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Funded Under: Professional Project Grants Program This August, folk trio The Once launched their self-titled debut CD to an appreciative sold out crowd at The Ship pub in St. John’s. It looks like things are really taking off for The Once…. CD Title: The Once About The Once
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Newfoundland’s The Once is comprised of Geraldine Hollett of Burin, Phil Churchill of Corner Brook and Andrew Dale of Coley’s Point. The folk trio met in the summer of 2005 while working with Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity. It was there that they discovered a mutual appreciation for the music of their native Newfoundland and the British Isles. Shortly thereafter, The Once was formed. Superb musicianship, clever arrangements and stunning harmonies make The Once a fresh and exciting new group whose rise will be something worth watching. Their much anticipated debut album, simply titled “The Once” is now available.
Geraldine Hollett - vocals, tambourine, bodhran
Phil Churchill - vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bodhran, mandolin, violin percussion
Andrew Dale - vocals, bodhran, banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, organ, accordion, bass, acoustic guitar, percussion, piano
NLAC: How are things going since you released the CD? What has the response been like?
GH: Great. We released our CD on June 29 and have sold out of the first run of 1000 CDs - far better than expected.
PC: We had some shows on the west coast of the province and after a performance at the Gros Morne Summer Music Festival in Woody Point, we were invited to perform at the Writers at Woody Point Festival next year. Our launch party in August was fantastic. We performed for a sellout crowd alongside Mark Neary and Elliot Dicks (The Novaks) and Greg Walsh.
GH: Several accounts from various people have informed us that there were 30 people outside in the rain waiting to hear us play. Then we heard 40. Then 50. Last we heard, 80 people were waiting outside to hear us play! But there is definitely no exaggeration happening! Not a bit! We guarantee you that there were only 100 people out there waiting to get in to see The Once, and no more than 120 for sure!
NLAC: For anyone who is not yet familiar with you, how do you characterize the type of music you perform?
GH: We are a folk/roots trad band by definition.
PC: That genre is pretty broad in its range so we feel pretty comfortable hitching ourselves to that handle.
GH: We sing and play music from traditional songs of the British Isles, to more modern songs by Leonard Cohen, and songs from Newfoundland.
PC: And a song by Queen. Anything and everything is on the table for us musically. Unless we do it a few times and feel stupid. Then it's off the table.
NLAC: Was it difficult to choose what to include on the album?
PC: The hardest part was deciding not to include some songs that we had each written independently over the years and had worked on together as a band. Mark Neary, who produced the album, put it in perspective for us and helped us see that the best and tested songs should go on this album; that this album would be a snapshot of where we started, and a little of where we are, and a hint of where we might be going. So we're pretty sure what the plan is for album number two.
NLAC: We hear you were given some unexpected support from a kind stranger - tell us about that.
GH: Yes! We were at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival in 2008 and we didn't have a CD and people were quick to jump on that saying, “you have to get a CD” and we replied “I know, I know, I know.” During our last performance on the harbour front there were some folks teasing us and telling us to get that CD and Phil piped up and said, “Well if anyone would like to fund that CD.” He was very cheeky and the crowd laughed and we thought nothing more about it. After the performance, Sheila Allen, the director of the festival, came up to us and asked if anyone had approached us to help with the album and we laughed and said “no” and she said, “Well there is a man who would like to give you $5000 to help you out.” Well, talk about being floored!! I cried a little, so did Andrew, and Phil kept it together (mostly out of embarrassment over our reactions!) We talked to Sheila regarding the details. We didn't get to meet him because he didn't want to make a big deal out of it. We were in touch over email. Andrew got to meet him in Lunenburg this year and gave him a CD. Now I know that doesn't sound like much, but we asked him via email last year if we could pay him back and he said “NO! But if you find yourself in a good position financially, please pay it forward.” There are talks on what we will do when we are in a better position.
NLAC: How generous and wonderful! Can you imagine if that kind of support for the arts was more readily available in our society?
PC: If it came down to artists having the finances to go solely on their own, the reality is you wouldn't have a whole lot to listen to on your CD player at home or in your car. The fact is the artist you are listening to in your car in the drive-through at the Tim Horton's probably makes less than the person handing you your coffee. Speaking strictly in terms of studio albums, including the producer, sound engineer, equipment rentals and studio space, a conservative number is between $15,000 - $20,000 for an album to be made. This is assuming all your rentals are given at a deal, the engineer and producer are giving you a cut rate, and that one of them owns the studio AND of course the artists are not expected to get paid in this scenario. Generally the hope of the artist is that they MAY break even some day. The obvious response from a lot of people in the general public (including ourselves before we made this album) is “sure you are doing it for the love, not the money right?” Artists employ this cliché to each other as well only usually over a beer after looking at the grim reality of their finances. The amount of times that the generous actions of an Angel Investor, similar to the one that we had, tipped the balance for an artist from “I can't afford it” to “maybe I can” would shock most people. Odds are your favorite independent album would not have been made if it was not for a similar story like this. This is not lip service or exaggeration. This album would not exist if not for this monetary gift and the support of the NLAC and a couple other sources. If there is no funding for the arts in some way shape or form there is no Arts. It is pretty hard to work 40 hours per week at your day job, and 60 hours a week at your art, and give what is required to make something good, much less something great.
NLAC: Tell us about some of the projects you have coming up.
GH: On September 3rd, The Once will be opening for Amelia Curran at Holy Heart Theatre at 8 p.m. It is a huge honour for us to not only be opening for her, but also performing with her at her CD release concert for her new album "Hunter Hunter". We are massive fans of her music and musical generosity. “What Will You Be Building” - a song that appears on our debut album was given to us by Amelia Curran. From October 30-November 1, The Once will be performing on the CBC Vinyl Café tour with Stuart McLean at the Arts and Culture Centres across the province.
PC: Because Morley asked Dave what he was listening to and Dave said to Morley, “They're called The Once, they're a good a band, a Newfoundland band...a Canadian band, who bring to mind rugged coastlines and pumpkin seeds roasting in October.” We've started booking up next summer. We will be playing at the Writers at Woody Point Festival in Woody Point, and the Trails and Tales and Tunes festival in Norris Point. We are hoping to start touring this album outside of the province as soon as we can with the help of our brand new booking agent.
NLAC: Great! Is there anything you'd like to add?
GH: We would love to take this opportunity to thank the NLAC and our Angel Investors for all their kind support. We don't exaggerate when we say it would not have happened without that support.
PC: Although we are sold out of CDs, we do have more arriving on September 3rd.
GH: Thanks to all who got the first batch!!
PC: We really hope you enjoyed it.
c. 2008 Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council
All rights reserved.
