While at MIDEM in Cannes (France), I caught up with young Canadian singer-songwriter Chris Assaad to talk about his music, his new EP “Into The Light” and his love for Australia.
How are you Chris? Is it your first time in Cannes?
I’m good.
Well, sort of, I’ve been to Nice a couple of times, like on my way in and out of Europe. And, I think my very first time in France when I was like 18, I drove past Cannes on my way to some spots in the South of France, but I never actually spent time here. So this is actually the first time for me here in Cannes, and first MIDEM.
I know that you’re from Canada, but where exactly are you from?
I am from Toronto. I was born and I’ve always lived there.
When did you start to get into music?
In about third year of University, I started playing guitar very recreationally just out with a few friends. I wanted to learn a couple of tunes of some Canadian bands that we were checking out around that time. And it just started from there, as an experiment I guess, or just an exploration of something that was interesting. It just really caught on with me, and it became clear to me pretty soon after that I started playing that there was something really special.
Was there a musical background in your family?
No, not really. Nobody in my family is particularly musical.
Your music is sort of a mix of folk, roots and even reggae sometimes. How would you best describe it?
Yeah, I’d say that’s a good description to start off.
I consider my music to be pretty eclectic. I really just allow each song to develop sonically into where it wants to go. I have drawn a number of different sorts of genres and influences in order to allow that to happen. So the ones you named were definitely the core, like roots, folk…
Are these genres of music what you would normally listen to?
Yeah, especially when I started playing and learning songs it was definitely that kind of style like Ben Harper, Bob Marley and some others like less obvious ones as well.
Now, let’s talk about your new EP “Into The Light. Where does the name come from?
So, it’s a six-song EP that I recorded over the course of the last couple of months in Toronto. I worked with two different producers on it, both of whom are people that I’ve known for a long time.
It’s called “Into The Light” and it actually happens to be a track called “Into The Light” unlike the previous release where there was no title track.
I tend to gravitate towards things that have like layers of meanings. So there are a couple of different meanings that play there for me.
It’s about bringing our passions and our creative gifts to light and some of the challenges we encounter along the way and the idea of community, walking the path together and having other people to share that journey with.
And I think it’s also, on a more spiritual level, the idea of dealing with the ups and downs of life, and realising that at any given moment there are peaks and valleys but there’s always a light to move towards.
Overall, It’s about going within and finding that light within and then bringing that forth in the world in whatever way that exists for the individual, and it also relates to walking that path together.
When writing songs, where do you get your inspiration from?
Well, it has changed quite a bit. I think I tend to write best when I am in nature, wether it’s a beach or somewhere quiet.
Like everyone else, sometimes a song just kind of drops out of the sky and you catch it in one go, and other times you have to search all the way at it.
I write in a number of different ways I think. In the same way that you want your creative product to be evolving, your creative process has to evolve as well.
And that just means being open to different ways of approaching the canvas, and different ways of approaching your work.
It’s definitely about, kind of quietening all the noise and really just being still, and see what wants to be expressed.
Do you have a tour planned to go with the release of your new EP?
Yeah! I seem to have this funny habit of releasing my stuff in Australia first. I am coming to Australia in a month, and it’s going to be my first time in Western Australia. I am playing at the Nannup festival, south of Perth. I’m going to be doing a few dates there and then I will be doing a number of dates on the East Coast, ending, as I always like to do in Sydney. So, I am going to be doing my EP launch in Sydney on March 23rd at 505.
I actually read on your website that you toured in Australia with the release of your debut album “Glory Fire”. What was the reception from the Australian public and where did you go?
I consider it to be somewhat selective touring.
I mean Australia is a lot like Canada it’s hard to cover a lot of land, because there’s a lot of space in between the main hubs. I’ve done a few runs on the east coast and the reception has been really warm, and that’s why I keep coming back. I really developed like a family and friends all over the East Coast and particularly in New South Wales.
It’s like my home away from home. I’ve always connected well with Aussies when I am travelling, and I’ve always been interested to visit.
Also, I was instantly taken by the music scene there, like the festival culture. My first time in Australia, I went to the Blues and Roots festival in Byron Bay and I was just really impressed with how much of a community of listeners of that music there were there.
And I have always known, like a lot of the artists that I love do really well in Australia.
Do you know Jack Johnson? I think you two have a lot of similarities in your music. You could become the new ‘Canadian version’ of Jack Johnson.
Yeah. To be completely honest, when I started playing guitar, I was learning a lot of Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. I love both of their music.
Sometimes those comparisons can be complementary but then there comes a point at which you don’t want to be like someone else. You just want to be considered as your own artist. So I don’t want to be the next Jack Johnson, I’d rather be the first Chris Assaad. But that’s definitely a compliment; I know his music is well received there, and same with Ben Harper.
Each year, The AU Review covers the Canadian Music Week, any chance to see you playing there?
No, I’m going to be in Australia. I’m usually there. I played last year, but this year I’m going to be in OZ. I might get back just for like the tail end of it. It’s a good little festival though. I met a lot of Aussies there actually.
Australian 2012 Tour Dates:
March 2nd, 3rd, 4th – Nannup Festival (Nannup, WA)
March 7th – Clancy’s Pub (Perth, WA)
March 11th – Purepop Records (St. Kilda, VIC)
March 13th – Esplande Hotel (Melbourne, VIC)
March 16th – Baha (Rye, VIC)
March 17th (afternoon show) – The Wesley Anne (Melbourne, VIC)
March 18th – The Wesley Anne (short set) (Melbourne, VIC)
March 22nd – The Beach Rd. Hotel (Bondi Beach, NSW)
March 23rd – Sydney EP Launch @ 505 (Sydney, NSW)
For more information, please check out http://www.chrisassaad.com/
