Band's new CD a quiet escape from members' other projects.

A1

Matt Carter

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Defining success in the music business can be a wide and varied subject. It's often a matter of opinion, and depending on who is speaking, one person's interpretation may not balance out with another's. If success in music means finding a place among like-minded players who share and appreciate a common vision, musicians who's chemistries balance with each other, and who's will to create feeds one another, then the members of Fredericton's Olympic Symphonium have found just that.

Enlarge Photo

Shortly after their formation two years ago, the band released their much-applauded debut CD Chapter 1, a collection of quiet songs recorded in living rooms, basements, and makeshift studios. The album was the perfect introduction the group's subtle, relaxing sound and quickly became a favourite to many.

"Originally, the reason behind starting this band was because we all had other songs that didn't fit with the other bands we were playing with," said Graeme Walker, one of the three members of the group. "As a result, we decided to assemble this band, try it out, and see what happens."

Between the three of them, they currently share active involvement in close to 10 other projects. Walker is half the rhythm section for Fredericton's Grand Theft Bus, while Kyle Cunjak and Nick Cobham spread their time over several groups including recording and performing with Prince Edward Island's Catherine MacLellan.

What makes this particular group appealing to each member is the free flow of creativity it presents. They place no rules on their music and choose not to confine themselves individually to one instrument.

With a sound bordering on folk and roots, the acoustic outlet the band provides to each member is a welcome change from the louder music they cut their teeth on.

"It's a lot easier to write songs for this band in a way," said Cobham. "We can sit home with an acoustic guitar and put a song together. I wouldn't say it's more enjoyable than other groups we play with, but it's a different aspect."

"It's good to have an outlet for each style of writing," adding Cunjak.

"I find it relieves pressure too in terms of feeling the need to write songs for any specific thing," said Walker. "We can just play whatever is coming at that specific moment."

After a year in the works, the band is finally ready to release its second album. Taking its name from a quote by William Shakespeare, More in Sorrow Than in Anger was officially released on November 11.

Working with longtime friend and engineer Brad Perry, the band spread the recording of this album over several months, taking their time along the way to get the most of each song and each melody. As with their first recording, More in Sorrow Than in Anger was again recorded in a variety of comfort zones, including small studios, apartments, living rooms, and even a used clothing store.

"We did most of the recording with Brad, who at the time was living in P.E.I.," said Cobham. "He'd come over for a week or a weekend and we'd all get together and record while he was here."

This recording welcomes many of the band's friends into the fold, adding something unique to each track through a variety of instruments and voices. Guest musicians that took part in the creation of the album include Kris Pope, Amelia Curran, Jenn Grant, Catherine MacLellan, and Nova Scotia's darling songstress Rose Cousins.

"It felt like a lot of the songs had room for more things," said Walker. "We felt there were lots of layers there that we could use and we're lucky enough to have lots of musical friends that are gracious. It was a very natural fit."

"It's good to have someone coming in with a fresh outlook and a fresh pair of ears too," said Cobham.

Once they began to see how their songs took shape after welcoming guests into the fold, one of the album's key defining traits became evident to everyone involved.

"I think there was a conscious effort on our part once we saw we had guests on half the songs, we just decided we'd have guests on all the songs," said Walker.

"For the most part, with all the guests it was really easy to do," said Cunjak. "We didn't have an outlook of who we wanted to have on each song. We just shared a few songs with them and let them decide. For the most part, everybody was like one or two takes, really easy going. I can't believe it worked out so well."

In fact, by adding guests, some of the songs on the album were actually saved them from being cut from the project all together.

"There's one song where Rose Cousins sang," said Cobham. "Before she did her part, I honestly didn't want the song on the album. As soon as I heard her vocal part on it I felt it was 10 times better," said Cobham.

The final result is a beautiful collection of songs and an incredibly accomplished sounding effort considering the short period of time the band has been together. More in Sorrow Than in Anger is a 10-song document to the strengthen and ability that can be achieved by musicians united by a common voice.

With the finished product in hand, the real work now begins. After completing a short jaunt around the Maritime provinces this month, a number of other tours are in the works for the coming months. Besides the obvious challenges in promoting and marketing an album, there's a certain degree of juggling among other groups that must take place if Olympic Symphonium is going to do things the way they hope to.

"It sort of works in stages," said Walker. "Nick and Kyle have a CD coming out with Catherine MacLellan in a couple of months. Grand Theft Bus put one out in April and that cycle has sort of died down now. This one will take priority probably until the spring."

The band plans to hit Quebec cities in January, Ontario in April, and make their way straight across the country in June. They're also looking at touring parts of Europe in February.

Olympic Symphonium play a multitude of CD release shows throughout N.B. this month. Check out http://www.myspace.com/theolympicsymphonium for more information.