It happens so frequently now that it doesn't even phase us anymore. The heart and soul of what we think of as "American" music turning up in the most unlikely places, beyond our borders. The latest is the exceedingly wonderful Ladies of the Canyon, a quartet of talented young women from Montreal who, as their name implies, dig deep into the rich trove of 70's-styled countrified folk/pop and the traditions of fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell and her So-Cal Laurel Canyon cohorts: Gram Parson, early Eagles, CSN+Y, Stone Poneys. Like their influences, these Ladies take acoustic, rural-tinged music into new directions, lovingly crafting songs of exquisite four-part harmonies and melodies that seem mined from the deepest regions of classic Americana.

Signed to Warner Brothers (we're assuming for the U.S. as well as Canada), Ladies of the Canyon have just completed their as-yet-untitled debut album with producer Colin Cripps (Kathleen Edwards, Sarah McLachlan), a record they say "totally exceeds our expectations." And after indulging in the band's just-released self-titled four-track digital EP our expectations are pretty damn high. Songs such as the slow and sweet "Haunted Woman" and "Every Minute" bring together, as Pop Montreal describes, "beautiful harmonies, devilish beats and ivories, and a cold set of steel strings to strangle your misfortunes with." Highly recommended...and more details to come on a U.S. full-length release. Thanks for the tip on the Ladies from Alex Wilhelm at crazedhits.com.

Myspace 

Ladies of the Canyon - "Haunted Woman" (from their self-titled EP)

Ladies of the Canyon - "Every Minute" (from their self-titled EP)

Photos: Tristan Brand

Band Members:
 
Senja Sargeant- vocals, guitar, mandolin
Maia Davies- vocals, keys, guitar
Jasmine Bleile-vocals, guitar
Ana Ruddick- bass, vocals

From their official bio:

The all-female quartet consisting of Senja Sargeant, Maïa Davies, Jasmine Bleile and Anna Ruddick met while gigging as members of other bands on their local bar circuit. The eccentric new friends soon got together each week to sip wine and make music. These deliriously fun "meetings" soon became songwriting sessions and resulted in the formation of what is now Ladies of the Canyon, the sexy breeders of a timeless, roots-influenced sound that is addictive and moving.

Since transforming their "girls night out" into a full-force musical project, Ladies of the Canyon have been playing their hearts out, from showcasing this year at Canadian Music Week (as a part of renowned entertainment lawyer Chris Taylor's showcase of artists to watch)to joining the stage with artists like Patrick Watson, Danny Michel,Plants and Animals and Black Diamond Bay promoting their debut EP. With an early on recording experience working with industry legend George Massenburg (whose credits run from Lyle Lovett to The Dixie Chicks), and a BRAVOFACT video under their belts, LOTC have been the Canadian darlings of the record company A&R reps and execs, and are currently in talks for the forthcoming release of what will be their first full length release.

And all the while, their live presence has already attracted attention both from the media and from their growing audience; since signing with the  PAQUIN ENTERTAINMENT booking agency, they have played over a 100 shows, traveling and garnering fans in canada, with visits to California and Nashville as well. After their recent successful cross-canada tour which included stops CMW and JunoFest this spring, the Ladies will be busy this summer touring major canadian festivals, including Hillside and Stan Rogers Festival. Things are going well for this hard working outfit, both audience and media response has been strong, from being profiled by their hometown press as "Noisemakers 2008" (Montreal Mirror), to being featured in American Industry magazine "HITS" as rising stars and on the cover of local papers in every town they tour in. LOTC was also the focus of a CBC Radio 2 national broadcast of a special live performance, hailed as "one of the best bands to play [their]concert series".

They are building a fan base on the tried and true principles: write meaningful songs with hooks, play honestly, and don’t be afraid to be your outrageous selves. People are responding, and everyone seems to agree: this serendipitous collaboration is here to flourish. With the unexpected combination of their distinct, beautiful voices, their dedication to honest songwriting and their knockout presence, these girls will break your heart, make you smile, cry, dream and dance. Enjoy.