We are pleased to premiere the debut long-play ‘Save Our Hearts’ by Toronto-based singer-songwriter Madisyn Whajne. Her warmly delivered ‘first offering’ is upbeat and uplifting, begging the question – why has it taken the world so long to discover Madisyn Whajne? Whajne’s debut was recorded live to tape with engineers Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, The Barr Brothers) and Shae Brossard (Bahamas, The Dears) at Montreal’s famed Hotel2Tango Studio. Whajne has not left us hanging for the past few months in anticipation of this album for nothing – this long-play is loaded to the gills with indie-rock alt-pop goodness, with the First Nations songstress making her mark among such artists as The Primitives, Alvvays, Best Coast and Fazerdaze. Pretty much every song on this album could have been pitched as a standalone single – all killer, no filler as they say.
This invigorating and bittersweet offering is a sign of Whajne’s strength on multiple fronts, showing resilience and survival in the face of pain and heartbreak. Spending most of her life searching: for her purpose, for her family, for herself, she was taken from her parents as a toddler during the infamous Sixties Scoop, in which the Canadian government forcibly rehoused tens of thousands of native children, Whajne grew up without knowing her real name, to say nothing of her heritage. Her life has been shaped by a hunger for truth and understanding, a yearning that lies at the core of her artistry.
Inspired by bands like the Go Go’s and The Vaccines, Whajne’s music blends elements of such artists as Alvvays, Snail Mail, Rilo Kiley and Real Estate. On this debut LP, we find straight driving guitars and semi-gritty punk rock drums, topped off with vocals radiating a sunny surfer pop vibe.
“Save Our Hearts was written over two years, after a long period of writer’s block and depression. It was a time in my life that I felt really lost, quite broken and very alone. Writing was the means by which I found a way back to myself. There was solace in the time alone, writing in the studio. I could pour myself into a song and the world would disappear. I would bring each song to James and I remember the nervousness and excitement … it was in those moments I felt whole again,” says Madisyn Whajne.
“This record is really a personal journey through a time of darkness, heartache and finding myself again. Whether the songs came out fun and playful, dark and edgy, or sad, there is a common theme that runs throughout the record. At a time when I had lost almost all faith, there was a glimmer of hope and the record embodies that. Ultimately, it took me out of the darkness and into the light. My own light.”
This album follows a string of upbeat, energetically-positive singles, including ‘One Shot’(with b-side / video single ‘Dagger’ and alt b-side ‘Killing Desire’), as well as standalone singles ‘Sweet Talk’ and ‘Summer Love’.
Whajne’s band includes longtime friends – producer Jay McBride on bass, James Gray (of Soft Set) on guitar, and her husband Bobby Bulat (of Basia Bulat) on drums. While Whajne rarely wears her emotions and details her life journey in explicit narrative terms, her story is written between the lines as she navigates love and trust, reunion and rejection, faith and fate.
“It has been a lifelong dream to record an album and put it out into the world. I couldn’t have done it without the help of my band and I am so grateful for that. And although I never dreamed it would be released during a worldwide pandemic, I hope it touches people in a way that inspires them to share their gifts with the world,” says Whajne.
As of December 11, the ‘Save Our Hearts’ LP will be released everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and also directly from the artist via Bandcamp at https://madisynwhajne.bandcamp.com/album/save-our-hearts
With your debut album set for release on December 11, how do you feel about this finally happening?
I am over the moon! I feel very blessed to have written this record with three of my closest friends. Without them this would never have come to fruition, or be as beautiful sounding. I feel really proud of all the hard work we put in, it’s been a long time coming!
Because we often do not know what has happened behind the scenes in order to put together such a release, how long did it take you to write the songs on this album and record them?
Well, I started writing in the spring of 2017 after about three years of serious writer’s block. We worked out four solid songs and went up to Montreal to record them in July. I wouldn’t save up enough money to go back to record until the next summer, when we recorded another four songs. A few months later we went back and recorded the last three songs on the record, and an acoustic version of Sweet Talk. Being completely self-funded and having spent all my savings, it wasn’t until January 2019 I went back to mix and master the record at Hotel 2 Tango and Grey Market Mastering in Montreal. At that point we were at a standstill. We had no funding and I was out of money. The Class Action Lawsuit for the Sixties Scoop lawsuit had been settled around that time, but I had to wait to until this year to receive the settlement to move forward. It was very drawn out, but I believe everything happens in the time that it should.
Can you tell us about your production team and also the artists that you have been working with to create your overall sound?
