL BALLROOM // FRIDAY, MARCH 23
FOR FULL CONCERT LISTINGS & TO PURCHASE
TICKETS, PLEASE VISIT:
WWW.ATOMIQUEPRODUCTIONS.COM
FACEBOOK /ATOMIQUEPRODUCTIONS TWITTER @ATOMIQUEEVENTS
MUSIC
JOSHUA HYSLOP
EMBRACING THE ECHOES OF EMPATHY AND ACCEPTANCE
JESS MACKIE
Joshua Hyslop remains a humble voice in music following the release of Echoes.
Fresh off a European tour, singer-songwriter
Joshua Hyslop is riding on a train from
Amsterdam to Brussels, making the journey back
to his home in Vancouver. He won’t be home
long though. Hyslop’s newest album, Echoes,
which he released last month via Nettwerk
Music Group, comes with an intense touring
schedule and will draw him away for much
of the rest of the year, leaving behind his wife
and friends and the mountains that inspire his
writing.
Since Hyslop gained recognition in 2012 with
ALEX MAHER
SOARING THROUGH THE AETHER
ADESUWA OKOYOMON
Last year, Vancouver multi-instrumentalist and
singer-songwriter Alex Maher gave us Aether,
an album that is “a statement of perseverance”
and explores his journey “out of a period of great
darkness after the loss of a friend… struggling
against depression and drug addiction and coming
out in one piece.” Maher, who describes his sound
as a “quiet storm,” started playing the saxophone,
guitar, and drums, in the sixth grade. When he
turned 16, he started playing gigs and recalls that
“exposure to all this music that was happening was
hugely formative.”
Aether, like much of Maher’s music, is an
impressive blend of soul, R&B, and funk. He says
that the tracks “Submarine” and “The Light” are
two songs that speak to the essence of Aether. The
EP is about “surfacing from obscurity and darkness,
travelling a dark path, but seeing a brighter path
ahead and wanting that for yourself,” and the songs
are as soulful as they are sincere.
While Maher started out writing “songs that
were a reflection of what [he] was going through,”
his recent work “is about relationships and world
observations: addressing something important, but
Photo by Jesse Milns
his debut, Where the Mountain Meets the Valley,
Spotify has featured his songs on playlists like
‘Acoustic Chill’ and ‘Folk & Friends’ but he’d
prefer to not classify his music.
“I don’t want to be pigeonholed as one very
specific thing. ‘Singer-songwriter’ is already
enough of a pigeonhole,” he says with a laugh.
Hyslop, like his music, is earnest and
plainspoken. Who he is and what he does—“me
and a guitar and I write songs”—conveys more
than his skilful musicianship. It also extends to
his outlook on life. With Echoes, he hopes the
dressing it up nicely, because it’s hard to not seem
preachy when you’re writing about world issues.”
Maher is hoping to release another EP within
the next year and has already cut vocals for one
song. He has met with some young filmmakers for
possible music videos for songs off of the next EP
and is looking forward to more opportunities to
play with his band featuring Mary Ancheta (keys),
Alex Maher embraces the rise from obscurity and darkness.
album “encourages people to be more empathic
and not just write people off.”
His appeal is in the way he presents himself.
You can imagine he’s approachable at shows,
a little self-deprecating, an eager listener
just waiting to laugh or to share in some
commonality.
Although he wrote the songs on Echoes for
people he’s known most of his life, he prefers to
keep his music career private.
“I don’t really talk about how things are going
with friends and family. I try to keep that part
separate as much as possible.”
His warm, broken-in sound speaks for him.
His considered lyrics exude sincerity and that, as
much as his voice, has given Hyslop his following.
People respond to that. It is to his credit that
he doesn’t present himself as anything but hard
working, talented and, he concedes, incredibly
lucky.
“I’ve been very fortunate in that a lot of what
I’ve put out has happened to resonate with
people,” Hyslop says.
His humility is not contrived. But it does belie
his talent. Despite being backed by a record label
and adored by fans the world over, Hyslop still
questions whether his success as a songwriter has
been a fluke.
“I have no idea where [my songs] come from.
Every time I finish one I always think it’s the last
one I’ll ever write,” he says with a pause. “And
then I hope I’m wrong.”
Echos is available now via Nettwerk Music Group.
Benjamin Parker (guitar), Darren Parris (bass),
Johnny Andrews (drums), and Jess Vaira (backing
vocals).
Above all, Maher hopes his songs “allow people
to see a reflection of a situation and feel better.
Music, even if it’s sad, can make you feel better.”
Alex Maher plays Guilt & Company on March 9.
Photo by Samanntha Rozon
March 2018