2021. Like water, the year found its way.
Images - Top Left : Mark Holtz (Director, Videographer); RBT; Will Schollar (Producer); Rachael Bawn (Singer Songwriter, The Acoustic Guitar Project 2021); Ben Pelchat (Producer); Damon Pourshian (Cinematographer, Director); Shannon Dooks (Singer/Songwriter) - Live@TheDAIRY; Damon Pourshian; Joey Langlois (Singer/Songwriter/Producer); Joe Bailey (Singer, Songwriter) and Ian Curnow (Producer); Laura Gagné (Singer/Songwriter); Kevin Fox (Singer, Songwriter, Cellist).
THE 2021 RECAP.
Before jumping head on into a new year - I wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2021. A year where modifying to meet the conditions of the climate continued on. And though seemingly quieter through the simple fact of being hunkered away down the lane and missing many in the room - looking back, it was a year packed to the seams!
2021 began and ended with recognition and awards for songs such as - “Amelia” (RBT|NE); “Doubts” (RBT); “Indiana Jones”(RBT); “Deeper Than The Ink” (RBT|NE); ”Forget This”(Mikalyn/RBT); ”Everything is Alright”(Robb Torres/RBT); “Focus”(Joey Langlois/RBT); and “Strong”(RBT).
And the year shone a light on the journeys of artists I work with, as well the producers, musicians, engineers, videographers, etc. who underpin the artist projects. Including -
- UK Singer / Songwriter Lee Rasdall-Dove who released “Even If” (RBT/LRD) produced by Will Schollar;
- UK, Singer Andie who released “Silly Me” written and recorded at Strongroom Studios, London with Andi, Singer/Songwriter Joe Bailey and UK Producer Ian Curnow, “Silly Me” steadily climbed to a #1 place on the Indie Chart;
- lovely Shannon Dooks who jumped full on into her new music project with “Doubts” (RBT), (Produced by Will Schollar) and led the charge with months of video, a “Doubts” inspired cocktail, the “Doubts” Art Auction, and an ethereally perfect outdoor concert down the lane at the Dairy;
- the year buzzed with the success of “Focus” fuelled with the endless talents of Montreal-based Singer/Songwriter/Producer Joey Langlois and his band What If Elephants. “Focus” moved quickly to reach streams of 200,000+ and continues to climb with limitless potential. 😉 After many months of lockdown and an absence of live performance, it was awesome to head to Montreal for ‘What If Elephants’ long awaited concert celebrating the release of their new album “Relationship Status”.
It was a year where I was joined by songwriters Joey Langlois; Dylan Briscall; and career coach Dante Berardi Jr. on the beginnings of new artist initiatives through That First Song. A year that expanded my world with introductions and the opportunity to write / work with artists such as Laura Gagné and Andrea Bardine.
It was a year sharing the The Acoustic Guitar Project guitar with Singer / Songwriters - Stavros; Maya Malkin; Vezi; Mikalyn; and Rachael Bawn. Each of whom represented Toronto, Canada and contributed their song to this global songwriting project. http://theacousticguitarproject.com/project/toronto
It was also a year of contemplation, of reassessing and of weighing possibility.
And finally, this year I stepped back into my artist shoes and released a new single “STRONG”. The first single from my upcoming new album “Sorry I’m Late”. How cool to be able to, decades since my first album, dive into artist ‘me’ and realize a journey with an incredibly creative and talented team. To have had the opportunity get back on stage at The Opera House and play? Awesome. Thank you to the many who are integral to this - Will Schollar, Benjamin Pelchat, Mark Kelso, Kevin Fox, Andy Krehm, Damon Pourshian, Mark Holtze, Michael Robert Wrycraft, Dale Peters, Sara Franczyk, Mavis Harris, Mariam Hovsepyan, Taylor Thornley-Schollar, Michael Thornley + + +.
I’ve endeavoured to keep this recap brief ;). Sometimes short, sometimes long, posts are written to capture key moments, and as my life is enriched by the much as well as by the many people around me, sometimes the telling takes more than a couple of paragraphs …
Onward into 2022! Exciting!
Happy New Year!!
R ❤️