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    drama queen martyr with Olivia Borkosky @Silence

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    July 16, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

    drama queen martyr with Olivia Borkosky @Silence

     

    drama queen martyr with Olivia Borkosky
    8:00 pm

    Doors at 7:30 PM
    Show at 8:00 PM

    $10 at the door

    drama queen martyr BIO

    new album—leave the bikini atoll nightlight plugged in—June, 2018

    drama queen martyr (aka Shawn Mackenzie) is an acoustic artist from Saskatoon, SK. God snapped his fingers 13.8 billion years ago, ushering the chemistry of life into existence, and now we’re surrounded by the echo of a teething universe: atomic nuclei sallying forth from the void, gravity establishing its ramparts, galaxies taking their first steps. We’re all bit players scampering around onstage as this cosmic scaffolding proliferates towards oblivion, but don’t worry, cause drama queen martyr has picked up his trusty guitar and he’s pretty close to figuring out the meaning of life with the tunes he’s been writing.

    His new album, leave the bikini atoll nightlight plugged in, is a collection of 19 songs exploring all the gushy feelings that explode inside the human heart when two people share a coupe de foudre experience. The universe may have a soup to nuts expiration date, but that sensation in your soul as you hold hands with your favourite person in the world — that lasts forever.

    Since 2010, Drama Queen Martyr (aka Shawn Mackenzie) has been brandishing his heart with poetic and fragile songs that transcend the common definitions of confessional songwriting. The Saskatoon-based artist has recorded a 19-song collection entitled Leave The Bikini Atoll Nightlight Plugged In— a lyrical exploration of the emotional lightning storm we all have crackling in our soul. Its most powerful feature is indeed Mackenzie’s evocative use of language; the listening experience is much like stepping into his shoes and seeing the world through his eyes. Expanding on that metaphor, Mackenzie says, “We all have those situations in life where Zeus shatters our insides with a lightning bolt. The creation of art is the human race collectively rubbing our socks against the carpet, holding our index fingers out and sharing that jolt of energy we carry around in our hearts. This is the spark that cajoles your soul towards catharsis, reminding us that we’re not alone as we experience the emotional narrative rattling around inside another human being.”

    The first phase of the album was laid down in Kingston, Ontario in collaboration with local artist Nadia Pacey (aka Konig), whom Mackenzie befriended during a previous tour. Pacey’s contributions of backing vocals and ukulele became crucial to the album’s overall feel, and their interactions led to some of the songs being recorded within hours of their inception. One in particular, “Gibberish,” was written the night of The Tragically Hip’s final concert in Kingston. Mackenzie explains, “That was recorded in Nadia’s living room as her roommate was throwing a get-together with his friends. So the random background noises on the recording—people dishing up hamburgers in the adjacent kitchen, inaudible conversations, a television blaring the Hip’s performance from the basement— are huddled around the microphone with me and Nadia, garnishing the performance with atmospheric clutter. Imagine In My Room reorganized to feature Brian and Dennis singing their parts while substituting the rest of the Beach Boys’ ethereal harmonies with the sound of dudes eating hamburgers and you’ll begin to appreciate the vibe of Gibberish.”

    Upon returning to Saskatoon, Mackenzie wrote string arrangements for nine additional songs then hired viola player James Legge and cellist Scott McKnight from the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. These tracks were recorded by longtime Saskatoon musician and engineer Duncan Picard at Workhorse Recording Company, a cozy studio tucked away in the Saskatoon farmers’ market. “With previous albums, I just recorded guitar and piano parts along with vocals, and hearing those older tunes now, they feel like untied shoelaces tucked into a loose fitting sneaker. With this record I took my time conjuring up string quartet arrangements in my room as if I were Mr. Rogers, diligently tying my laces. A lot of care went into finding the perfect notes for the cellos and violas to play.”

    It is precisely that eloquent self-awareness that makes drama queen martyr one of the most distinctive voices on the Canadian indie music scene right now, and poised for discovery. Leave The Bikini Atoll Nightlight Plugged In is a major creative step forward for Shawn Mackenzie, but more importantly it is an album one cannot help forming a personal connection with. As he says, music may be a salient path toward that goal.

    “There’s another song on the album called ‘Meep, Meep’ which I wrote while preparing tunes to record with Nadia in Kingston. It’s about her and all the other friends I made while touring Canada. It’s my ‘What’s it all mean?’ anthem. While we’re here it’s the people who become a part of our lives that offer us hope and purpose. I want to believe that after I die, the warm river that trickles through your heart as you spend time with the people you care about will continue to flow in the afterlife.”

    BIO – Olivia Borkosky

    Whimsical, soulful and sweet are just a few of the words that can be used to describe singer-songwriter Olivia Borkosky. She hails from the artistic hub of Guelph, Ontario, and performs everything from 50′s and 60′s classics, to current folk gems, to her own original material. Olivia’s soaring vocal melodies, twinkling ukulele and introspective lyrics leave even the most discerning listener captivated. She can also be seen fronting her up-and-coming indie/folk band, Olivia and the Creepy Crawlies.

    [46 essex]

    Details

    Date:
    July 16, 2018
    Time:
    7:30 pm
    Website:
    http://www.silencesounds.ca/events/

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