Keepin' it Country Media & Radio » Aaron Pritchett

REVIEW: CMT Hitlist Tour

Tia — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:56:07 +0000

Last night (03/20), the CMT Hitlist Tour rolled through Ottawa, Canada. The Algonquin Commons Theatre was one of fourteen stops the tour will see by the end of its run. This one-of-a-kind concert experience showcases and celebrates the talented country artists within the nation. With such a great lineup, it would have been hard to disappoint. And that they did not.

Aaron Pritchett most definitely knows how to get rowdy! Donning his signature cowboy hat, Aaron started off the show with a bang with his hit “Let’s Get Rowdy.” A few energetic struts across the stage was all it took for the predominantly college-aged crowd to chant along to the anthem. Aaron followed up with a few of his memorable hits, including “New Frontier” and “Big Wheel.” Fans were lucky enough to hear the artist’s brand new song, “Suntan City,” a song that will surely be received well with the warmer months right around the corner. The set was closed out with a crowd favourite, “Hold My Beer,” a song that had everyone up on their feet singing and dancing alongside the upbeat Pritchett. Without a doubt, this man’s intensity and drive alone are enough to bring fans together for one heck of a good time.

Next to take the stage were the talented men of Doc Walker. The crowd was eager to sing along to a cover of Genesis’ “That’s All,” followed by the band’s latest single, a powerful song called “Put It Into Drive.” The guys slowed things down with their hit “Driving With The Brakes On,” but were quick to lift spirits with a notable singalong, “Beautiful Life.” Fans were happy to hear some of the band’s biggest songs, including “Rocket Girl” and “North Dakota Boy.” One of the highlights of their set was a mashup of songs that started with their single “Get Up” that blended into “Crazy In Love” by Beyonce and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song. With the crowd singing and laughing along, the band finished off the set with “The Show Is Free.” Ironically enough, I would pay any amount of money to see these boys do what they do best again in the future. Perhaps it was due to the one thing that was overwhelmingly noticeable during the entire performance – Chris Thorsteinson’s unwavering smile. Coupled with the band’s talent and energy, it was refreshing to see an artist fully enjoy the experience just as much as their fans.

Last but not least, Emerson Drive came out to a screaming crowd that was eager to chime in to some of the band’s biggest hits. The five-piece band graced the stage with their huge grins exposing ample amounts of energy and passion. The band opened up their set with one of their past hits, “That Kind of Beautiful,” a song that set the mood for the rest of the show. Next, they hammered out several great performances of songs such as their first single “I Should Be Sleeping” and “The Extra Mile.” A memorable moment was lead singer Brad Mates pausing mid-song during “Fall Into Me” to have guitar player Danick Dupelle and drummer Mike Melancon battle it out to see who the crowd thought had the better vocals. With family from Montreal attending the show, Danick was probably quite happy to have garnered the crowd’s support. The band slowed things down with their number one hit “Moments,” a song that saw Mates keeping his eyes closed almost the entire time, clearly indicating the passion with which he was singing. It was in this “moment” that any concert-goer who perhaps did not know about this Canadian talent could not help but come to admire and respect the band. Moreover, it was this performance that showcased Brad’s incredible vocal talent. The remainder of the set undoubtedly highlighted the dance moves and charisma of the singer, especially during songs such as, “A Good Man” and “Countrified”. Fans were also lucky enough to hear a song off the band’s latest album, Roll, called “She Always Gets What She Wants,” a song that took on an edgier tone than the rest of the set. Finally, the band finished off with their first single off of the new album, “She’s My Kind of Crazy.” Without a doubt, Emerson Drive left their fans crazy for them and wanting to hear more.

Luckily, the band heard the “encore” chants and came back out to give fans what they wanted. Drummer Mike Melancon and Steve Broadhurst, touring drummer for Doc Walker, were first to come out to engage in a battle-of-the-drummers. This showcased their undeniable talent while also serving as a transition into the first song of the encore, “Let It Roll.” It was at this point when both bands came back out on stage to perform their popular duet that the crowd erupted. Perhaps the best part of the show was when the boys performed renditions of two popular songs, one of which was Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”, the other being “The Weight.” Finally, it was time for the artists to take a bow and call it quits for the night. While the show could have easily gone on all night, it is safe to say that the memories of the concert will last for quite some time.

For more information about the remaining tour stops, visit http://www.cmt.ca/show/cmthitlisttour.

For pictures from the show, visit our Facebook page.

