An angel walks among us
Steve Guimond
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Desveaux: The all-important complete package
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Country pop singer Angela Desveaux may write songs from on high, but her feet are firmly on the ground
She's a voice from above that Montrealers have been familiar with for some time now: the Sonny Best Band and Yonder Hill, as well as her first solo effort, the gorgeous country-pop package entitled Wandering Eyes. Angela Desveaux has broken many a heart when she sings her sad songs, ever present on record number two, The Mighty Ship. We'll let her take it away...XPress What is the underlying story/theme behind the new record?
Angela Desveaux The title track, The Mighty Ship, is a song about my grandmother losing her first husband at sea. She was quite young and had a three-month-old baby at the time. These tragic events weren't uncommon in those parts of Nova Scotia, a small coastal village called Cheticamp, and as a result, it makes the people stronger... I think a lot of the tunes on this album reflect situations that put the human heart to the test.
XPress How important is the band you have right now by your side?
AD Very important, as they are the same musicians who I've been touring and rehearsing with since the release of Wandering Eyes. Together - Mike Feuerstack (guitar), Eric Digras (bass) and Gilles Castilloux (drums) - we've had the chance to shape the songs for this album, focusing more on specific arrangements. Even though all the songs on the album are written by me, because we've worked them out together as a band, there is a much broader influence and style to the music.
XPress What are your thoughts on
the critical success you've achieved?AD I would say that I have achieved a lot since the first album, but more specifically, I've learned a lot! The other side of playing music is the industry side, which I find quite scary. These kinds of stresses are what influenced half the songs on this album. I constantly remind myself that even if I lose everything I've worked for in life, it's all right. I will always have my close group of friends and family. That's all that matters to me. I can say with certainty, for this album, I have a better perspective of things and my priority is having a healthy state of mind. Putting yourself out there is not an easy thing when you're a private person, but learning to focus on your music and what you care about most is what will keep me going.
Angela Desveaux
w/ The Mighty Ship, Andrew Vincent
@ Black Sheep Inn
Sept. 5, 9 p.m.