I am extremely lucky to be working with my long times friends, who happen to be incredibly talented! I’ve been in a band with James for almost twenty years. We started playing in the basement of my old shop The Mad Gypsy and I am fortunate we are still writing and playing together. He really shaped the sound of this record and the songs wouldn’t be what they are without him. He pushed me to be the best version of myself, especially when it came to writing.
Jay produced our first record (which we never released!) and he has supported me endlessly throughout the years. As a producer, he brought out a side of me I didn’t believe in. He was patient in letting me find my voice and gave me the confidence to get the vocal takes I wanted. Having him play bass was just downright fun and he was definitely the cheerleader during recording! It took almost ten years before I started playing music with Bobby, so when I put the band together, I was a really excited to have him on the drums. He adds an element to the music that can’t be replicated and I am really grateful for that.
As a First Nations artist, do you feel that somehow this has affected your musical path and your inspiration for creating music?
I think that the experiences I have gone through shape the music I make. We all have a story that is uniquely our own and as a First Nations artist I can’t help but draw on the stories of my life. There was a lot of hardship but also a lot of joy and that is reflected in the music.
Which artist have inspired you in creating music?
If I think back to my childhood, I would listen to my dad’s records like the Beatles and the Beach Boys on my little Winnie the Pooh record player. I loved all the music from the fifties and sixties and its probably still what I listen to the most. It’s uplifting and I never tire of hearing the same songs over and over again. During elementary school I was a rocker and into Motley Crew, Guns N Roses, Skid Row (oh my gosh, Skid Row!!) and got into the classics like Joan Jett, Blondie, The Go Go’s nearing high school. During high school I went through the grunge phase like most and adored Courtney Love, L7 and the like. Then the Brit Pop scene exploded and I have been a die hard fan ever since. They all inspired me one way or another! But more recently I would have to say The Jesus and Mary Chain, New Order, The Velvet Underground, Mazzy Star, The Stone Roses, The Vaccines, The Raveonettes, bands like Beach House, Best Coast… my goodness, I am sorry if that is a long winded answer!
Speaking of Canadian artists, has any of them in particular had an impact on you, either while growing up or recently?
As far as Canadian music, it was Sarah Harmer that really inspired me to sing. I was sitting in a friend’s apartment when she came over to practice. Her voice carried down the hall and I had never heard anyone with a voice like that, I was really moved. She encouraged me to play and sing and was a real inspiration at that time. Other than the classics like Neil Young, Joni, Leonard Cohen, I wasn’t really into the Canadian music scene at that time. I was then introduced to Amy Mann, Emily Haines and started going to shows and have been a strong supporter ever since. Bands like The Stars, Alvvays, Kroy, Genevieve Racette, Lowell, Lyon and Kirty have had the most impact on me lately and I can always put on one of their albums and feel good.
Can you tell us about your musical background before you started recording the songs on this album?
I didn’t have much before we recorded this record!! I had piano lessons for maybe a month or two when I was around nine years old, but I abandoned it pretty quickly. I started playing my mom’s classical guitar around the age of 14. I taught myself how to play and started writing songs in my bedroom. I got myself a tape recorder and recorded demos that I was too shy to ever let anyone hear. It wasn’t until many many years later that I started to let friends hear my songs and many more before I would I walk on a stage and play. I started my first band with a few friends from the neighbourhood when I had my store on Roncy, and we only played a few small shows. It was soon after that I ran into James and we started a band together with Nathan. We recorded an album in early 2008 at the small E5 studio on Sorauren Avenue, but we never released it. I met Bobby in 2009 and I got to sing backup for his sister Basia Bulat on a few of her records, which was a lot of fun and an eye opening experience.
Has FACTOR or any other Canadian organizations helped you in your challenges to progress as an artist And to navigate all the challenging things that come with being an independent artist these days?
We didn’t have any funding. It was self-funded which is why it took so long! A lot of lessons to be learned and a few hard knocks but all in all, we did it to have fun and make something we could be proud of. It wasn’t until we released our first three music videos (in the past three months) that I finally received funding from Factor. So, luckily the next album will be partially funded.
How has this current corona crisis Affected you and your band? What are you looking forward to most in 2021?
Well, in our current environment with no shows to play and really, not even being able to get together we are completely dependent on our socials and press. Like you! So we are very grateful for this and your continued support. We have also been really lucky to have the support of yourselves at Amplify, CBC radio, Exclaim, Tinnitist, Big Takeover Magazine, Jammerzine and The Noise Journal, not to mention countless other publications. It’s hard to build a buzz without playing live shows so that is something we look forward to doing in 2021.
I am also excited to start recording again, it’s definitely my happy place!
