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news
Thanks to everyone who came out to Corey’s CD release
show, special thanks to Brett Caswell for opening and joining in on a few
songs. Videos from the show will be
available on YouTube, at guitarsonstage.
Corey new album ‘The New’ was released on September 27th
2011. ‘The New’ is available through iTunes and CD Baby as are Corey’s other albums. You can also pick up a CD at any of Corey’s
shows. Click on the YouTube link to hear the first single ‘Beautiful
Slide’. Visit Corey’s Facebook page to see new photos taken in California while
he was having the album artwork done. MySpace has two songs available to listen to from the
album. You can connect to these pages
with the icons above.
Corey will be playing at Monsoon’s in Barrie every
Thursday night at 8 p.m. Corey is also
playing Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. as well as weekend shows at Donaleigh’s Irish Pub in Barrie. Come out and hear some new live music.
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about
Corey Heuvel
Between spending time at a Buddhist monastery, recording an entire
album at his home studio, and journeying around southern California, Corey Heuvel is trying to find a way to let his personal search
shine through his music. From the bluesy, hard-driven electric guitar
showcase of his debut album In Balance, to the quiet finger picking poeticism
of his follow up EP Evers, it seems like predicting the next direction for Heuvel would be anybody's guess. The 21-year old Canadian
songwriter assures that his latest release -The New - drapes sonic
elements from both worlds around an unlikely spiritual theme.
Since the release of Evers in 2008, Corey Heuvel
has used much of his time contemplating where he wants to go both musically
and personally. For him it seems these two realities must intertwine
and weave through each other in order to create something truly inspiring.
Another goal for Heuvel was being able to
record his songs from home. In today's world, this is becoming more and
more the preferred way of making music; not to mention saving a few bucks
along the way.
"I guess after my first album, I just wanted to get away from the
edginess of rock music... the full band and guitar solos. And then I
feel like I figured myself out a little more with the acoustic EP which was
so crucial. So for the next record, there had to be a way to show both
sides in a fresh and interesting way. It really took me a while to
realize what that was. Even when I had some of the songs finished, I still
didn't know where I was coming from and what I was trying to say."
The next two years were spent teaching guitar, writing new material,
traveling and putting together the pieces for a home studio. Once the
studio was ready, work began on a second full length album. As the recording
process began, a change in lifestyle became part of the inspiration for the
songs and overall direction of the album. "I began to practice formal
meditation on a daily basis at the same time as I started recording the
album. I was inspired to try it after going to a few North Indian music
classes while I was in California earlier that year. They look at music in a
totally different way, a much more spiritual connection to art and life in
general. I ended up resonating more with the Buddhist approach to meditation
and realized how much of the music I wanted to write had in common with the
life of a Buddhist monk - rebirth, disillusionment, the forest, wisdom and
enlightenment. I spent a week at a Buddhist monastery and almost decided to
ordain as a monk! But I knew I had more work to do." The eight tracks on
The New sweep across some unusual but nonetheless interesting themes:
"Beautiful Slide" - a lament about approaching rebirth,
"Crimson Fools" - an outsider's look at the world and its inhabitants,
"Sage Trees" - a tale of escape and refuge in the forest, and the
epic final song "Jhana" which means
meditation in Pali, the ancient language used in
India during the time of the Buddha. Heuvel
asserts that the album isn't meant to promote Buddhism in any way, but only
to take the listener on a voyage. The music must always remain the number one
priority.
"The image of a monk, or spiritual seeker, or vagabond, or even a
troubadour always carries a certain mystique that resonates with people who feel
lost or find themselves looking for truth. It just worked as a catalyst
for this album and made it more meaningful to me. As difficult as it
was, recording the album at home gave me the freedom to take my time and
think about each sound, each instrument, each vocal take, until everything
was sitting just right. It allowed me to be patient. In the end,
I hope people can enjoy the sounds and colours they hear on this album more
than anything, and if they pull something deeper out of it then that’s great
too." The acoustic guitar remains in the forefront throughout this
album, but there are many new textures and a more elaborate production takes
it beyond the listener’s expectation. All instruments were performed by
Heuvel except for the cello heard on three tracks,
which is showcased by Alyssa Wright (who also performed on Evers) and drums
on the opening two tracks courtesy of Charlie Cooley. Another new
dimension is the addition of background vocals on nearly all of the songs.
Overall, the voice seems to be making up a bigger and bigger part of
Corey Heuvel's sound which is not a deterrent in
any way, just one of many examples which prove he is growing quickly as an
artist.
The New is available through Corey Heuvel's
website, iTunes, CD Baby (including most other
sources of digital purchase) and of course at his live performances.
Don't hesitate to follow this young artist on his incredible journey
and have a listen to what his world sounds like.
Updated
September 2011
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