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| Amy McCann |
Amy’s musical interests are eclectic; her influences just as
varied. She has an obvious natural talent for singing and playing guitar, violin,
and other instruments. Listening to her songs that range from traditional Irish
to the hard rock sounds of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, one gets the
distinct impression that Amy McCann can do anything she sets her mind to.
Her bio on Reverb
Nation describes her music as: "dreamy, magical rock,” and, “Amy
strives to communicate the emotional quality of her music, while her lyrics
tend to be a spiritually inclined reflection on Life's Journey.” Exploring
Amy’s YouTube channel, ‘Amy
McCann’, one gets the full spectrum of her music, from her impressive original
songs to the various superb collaborations with other musicians from around the
world.
Amy’s musical heritage goes back at least three generations,
to her great-grandfather, Frank Squire Welsman, an accomplished musician, and
the founder of the original Toronto Symphony.
“Music was always in
the house growing up,” said Amy. “My
eldest sister Jan played the piano to a very advanced level, and went on to
study organ performance at University. My Mother was an excellent singer and
also played the piano well. She was involved in musical theater and choral
groups, so she was always singing away! My brothers also played the piano and
took music lessons; we always had a grand piano in the house.”
Her own musical career began with violin lessons at age
five.
“My first music
teacher was Jack Montague, a brilliant violinist who had played under my
great-grandfather and had known him well.”
Although surrounded by a musical family, Amy says as a child
she didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life.
“I really didn't know,
and that question always bothered me because all the other children knew what
they wanted to be...I had no idea.”
She chose music and her musical journey took a significant turn
at the age of 16, when she received a guitar.
Listening to Amy’s guitar playing, it is obvious that she
has explored many types of music – many of which are incorporated into her
style. One might describe her style as eclectic, but even that doesn’t seem broad
enough to cover it.
“I really love Bach,
Beethoven, Vivaldi and I also really enjoy the French impressionists such as
Debussy, Ravel & Satie, whose music tended to evoke visual imagery to me. I
enjoy also the Brazilian guitar styles such as Bossa and Choro; it is lively
rhythmic music and very fun to play. I enjoy the blues quite a lot too, and
reggae music.
“I have also been
greatly influenced by the rock music of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Heart, King
Crimson, Genesis, Yes, Sandy Denny, Jethro Tull, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, the
Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, and Jeff Buckley.
“I love the guitar
playing of Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Nick Drake, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett,
Nancy Wilson, Robert Fripp, and the finger style playing of Michael Hedges and
Tommy Emmanuel. My favorite classical player is Julian Bream.
Amy noted that her favorite guitarist overall is the late
Nick Drake.
“I love acoustic
playing that is clean, intelligent and full of character and depth; Nick Drake
had all the qualities I admire and then some more. He was a brilliant
songwriter and musician.”
Such diverse influences might be dizzying to many, but when
one listens to Amy’s music, it all makes sense.
A musician looking to expand her horizons will seek out
other, like-minded artists. Amy’s collaborations started early, with her now
sister-in-law Julie McCann.
“Amy and I have had a
lifetime of music together, since the age of 5 when we started learning violin,”
said Julie.
“One could say we are
soul-sisters,” says Amy. “Our Mothers
were best friends. Julie and I have been together since we were about 4 years
old, and studied music together as children.”
“I was part of a
string duo called ‘Magical Strings’. I was playing guitar in the music store in
Davis where I lived and was approached by one of the music teachers there, a
violinist named Christine Veazey. We formed ‘Magical Strings’ in 1998. I also
played regularly in another string duo around Davis called ‘Strings to Go’ with
my friend and violinist Sarah Loughney.”
Amy continued her performing career while preparing to share
her knowledge via teaching.
“After returning from
California to Montreal to live for the next 4 years, I embarked on a Bachelor
of Music at McGill University, accepted on the grounds of my audition. Moving
to Ontario, (my home province) in 2003, I continued performing as a classical
and Celtic musician and received my authentication as a Royal Conservatory
teacher in 2004. So between 1998 and 2004, I decided to live and work as a
musician. I was previously trained in illustration and was for a time getting
jobs and pursuing a career in art. But having had my children in the mid
nineties, I had dropped out of the art world altogether. Music was a natural
alternative to pursue, considering my training in classical music.”
Since Amy grew up in a musical family, it follows that she
would create such an environment for her family as a wife and mother.
“My husband of 19
years has told me that he fell in love with me for my music. We have a
19-year-old son who studied violin as a child and now plays guitar and writes
his own songs. My eldest daughter Bronwen is preparing to audition for a
University Music program in vocal performance. She writes and plays beautiful
music on the piano and guitar.
“My youngest daughter
is a wonderful dancer and she really feels the music and has a great sense of
rhythm. I have always taken the kids to musical performances and there has
always been music in our home. I am always happy to help them with anything
they are wanting to learn, and I have instilled in them a great love for music,
which I think will shape and mold their lives in the best possible way.”
In addition to raising a family, Amy continues to perform
live, citing one particular performance as her favorite.
“So far, I would have
to say playing the mandolin canzonetta for Opera McGill's 6-night production of
Mozart's Opera ‘Don Giovanni’. It was a lot of pressure, but I felt so happy to
have had that experience, and it really boosted my confidence as a player.”
She and her sister-in-law Julie McCann perform together as
the Hazy Maidens, an
acoustic folk act. They perform original songs as well as songs from their
favorite artists. Their music is exceptional – two brilliant ladies blending
their talents together into one entity. They complement each other perfectly
during performances and while writing original songs. Amy described her method
of songwriting:
Julie speaks highly of her long time friend and
collaborator.
“While I stepped away
in my teen years, Amy went on to learn many other instruments including the
guitar, mandolin, and has dabbled in many others including drums, cello and
piano. If she puts her mind to it, it can be done! It's great making music with
her again; it's like having someone finish your sentences. There is a musical
instinct that we have together that gives me confidence and furthers my
creativity with songwriting.”
It is indeed a great partnership, as evidenced by the memorable
music they perform together. Guitars, mandolin, violin and two beautiful voices
come together in stunning fashion on such songs as ‘Let Go’, and
‘If You Come My Way’.
Amy is also involved in online collaborations with musicians
from around the world. As with many such works, the musicians have usually not
met in person, but came to each other’s attention through videos posted on YouTube.
“Several years ago I
met Amy on YouTube,” said James Dylan, lead singer for Jason Bonham’s Led
Zeppelin Experience, and Virtual Zeppelin. “Her
songwriting, musical ability and video production set the bar in the YouTube
community using very basic equipment. We share many of the same influences and
are inspired by much of the same music.
“Fraser Murray from my
band JFJ collaborated with Amy on Led Zeppelin's 'Four Sticks'. This cover is a great example of how
considerate of the artist's intention Amy is without sounding like a carbon
copy.”
Not only is this work considerate, as James put it, but it
is one of the most stunning examples of Amy McCann’s vocal and instrumental
ability – a superb piece of audio and video work. This is a first rate piece of
work for everyone involved – Amy on guitars and vocals, Fraser Murray on drums
and video editing, and Isao Fuji on bass.
Drummer Fraser
Murray: “I first met Amy McCann on
You Tube, when I was looking for a female singer to cover the Sandy Denny parts
on Led Zeppelin's ‘Battle Of Evermore’,
which I was recording with my Zeppelin tribute band, Led Astray, who are based
in Edinburgh.
“Amy was recommended
to me by James Dylan with whom I had also collaborated in JFJ.” (James –
Fraser – Jun).
“Amy accepted my
request and shortly afterwards sent me some fantastic recordings of her vocals,
complete with harmonies, which were the icing on the cake for our cover! Amy
also provided superb vocal tracks for a cover of 'No Quarter', which I was recording around the same
time.”
Fraser and Amy also worked with bassist Isao Fuji of Osaka, Japan,
on ‘Four Sticks’, and several Black Sabbath covers, including ‘War Pigs’ (which
aired for two years on YouTube, but has since been removed.)
Isao Fuji: "I
think collaboration on YouTube brought us a possibility of making music for world
wide, and we have accomplished an awesome band between various races. And I
would like to jam with great musicians, that is an answer of why I like jamming
with Amy."
“I offered to return
the favour if Amy needed any drum tracks for any of her own projects,” said
Fraser Murray. “That eventually led to a long
lasting friendship and several collaborations where I provided drum tracks,
including covers of ‘Thank You’, ‘Four Sticks’, and ‘Gallows Pole’ by Led
Zeppelin; ‘The Wizard’ by Black Sabbath and ‘Dear Prudence’ by The Beatles,
most of which included contributions from other musicians on YouTube.”
Russell
Foster and Karen
Biser are two other musicians who collaborated with Amy and Fraser on 'Dear Prudence'. Foster played bass, lead guitar, and
keyboards, and Biser sang backing vocals. Amy describes Biser as “a woman with an amazing voice.”
"I've been a big
fan of Amy's for several years now thanks to YouTube,” said Karen Biser, a
musician and chiropractic doctor. “It's
amazing how many incredibly talented musicians there are out there, and Amy is
definitely one of them. I was honored when she asked me to lend my vocals on a
cover of The Beatles' ‘Dear Prudence’. I am a novice musician, but Amy has
always been supportive and encouraging, and she inspires creativity in all who
work with her. She truly exudes the love she has for music, and that makes
working with Amy such a joy."
Russell Foster of Liverpool, England: "I met Amy through the mutual love of progressive and classical
rock music a few years back on YouTube; we have collaborated on a few projects
together. Her ability and eye for detail is an inspiration for myself and I'm
sure many others. Her knowledge of music is very diverse from classical to
progressive rock and everything else in between and her ability to play
numerous instruments gives her a wide spectrum of not being categorized as one
dimensional which will always make her unique."
To echo what Russell Foster said, Amy McCann is anything but
‘one dimensional’. Another online collaboration, this time with musician Julie Rupp Oakes,
shows Amy’s versatility as a singer (and Julie’s instrumental expertise).
"Amy was one of
my early discoveries when I first started YouTube,” said Julie. “I was so impressed with her similar taste
in music, her guitar playing, her voice and seeing her videos of the area she
lived in. I was so thrilled to get to know her and collaborate together. We did
'Behind Blue Eyes' by the Who, and plan on doing more
together in the future."
When you watch Amy’s videos, the feeling that you already
know her comes through, and you get a sense of what she is all about on a
personal level. James Dylan had the chance to meet Amy in person.
“I first met Amy a few
years ago after a JBLZE concert in Ontario not far from where Amy lives. We
talked quite a bit. Like [James’ wife] Averelle
and me, Amy is aware of the connections all things share. She is a casual
observer taking cues from her environment. It was great learning that she was
as friendly as the correspondences we shared online.”
Amy does take those ‘cues’, as James put it; and it helps to
explain why her music is so heartfelt, and her musical persona so strong.
“I find it so
rewarding to teach, perform and create music,” said Amy. “When I am in the zone, I feel as though I
am a willing channel for what I perceive as a Universal message. Music fills my
heart with happiness and joy. I feel connected to others through the freedom of
expression through music.
That is certainly a positive outlook, coming from a unique
person. But then you would expect that coming from someone who is more than
just a musician – Amy McCann is an artist
in every sense of the word. James Dylan spoke of the ‘connection’, and Amy
mentioned it as well.
“It isn't for money or
glory that music plays such a role in my life. Music is a connecting agent that
helps me to communicate to others, and this kind of communication I find very
rewarding. When I am deeply touched by another person's music, a kind of
spiritual elation overcomes me, and I feel understood and comforted by the
experience. I hope that people feel this same inspiration when they listen to
my musical creations, for if they do, then I have done my job well.”
What does the future hold for Amy McCann?
“It would be wonderful
to have my music in an artistic film. My dream job would be to write
soundtracks for movies or nature documentaries. I greatly admire the musical
work and career longevity of Robert Fripp, Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, whose
signature sounds and productions have made them legends.
“I would like to learn
more about the production side of music and recording.
I'm just taking it all
one day at a time. I prefer to live in the present as much as possible. But to
look to the future, I just want to continue doing what I am doing and see what
God has in store. I really enjoy teaching, performing and writing, so this is
what I will continue to do.”
The age of broadband Internet provides us the best
opportunity in history for sharing music and musical knowledge. With the
Internet, it is possible to ‘meet’ people from thousands of miles away without
ever leaving your home. As such, it becomes possible to explore the music of
people we would otherwise never be aware of. Without this medium, many of us
would have missed out on the chance to enjoy the mega-talent of Amy McCann.
Through her work, she has made fans, friends, and admirers.
“I look forward to
working with her again in the future and I'm sure there will be many more
collaborations to come,” said Fraser Murray.
James Dylan: “Averelle
and I have a summer home on a small island in Ontario. It's always been a place
for family and close friends. Two years ago we expanded our tribe to include
Amy. Again last week we played music late into the evening. She had to leave
early the next morning, but she will be back soon.”
Amy’s sister-in-law and ‘Hazy Maidens’ collaborator Julie
McCann said: “I feel strongly about our
collaborations and her musical strength has in return given me back strength to
my own musicality. Hopefully, it's a partnership for life."
Amy McCann inspires others through her artistry – her words,
her actions, her personality, and her music. She is a perfect example of art, music,
heart, and soul acting in concert – making that ‘connection’, as she said.
She obviously found her true calling with music, and she
need not wonder if she has ‘done her job’.
© 2012 LTM
Awesome article Larry - Lots of work put into this one!! Might be the best yet!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful article! I'm proud to have worked with this extremely talented woman! She's simply the best.
ReplyDelete-Karen Biser
Thank-you Mike, and Karen.
ReplyDelete