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Emerson Drive

Tia — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:17:47 +0000

Emerson Drive is undoubtedly one of Canada’s most prized possessions. This five-piece band, hailing from Prairies, has made its mark on both Canadian and American country music over the span of almost two decades with several hits, nominations, and awards to be proud of. They are well known for songs including “I Should Be Sleeping,” “Fall Into Me,” “A Good Man,” and their chart topper, “Moments.” The band has picked up the award for Group or Duo of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards multiple times and are currently nominated for Country Album of the Year at the 2013 Juno Awards.

Roll, the band’s latest album, was released late last year and yet the first single, “She’s My Kind of Crazy,” has already been certified gold in Canada. The album features songs written almost entirely by the boys, all of which represent the lyrical, vocal, and instrumental talent that is Emerson Drive.

The band is currently in the middle of the CMT Hitlist Tour, which has seen stops in cities all across the country with fellow Canadians Doc Walker and Aaron Pritchett. We were lucky enough to sit down with lead singer Brad Mates after a terribly long bus ride from Winnipeg to Ottawa. That didn’t seem to matter, however, when we began to chat and Brad’s charming and caring personality shone through.

You’re currently on the road for the CMT Hitlist tour. How has it been so far?

Great so far. Exciting, cause we’re actually out here with a bunch of friends, so it’s not like you’re meeting a new act for the first time and over the course of three weeks trying to get to know who they are. Everyone’s known each other for seventeen years now. So it’s a pretty easy process to get everything loaded up on the buses and travel down the road. I think people are seeing that night after night now. It’s really cool to see reactions from fans that have seen both bands throughout the years and to now see all three of us collaborating on stage and sharing something a little bit different than you would normally see at a concert, so that’s been great.

Do you have a favourite memory from the tour you would like to share?

I love the encore of what we do. You’re taking the show from the start right through to the finish, but you’re getting that big impact at the very end where each night you can tell people are very happy that they bought a ticket. And to me, that’s where it all makes sense.

You released your fifth studio album, Roll, late last year. How has the reception been on the road so far?

Great so far. I love playing the new stuff, like stuff that hasn’t been a single and maybe never will be a single. We have two songs in the show that are brand new off the album that most people haven’t heard yet unless they’ve bought the album. To me, I love gauging crowd reaction when it comes to that kind of stuff. You know, it’s a bit of a departure from anything we’ve done in the past. Kind of like the new step forward of where our sound and direction are going. So I’m always curious to see what the crowd’s reaction will be, but so far so good.

Tell us the story behind your brand new single, “With You.” Why did you want to release it as your next single?

Singles are always a crazy thing. It’s like a chess game. Sometimes you really have to see what else is out there at the time and what makes sense, if it should be an uptempo, a mid, or a ballad. We haven’t had a ballad off this album yet, so going into early spring, it feels like a good time for it. We’re getting good reaction already from stations that are playing it. We just haven’t had that slower song in a while. It represents everything that we’re doing obviously on the new album and it’s kind of a universal message, too, for anyone that’s out there. We’re in the first week of people hearing it on the radio. We’ll see what happens, but obviously we’re looking for big things out of it.

In which ways does this album differ from your last album, Believe?

Direction-wise, I think that we’ve all talked about this over the past couple of years … tweaking the sound to a point where our hardcore fans are definitely going to hear a bit of a difference in the sound. And when I say that, I mean it’s a bit harder of a sound, it’s a bit more organic, it’s not overproduced by any means. It kind of represents a timeline of like ’95-’01 for us when we played a lot of bars and pubs. Those were the days where every genre of music, you seemed to play in the last two sets in a bar. The bar owner would come to you and be like, “We don’t want any more country. We want alternative or rock stuff.” It made an impact on our sound back then. I really feel like those six years represent this album very well. And stuff that’s not foreign to us, obviously, but stuff that maybe we just didn’t push to the edge throughout the last ten or eleven years. So it’s exciting. It feels new and fresh.

What is the writing process typically like? How do you choose songs that everyone in the band can connect with?

That’s a good question. When it comes to lyrics, for the most part, it’s probably more or less about anything that I’ve gone through in my life. As a singer, it’s just easier to sing about stuff like that. Musically, I think that’s where we differ from a lot of other groups. Everybody in the band plays every instrument that is recorded in the studio. So for Mikey playing the drums, his part in that song is obviously what he puts into it. And that’s where you’re always going to get that unique sound as a band. But yeah, lyrically, I’ve always felt like I have to sing about stuff I either know or I can represent well.

You’ve had great success in both Canada and the U.S. Have you noticed any differences between how Canadian and American fans embrace your music and country music as a whole?

