Allison Crowe, photo: Adrian du
Plessis
Amid raging debates over downloading music,
releasing albums directly onto the internet and
record companies' financial losses, one Canadian
singer-songwriter has found a way to circumvent
these problems and most importantly keep her
musical integrity intact. The 26-year-old
Allison Crowe, inspired by other independent
artists, refuses to sign to any record label other
than her own. She will be performing in
Paris (May 9th) at the Archipel to promote
‘Little Light' her fourth full-length album,
which she wrote, recorded and produced in its
entirety.
Crowe created Rubenesque Records in 2002 as a
way to record and distribute her own work.
However, from its inception she has been able to
promote both her own albums as well as those of
other up-and-coming artists. Having her own
label has allowed Crowe to become fully immersed
in every step of the record-making process.
When it comes to her own music she says this
experience has given her the tools and the
language to express exactly what she wants.
In the downloading controversy, Crowe is firmly on
the pro side. "I think that downloading
has actually helped me sell records," she
explains. "People download a few songs
and then want to buy the whole album." Recent
success stories of bands based on internet
networking, most notably the Arctic Monkeys, shows
just how important and effective online
"word-of-mouth" can be. Crowe
appreciates how supportive the virtual community
has been of her music and sees this tool as a
means of meeting and connecting with people the
world over.
Crowe's music can be purchased directly from her
website http://www.allisoncrowe.com
and is available from Amazon and iTunes.
So while the internet is at the heart of the
conflict, it has also provided the means for
artists like Crowe and others to sustain
themselves without having to turn to big record
companies. With the internet and online
purchasing becoming easier, Crowe points out,
"Everyone is everywhere ."
‘Little Light' her newest album "is a
collection of both old and new songs," says
Crowe. "They have been recorded over a
number of years, but fit remarkably well together
capturing a wide spectrum of emotion."
And expressing emotion is where Allison Crowe
excels. Whether covering other artists such
as Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" or Cyndi
Lauper's "Time After Time" or performing
her own songs like "Crayon and Ink",
each track becomes alive and palpable.
Crowe's organic and passionate piano-based sound
infuses rock, jazz and classical elements often
employing the ivories as a percussive instrument.
Her lyrics range from playful to raw, while
remaining strikingly candid. Hearing Crowe
sing Joni Mitchell's "River" captures
the intensity of love's regrets in a way that only
few musicians could.
So, is she out to change the face of independent
contemporary music, infusing it with new meaning
as she does with her cover songs? "I
never really thought where I fit in," says
Crowe. For her it's all about creating her
own brand of music and being able to do it her
way. Four little words at the top of her
homepage best sum it up... "Why music? Why
breathing?
Allison Crowe performs at the Archipel May 9,
8:30pm, 17 Blvd Strasbourg, 75010, Paris
Listen to Allison Crowe singing
"River" by Joni Mitchell
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