BeatRoute Magazine AB Edition - December 2019

12.19YYCMUSIC
LOCAL ARTIST
SPOTLIGHT
Evan Freeman Explores the
Cosmos on Beyond the Stars
T
he process of writing music
is often a cathartic release
and, in some cases, akin to
religious ritual. Calgary musician,
Evan Freeman, delves
deep into unknown regions
beyond the natural world with his latest
release, Beyond the Stars. His 13-track,
sophomore offering focuses on themes of
spiritual connection, love, loss, grief and perseverance.
This album is symphonic fodder
for expanding consciousness.
“[Beyond the Stars] refers to places and
states that defy description: infinite space,
waking dreams, visions and distant memories.
Oceanic consciousness, the wandering
spirit. A cosmic portal, timeless and mysterious,”
says Freeman.
Beyond the Stars invokes a much more
spacious and melancholy ambiance when
compared to his first records. It channels
the art-rock ethos of Radiohead with the
spaciness of Pink Floyd and the desperation
of The Cure. Freeman states his main focus
was on “bringing the strongest elements
of each song to the forefront, removing
any layers that impede the core musical
message.”
Recording in a collaborative setting with
peers from across the Calgary music scene,
including members of I Am The Mountain
and Jung People, and working with engineers
Arrin Fisher (Acoustikitty Studios)
and Josh Gwilliam (Pilot Audio), Beyond the
Stars does not feel overly restrained and
quantized — there is room for the tracks to
groove and breathe.
“The recording process was a lot of fun,
resulting in lots of new ideas and happy
accidents. It was the coldest, snowiest time
of year, so it felt right to be holed up in the
studio working away. Charles [Spearin;
Broken Social Scene, Gord Downie] added
so much depth and dimension to the record
[during mastering], truly transforming the
songs. I learned a lot about mixing just by
working with him and talking about his process,”
says Freeman.
Evan Freeman releases Beyond the Stars
on Dec. 1 at the Engineered Air Theatre in
Calgary.
By TORY ROSSO
PATRICK CHAN
DECEMBER 2019 BEATROUTE 39