Hello, special soul.
I have always felt it is an artist’s job to share our work with the folks who need it, and that we shouldn’t necessarily avoid visiting a region because of the actions of its government. The government does not speak for its people; the people do not deserve punishment. I try not to buy into the doom and gloom until I see something tangible, because helplessness is disempowering, and we can’t change anything when we don’t believe we can. But I now see the scales are tipping.
In the wake of Bells Larsen’s recent visa denial, my perspective on touring in the near future is being called into question.
Although Canada is notoriously difficult and expensive to tour because of the sparseness of our major cities, seeing friends and peers get denied US entry, or get detained at the border, has me feeling grateful that it’s possible to play here at all.
There is something about attending a concert, no matter how large or small, that helps us commune, connect to our emotions, and remember our humanity. Music continues to be a glowing light. I hope that if you can, you take a moment out of your month or year to see an artist perform. Please consider attending a concert by an artist who is part of a community you could learn more about; listen to their stories, support their efforts.
If you would like to attend one of my shows, I would be honoured to have you. Dates are below, tickets here.
My EP, Closer than Hell, launches (not like Katy & co) May 9th. The key to the title is deep down the bridge of a yet-to-be-released track. I think, given that most artists are trying to cut through despair, and to connect people to their humanity and aliveness, to the thread that holds us all together: human, animal, plant, fungus, and mineral, you might guess what it is.
xx