The duo known as Madison Violet has beaten a path throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. Making music together for the past 14 years, Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac have worked hard, and consistently, in honing their craft and getting their sound just right.
That diligence has earned them a Juno nomination, the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (for their track The Ransom) and the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year.
“It’s been a little bit of luck, a little bit of diligence,” said MacIsaac. “We both really enjoy the road and you have to enjoy what you’re doing or it becomes very tiresome, very weary.”
And while some musicians travel the world and come back again with a new “world” sound, with different instruments and influences, MacIsaac said they tend to stay the course.
“I think we’re influence by the people we meet,” she said, but not so much that they alter their style. “I think if our music changed with every tour, nothing would be cohesive.”
Instead, they have always buckled down and improved on what they do.
Their most recent album, The Good In Goodbye, is like an “open diary” of their personal and professional experiences together as friends and musicians. They’ll be performing music from that album and their previous works when they come to Harrison Memorial Hall on Saturday, Nov. 17.
While The Observer caught up the musicians via an international phone call between gigs in Germany, they’ll be back in Canada soon. And when they come back and finish touring, they’ll be back in the studio creating even more songs.
“We’ve been touring a lot this year,” said MacEachern. “We took a few weeks off this summer, but it’s really the same old thing we’ve been doing for 14 years. When we get back we may do some more collaborative efforts with other artists.”
As a follow-up to their breakthrough successes in 2010, The Good in Goodbye captures the duo’s growth and musical maturity. Their distinct take on iconic Americana-inspired up-tempo melodies beautifully contrasts with their breathtakingly sweeping and personal lyrics, creating songs that blend nods to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch with radio-friendly flecks of The Court-Yard Hounds.
To capture the intimacy of The Good in Goodbye, Madison Violet returned to the studio with trusted friend and producer Les Cooper (Jill Barber) while bringing a collective of remarkable musicians into the fold, including Joel Stouffer (Dragonette) on drums, Adrian Lawryshyn (Andy Stochansky) on bass, and vocals from Ruth Moody (The Wailin’ Jennys) and singer/songwriter Blair Packham.
The duo has sold-out venues across North America and Europe, had the prestigious distinction of touring with Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe, and has shared stages with contemporaries such as Chantal Kreviazuk, Ron Sexsmith and The Indigo Girls. With their newest effort, Madison Violet prove they are among Canada’s brightest singer/songwriters.
Tickets are $22 and can be purchased by phone at 604-796-3664, online at www.harrisonfestival.com or in person at the Ranger Station Art Gallery in Harrison, or Agassiz Shoppers Drug Mart.