We’re very lucky to have had a good run in the States in the early 2000s. Everything back home here in the last few years has just stepped up to another level, too. We’ve talked about this over the years … there are a lot of acts that are from the States that never break through in Canada and vice versa. So I’ve always felt that we’re very lucky that way. We can hop across the border whenever we need to and there’s a fan base on both sides, which helps a lot. We don’t get over-saturated in each country and we’re able to play throughout the year and see fans that have been there from the start

Have you personally had any regrets in the past seventeen years with the band?

(Laughs). No, I don’t think I have any regrets. But I know there will be old pictures and songs … I have a son that is three. I know in a few more years when he gets old enough to look at some old pictures, he’s just gonna be laughing, which I think is hilarious. But I don’t know if I have any regrets. I think that we’ve all gone through different ups and downs in this business, as well as personal stuff. But I have to say, at the end of the day, I think it’s made us better in the long run. We’re more respectful and understand things a little better having gone through some of the ups and downs that you do. So I don’t know that I’d ever change anything if I could go back. It’s all been just a great experience so far, even the bad stuff. It helps you build character.

What is it about country music that you’re drawn to?

For me, personally, it’s definitely the live aspect. I love seeing any empty room right now knowing in a few hours it’s going to be full. That fuel that the crowd gives you on stage – I’ve enjoyed that for the seventeen years that we’ve been doing this. It’s never wavered. It’s always been very consistent, which is cool.

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

I think the GRAMMY nomination was a pretty big highlight, just ’cause it was a first in Canadian country music as a band. No one else has ever been able to do that before. I love knowing that we were first in our own country to break a boundary. It was incredible. Obviously different genres have been able to do the same thing, but as a country band getting a nomination – it just sets the bar. You can look back on your career and realize that you were first at something. I think that’s great.

Is there anything in particular you want to accomplish that you haven’t yet?

I think just growing as a band and expanding more and more and building new fans is always the goal at the end of the day. The longevity thing has always been a goal from the start. And now knowing that there are seventeen years underneath the belt, I think and I believe that there are more to come. So again, just building the fan base and having our music reach out to more people is definitely going to help with anything from this point forward.

How do you boys keep busy on long trips between shows?

(Laughs). Well, we had a long trip last night from Winnipeg to here (Ottawa). There are satellites on the bus, so lots of watching T.V. The guys usually have their laptops out, either doing emails or trying to find something to pass the time. It’s one of those things – you get used to the road over the years. And for those people who don’t really understand it, it’s difficult just being confined in a 45-foot bus for many hours at a time, but you do get used to it. You just kind of find your own space and make the time go by.

Be sure to watch Emerson Drive’s BRAND NEW music video for “With You.”

EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Ray Gibson

Tia — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:10:46 +0000

You read it here first: Canadian singer/songwriter Ray Gibson is an artist that the country music world undoubtedly needs to watch out for.

Hailing from Maple Ridge, Vancouver, this eighteen year old is turning heads with both her originals and covers. She even caught the attention of country superstar Carrie Underwood. The artist posted Ray’s cover of “Good Girl” on her Facebook for all of her fans to see on Ray’s eighteenth birthday – what a great present! If that weren’t enough, the newcomer is working alongside Canadian country artist Aaron Pritchett. The two have been writing together and have recorded videos of them singing some of Aaron’s songs. Ray also won the Carly Rae Jepsen cover contest for her rendition of “Call Me Maybe”.

Her covers range from songs by artists like Adele, Lil Wayne and Katy Perry to Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert. Ray’s original songs, such as “Couple More Kisses” and “Barefoot On The Beach” showcase her incredible vocal range and writing talents. Something interesting to note is that this young artist has taught herself to play both the guitar and piano and plays the instruments solely by ear!

Now, this YouTube sensation is starting to write original material and is looking ahead to creating her own record and performing for fans. She will be writing songs in Los Angeles this summer and Nashville in the fall.

We caught up with Ray to talk about her influences, what she loves about the country genre and plans for her future in country music.

Trust us when we say that you won’t be disappointed by this girl’s gift: her voice.

How did you get involved with music?
I got involved with music because my family and my grandparents would always be listening to country music, so naturally I started loving it too. My parents and grandparents always put me on their lap at the piano and I’d follow along. By age four I was making up my own songs and playing what I heard on the radio. I taught myself guitar at age fifteen also. As for singing, I always sang just for the fun of it, whether I was cleaning or driving!

