INTERVIEW: Emilie Mover — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Emilie Mover

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IT has been a little while since I last talked…

to an artist from Canada, so it is just as well Emilie Mover has come along! I speak to her about the new cut, Walkin' Through, and whether the track has personal relevance – she talks to me about her past and musical inspiration (revealing how her dad's musical knowledge and background has helped shape her).

Mover tells me whether there are any gigs coming up and, whether, the U.K. is part of the agenda; how she spends her time away from music; which three albums mean the most to her; the new musicians we need to support – Mover ends the interview with a rather nice song selection!

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Hi, Emilie. How are you? How has your week been?

I’m great, thanks! It’s Monday, but so far so good. Just took my puppy to the vet for vaccinations so he’s a bit mad at me…but a good week so far on the whole! Haha.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

My name is Emilie Mover.

Walkin' Through, your new single, was written in three different apartments. What was the reason behind this?

Well. I’m not sure if it’s a subconscious namesake thing or what, but I have literally MOVED quite a bit in my life. I think I’ve lived in almost thirty apartments over the years (counting family homes). Also, my dad and sisters are in N.Y.C. and I’ve been moving back and forth between Toronto and New York City since I was a pre-teen; so, a lot of it has to do with going back and forth.

Walkin' Through came together quite slowly and tediously: a verse here, a verse there; so, naturally, it just ended up that it’s got a little bit of multiple apartments in it.

What, would you say, is the song about? How did it come to mind?

Like I said; it was written over the course of a few years.

I didn’t want to rush it because it’s about something that is maybe THE most important thing to me, which is my relationship with the unseen, faith, etc. It came to mind, initially, when I was travelling across Canada on the train. Maybe I got to thinking about the big picture because watching the scenery passing through the country was just so overwhelmingly beautiful.

Was it cool recording it at The Bathouse in Kingston?

Oh boy; was it ever! That place just has excellent, excellent vibes. I know a lot of really great recording gets done there. Also, the other musicians on the album are all actually (just) my oldest and greatest friends, so it was pretty wonderful to have the opportunity to go to the country and play music for a week in this gorgeous house. ALSO, the engineer at the Bathouse, Nyles, is a great guy and terribly talented.

Are you looking ahead at more material? Might we see an E.P. later in the year?

I’m working on putting together a little home studio right now. I would like to start releasing material more on the fly, sharing it spontaneously for a while. I’ve made a lot of albums but things have shifted so much: I wouldn’t mind seeing what happened to the songs and my writing process; if I just bring them into the world and then let them out as they come, as opposed to waiting for a year or two to release another cohesive album.

But, who knows…I might change my mind.

Which musicians did you grow up around? Who do you count as idols?

My favourite question! My first and foremost musical role model is and always will be my father, Bob Mover (www.bobmover.com). He is another level of a musician that they just don’t make anymore and he taught me things about listening to and understanding music that they can’t teach in school.

He has an encyclopaedic understanding of Jazz and he got me into all of the great songwriters of the twentieth-century (Cole Porter and stuff, obviously, but also people like Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn and Sammy Fain. Guys like that). He knows all of the lyrics to the songs he plays - which is a rarity among non-singers these days – but, to him, is essential.

When I took to singing, he ‘hipped’ me (to use his phrase) to all the great Jazz singers (Billie, Ella; Sarah, Peggy; Dinah, Blossom). But, I’m also big into sax players and piano players: Charlie Parker, Lester Young; Cannonball Adderley, Coleman Hawkins; Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson; Thelonious Monk, Earl Hines; Hampton Hawes; that kind of thing.

In my early-twenties, I got really into Soul music. I love that stuff. New Orleans, Memphis kind of stuff: Donny Hathaway, Brenton Wood; Irma Thomas, Percy Mayfield; Lee Dorsey, The Meters. Oh man, the list goes ON AND ON…

Also; can’t forget the great Stevie Wonder. He’s my main man.

Do you have any gigs lined up? Where are you heading?

Going to have a little tour in Canada and, maybe, the New York area a couple of months after the album comes out on June 5th. Right now, I’m getting ready to play Major/Minor festival at the Burdock on May 13, and for my mini-album release at the Tranzac on June 6th.

Will we see you come over to the U.K.?

No plans as of yet, but would love that.

What do you hope to achieve in 2018?

A new sound - but in the same spirit of timelessness, humility and love of music.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in the mind?

So many, really. I would, again, say that being at Bathouse while recording this album was one of the most fun times of my life. But, I generally love being in the studio. Every time I’m in the studio I have that ‘this is where I’m meant to be’ feeling and, lately, I’ve been loving being on stage too. I’ve been playing solo and I love it. It’s like the silence is my rhythm section.

It’s pretty nice being able to communicate and talk real sh*t like an arrow to a target with a whole room full of people. It makes me feel very happy and safe.

If you could select the three albums that mean the most to you; which would they be and why?

Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale

I just feel like Stevie innately has this grasp on love as a concept that most of us have to work our whole lives to get to. He is my main man. I chose this album because it has a lot of good songs but, really, any album has at least one song that will blow the mind in its ability to communicate love through melody and harmony. I mean, I named my dog after Stevie Wonder. Haha.

Paul Simon - Paul Simon

Everything Put Together Falls Apart and Run That Body Down are both on this album. If I could choose to have written any song in the world, it would probably be Everything Put Together Falls Apart. Also; fantastic album cover.

Luiz Bonfa – Solo in Rio 1959

This is an instrumental Bossa Nova album by the guy who is best known for writing the music for Black Orpheus. My first big love, let’s call him ‘M’, introduced it to me. He worked in record stores and a guy came in and asked if they had any good solo Brazilian guitar. M said “No, sorry”, but, then, when the guy left, he pointed to this record on the counter and said: “This is the best Brazilian guitar record”. Haha. Record stores. Either way, it really is. It has been with me ever since.I listen to it at least once a week.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

I don’t think they need my advice. Maybe, don’t resist change because it’s pointless. I guess I would just say stay humble and try not to get bitter. It’s so easy to get bitter. I’ve seen it happen to a lot of guys in my dad’s generation. It doesn’t help you create.

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Have you heard of Stevie Wonder? Just kidding…

Well. He’s not a new artist, but I always tell people to check out Percy Mayfield because hardly anyone knows about him and he’s really great. He wrote Hit the Road Jack and Please Send Me Someone to Love. He was being primed to be a STAR but then he hit some hard times and it never happened. He wrote for Ray Charles a fair bit, I believe. In any case, he’s lovely.

In my city at this moment, I can’t forget to mention Jennifer Castle. She is my friend, but I listen to her records on the regular. Big fan.