Edmonton musician Alex Vissia returns to Lethbridge “With Pleasure” in support of her latest, more pop influenced CD, March 5 at the Owl Acoustic Lounge with Carl Glacier.
She decided to explore different sounds when she started tracking the album early in 2020, just before the pandemic hit in Benalto Studios west of Red Deer with producer Nich Davies who played keyboard and provided drum programming for much of the album.
“We’ve been making music together for 10 years,” she said.
“It’s a singer- songwriter album,” she said.
“It’s not all break up songs,” she continued, noting there are a couple.
“It’s very explorative. I wanted to explore more pop and R and B sounds. So this was a great opportunity to play with some bright, fresh new ideas,” she said, adding she didn’t play a lot of guitar on the album, though she played some keyboards.
“ It’s the first album I really got to explore my voice as an instrument. So there are layers and layers of vocals,” she said, adding she didn’t feel the need to play guitar on every track on the album.
“ The older I get the more I realize I can give up control and I don’t feel as much pressure to play on every song. Collaboration is exciting because you get to see what everyone brings to the table,” she said, adding she enjoyed exploring more pop and dance inspired music on the CD.
“I think a lot of people like to hear music that makes their bodies move because that is how I feel,” she said.
She is grateful for the support the new music has received from all over the world.
“It’s been really neat to see the support online from people in Germany and America. It never gets old when people relate to the songs,” she said.
She was able to use an Edmonton Arts Council Grant to fund the album, work with a lot of different musicians including bassist Paul Bergeron; bassist Kurtis Cockerill; Nich Davies - drums, percussion, nord drum, programming, claps, synth; Matt Kraus - organ, rhodes, synths; Jonathan Lagore - guitars and pianist Logan Mills -who also several videos for the album.
“We all went to Grant MacEwan University, which was a nice coincidence,” she said.
“ I’m super grateful for the grant,” she said.
Vissia was last in town for Shaela Miller’s CD release party a few months ago at the Owl Acoustic Lounge.
“I sang background vocals on her album (Big Hair Small City). She was in Edmonton recording it with Scott Franchuk in between Covid restrictions being loosened, so I was able to record with her then. It was a lot of fun,” she said
Vissia will be playing the Owl Acoustic Lounge with a six piece band including Vissia, vocals, keys; backing vocals, synth, keys Janelle Leaf ; backing vocals, guitar, percussion Andi Vissia ; Nich Davies -; drums, programming; lead guitarist Gareth Gilliland and bassist Curtis Ebner.
“ It’s really exciting to play with a six piece band. When I’m just on the mic, I feel like I can connect with the audience more freely,” she said, adding she is looking forward to seeing Carl Glacier’s opening set.
“ I’m looking forward to seeing that show,” she said, adding she is playing Germany in April.
“ So that’s the next big ticket show,” she said.
Vissia and Carl Galcier play the Owl Acoustic Lounge , March 5. Admission is by donation.
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