You have a song on your YouTube page called “Couple More Kisses.” What does the song mean to you?
This song is about being laid back and not needing much, other than someones love and not the materialistic things. I wrote it in Los Angeles with a man named Paul Duncan who is a fantastic writer! There are a lot of people who are into the fancy cars and diamond rings, but that’s just not my thing. There’s a line in the song that is probably my favourite – it’s about thrift store clothes. I think 99% of my closet is thrift store items!!

Who are your musical influences?
There are so many! My number one musical influence is Taylor Swift because of who she is as a person, what she has been through and the fact that her lyrics are amazing. She talks about everyday situations, from people being mean, to boys breaking your heart – she says it all and I can really relate to her.

Hunter Hayes is also a great influence! I got the chance to meet him last week at his show. It is so inspiring to hear his story. He was saying how he blocked out all negativity and just worked and worked on his music, as well as how he chose to stay in on Friday nights rather than go out and party. I think that’s so important. And that’s what really spoke to me! Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban - all of my other favorite artists are very influential as well, but those are my top two idols!

On your YouTube page, you have some great covers of songs by Hunter Hayes, Justin Bieber and Carrie Underwood, among others. What draws you to doing these covers?
First of all, I love all of these artists, so that’s the main reason! Hunter’s songs are really relatable and the melody and lyrics are so great! Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen have very fun songs and they are both Canadian, so I just had to cover their songs! Carrie Underwood has always been one of my favourites. I would always vote for her when she was on American Idol! I covered her “Good Girl” video because of the beat, the lyrics and the melody – it was all amazing. And to my surprise, on my birthday I found out that she actually posted my cover of “Good Girl” to her Facebook page! So that was an amazing surprise!

Who would you love to tour with?
My dream would be to tour with Hunter Hayes because I just think he’s one of the most talented people out there! He plays so many instruments, has an amazing voice, is incredibly kind and is very inspiring. I look up to him so much! There are so many artists I’d dream of touring with. Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood would be amazing to tour with because I look up to them all. I don’t think I could choose between Hunter and Taylor though!

You recently started covering some of Aaron Pritchett’s songs with the man himself. Can you tell us what it’s like to collaborate with him?
Aaron is awesome! It’s a lot of fun. We never practiced before we covered them, so it was just kind of in the moment! He’s very supportive and is nice enough to let me sing with him. We winged both of the covers we did just in one take, because of course we were just having fun! Being a fan of someone and then having the privilege to sing with them is so awesome!

Where do you draw your inspiration from when writing?
I get a lot of inspiration to sit down and write when someone or something affects me. High school comes with many doubters when you do anything that is different, so they can really get to you. But they are also perfect examples of inspiration. When somebody personally upsets me or if someone makes me really happy, minutes after I’m out of that situation, I will start writing.

When did you realize you wanted to make a career out of singing and songwriting?
I always dreamed about how cool it would be to be able to sing and play music as a career ever since I saw Shania Twain perform at the Pacific Colosseum a few years back, but I never believed it could happen. I wanted to be a police officer for the longest time, but then as soon as Aaron Pritchett got ahold of me, I started thinking “Hey, it would be really cool if I could do what he does!” I know that if I did anything else other than music, I wouldn’t be happy. It’s the only thing I can depend on and it’s the only thing that I want to do. So now I am working hard to try and make a career out of it!

What do you love most about country music?
I love all music, but when it comes to country, I believe it’s the most “real”. It tells a story in each song. With country music, once you are a fan, you are always a fan. I love the slow, sad country music and I also love the upbeat songs like Kenny Chesney‘s or Zac Brown Band‘s songs. If it’s a rainy day, country music is perfect. When it’s a sunny day, country is perfect. Country music is probably the reason why I’ve got through so many difficult times in my life. When you are able to relate to a song, it makes you feel like you aren’t alone and gives you some hope.

That’s what I love most about country music, apart from the fact that it reminds me of my grandpa whenever it’s playing. If it weren’t for him, I probably would not have been introduced to such an amazing genre.

Thinking long-term, where do you hope your passion and love for music takes you?
Anywhere that allows me to play my music. Whether it’s at a little coffee shop or bar in the middle of nowhere or a stadium – either is fine with me. I hope one day I can meet my idols and inspire other people like they do to me. But in the end, I just want to play my music because I don’t know what else I’d do without music.

What can our readers expect from you next?
You can expect some originals coming up! I am going to Los Angeles in July for a month and will be writing and recording more originals that I’m very excited to share with you. There are some that are already finished, so they will be coming in a few months. Of course, I will always be making more YouTube covers so you can expect those as well! But yeah! A lot of music trips coming up so you can expect some videos and pictures and lots of originals coming!

Connect with Ray:
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YouTube

Check out Ray’s cover of Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl”: