>>PREVIEW
LULLABY BAXTER
Saturday, December 9
Beat Niq
After a six-year hiatus from the spotlight following the success of Capable Egg, Lullaby Baxter is back with her second album, Garden Cities of Tomorrow, and an enlightened perspective. She's also a mother now, with four-year-old Lorenzo demanding more Spiderman stories than lullabies.
Her music shimmies and shuffles along, conjuring up images of warmly-lit lounges featuring frothy cocktails with umbrellas, girls in swooshy dresses and swaggering boys in smart suits. The lyrics are insightful, yet whimsical and Baxter's voice bursts with soul, intelligence and hope. Working with Hercules, an England-based trio with strong Chet Baker influences, has resulted in a rich and mature sound.
Carving out a career on her own terms has resulted in some scrapes and hard-earned lessons, but she possesses a resonant exuberance and sincerity. Although her initial experience in the recording industry left a sour taste in her mouth, she is steadfast in her belief the craft is what matters most.
"The industry is full of people who are fickle and scared. There are so many pressures. I'm an artist. I'm not going to cut corners," she insists, adding rushing is not an option. "I have my window and it's going to be there when I get there."
Her relaxed and assured approach has gained the attention of Lloyd Cole who got in touch with her, offering his seasoned advice and paying for flights when money was tight. She remains good friends with Cole and his wife.
Jurgen Gothe, CBC "Disc Drive" host is also a fan, adding the latest record to his 2006 hit list. Although she admits he took a while to "get" the new work. Baxter says that's often the case when trying something different.
"People resist change," she says. It's also challenging being the only one wearing pink in a sea of black. When you do it first, people mock and say it's ugly. When you do it second everybody notices and approves."
The hugely popular dramedy Gray's Anatomy is currently considering featuring her song "Sugar" on an upcoming episode. In addition, her passion for recycling and funky retro threads has led to a clothing sponsorship by Trend.
She's also a passionate advocate of self responsibility. She speaks convincingly about the Law of Attraction, a book that promotes manifesting our own reality. She says it's already working for her and since she started, amazing things continue happening, such as her upcoming show at Beat Niq.
It's not all roses and sunshine, though. Since returning to Calgary, she notes the sprawl of the city has forced her to contemplate buying a car for the first time.
"It's so spread out. I'm used to living in cities like Montreal and Moncton where it's easier to get around."
Ultimately, she's an artist creating her own reality.
"I can do this my way." |
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.