Roxanne Delage
I’m often asked what kind of music I write. That’s always a very loaded question with no simple answer.
“It’s not really country,” I say. In fact, it’s not country at all. There are hints of it, as well as hints of rhythm and blues and jazz, and a couple of the songs that verge on rock.
Probably the greatest influence in my writing, and more than likely for any girl who has ever picked up a guitar, is folk. But I certainly wouldn’t call my music folk either. Even certain of my songs have been described as having a European flavour as well.
If it’s all of those things, but neither in particular, what is it then?
If you ask anyone who knows my music, their reaction usually is quite the same. They don’t know, and truth be told, neither do I.
I grew up with a country-music-loving household, in the 60s and 70s, and I can’t really remember a time when there wasn’t a “hurtin’ tune” echoing through the house. You know, Patsy Cline and Merle Haggard among others. There’s no denying its influence in some of my songs, but I would certainly not be called a country artist.
My taste in music and artistic influence has changed and evolved over my life and remains as diversified as music genres get: Elvis, Carly Simon, Fleetwood Mac, kd Lang, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Heart, Sting, Carol King, Bonnie Raitt, Amy Winehouse, ... If you can possibly find a genre in that, then that’s me.
I’ve been trying to give my music a name – folk-rock fusion/mock-country/adult contemporary alternative - but nothing really fits. Does it need a name? Maybe not, and that’s ok too, unless I’m asked to tick a music genre box on Reverb Nation.
What I can tell you is that I write about life and love and hope and all that’s good in the world. Sometimes I write about pain, and sadness, but plenty of happiness too. I write from the heart and feel eternally grateful to be able to do so, and to share it with anyone who’ll listen.
My new CD, The Way I Am, took about three years and required the help of a group of wonderful musicians slash friends, who have generously gone the distance with me. My heart is full of them.
A couple of the guys and I will be previewing the CD at the Winter Windup Merchant Market on Nov. 18, at the Civic Complex and then, I’m putting the band back together for a one-night-only CD release concert.
The band (featuring some of the best musicians in town - Rod Robillard, on lead guitar, Greg Deruchie, on guitar, Jim Sharp, on drums, Bobby Tessier, on bass, and Marc Carrière, on flute and percussion) and I will be performing The Way I Am in its entirety at the St Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre (at the Power Dam) on Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7), on the bank of the beautiful river. You can hear a sample of the tunes and get more info at www.facebook.com/RoxanneDelageMusic.
