40.
It’s a number that, when connected with a person’s time spent on this earth, often brings to the fore deep existential questions, times of reflection, regrets, nostalgia and often a refocussing of one’s hopes, dreams and priorities.
When you are as deeply thoughtful and mesmerizingly talented with ideas, words and the crafting of esoteric, powerfully provocative, sophisticated musical concoctions as Kingston resident Megan Hamilton, hitting the ‘big four oh’ is all of these things and more. It’s a chance for her to share these introspections and explorations with her appreciative, and growing, legion of artistic admirers.
The result of her melodic and lyrical labours is the album Forty Warm Streams To Lead Your Wings, set to be released on Sept. 25. It marks her second collaboration with noted producer Jim Bryson (Oh Susanna, Skydiggers) – the first being the three-song EP Snow Moon, released in 2013.
“The whole idea of the record was to sort of commemorate the fact that, holy shit, I am 40! It was mostly written and recorded when I was anticipating turning 40 and how, when I slowed down to think about it, how much of a surprise some of the things in my life are right now. I am married and have a child and I didn’t really know that was ever going to happen. And I am a musician and I put out records – I sure didn’t see that coming when I was 26, not at all,” Hamilton said, late one evening after putting daughter Audrey to bed.
“And the ‘Warm Streams’ is something I got from researching birds. I went to this little bookstore in [the nearby town of] Gananoque and one of the first things I saw was an Audubon Society bird book from the 1960s. I just loved it and bought it, and then sat down in a little café down the street and started looking through it. That was the beginning of this whole fascination with birds. And then I got really interested in Japanese poetry and Japanese poets and just found myself researching a bunch of seemingly random things that were interesting to me.
“I found it inspiring to learn about whatever crossed my path and seeing how I could put it into the context of what I was doing creatively. And then one day I realized birds were in everything I was looking at. So I got to thinking of birds and how often they just soar on the warm streams of air, the updrafts, without flapping their wings, and I fell in love with that image and that idea. I like to have long, convoluted titles and this one related to that thematic material of the birds and the warm streams and how we sometimes need to just stay afloat and make in through.”
As with all her music the songs on Forty Warm Streams To Lead Your Wings are explorations of where she as it – in her mind, soul and heart – at the time. It’s a snapshot of her observations, desires, questions, meditations and feelings at a point in time.
“I always have this idea that I want to be as a hopeful as possible when I put out a record. For me, it’s really about the journey from the start to the finish; it’s not just about one song. I always say, ‘you know what; I am just going to place this out there. This is where I am at right now; these are songs that represent where I am at.’ There is hopefulness in my life and I hope that overall message comes through,” she said.
“I am certainly expressing my feelings and where I am at and how I think about the world and some of the experiences I have gone through more darkly than I have before. I have allowed myself to do that this time. The Violin is a song that talks a lot about disenfranchisement – when you have an idea of what you think is going to be and then what actually is and how do you make sense of that and continue. But I also have songs that are more uplifting, including a couple written for [husband] Ben {McLean a local radio DJ and columnist].
“One is called You Are – that’s the opening track and the closing song is Soft Cheek, Violent Rain and it’s sort of about being in love and even when things are crappy having that love can get you through. It’s about looking forward knowing what challenges are coming ahead and knowing that having that special love can provide hope and allows for somebody else to share in the good and bad.”
With an extensive background in theatre, including many years as a producer, Hamilton has developed an ability to adapt and to make the most of the resources available to here. And it’s a skill that she has transferred to her musical outpourings, allowing herself to be flexible without compromising her essential creativity and the sound and message she wants to impart in her music.
“It’s the theory of available light. It’s a theatrical term and it basically means we need to do the best we can with what we have. So back in the day when there might have only been a couple of lights on the stage and you wanted to be lit in a certain area you would have to walk to the light and use that light – use what was available. You built your piece around what was available and that’s sort of how I have always approached my music,” she said.
“Some people aren’t into that methodology. They say they need to find a way to get the money to get certain things and do it the way they want. I think for this album I certainly raised money to be able to work with Jim Bryson again, but we still did it with only what we had available to us. And, frankly, I am much more comfortable operating that way. I just find it’s a more creative way to work. Instead of getting stuck because you don’t have a part, just use what part you have – what instrument you have. You find a way to make it work and realize that the song is going to change a little bit and accept that.
“I feel this is the most representational piece that I maybe have ever made and it’s a combination of everything leading up to now. And I wanted it to be a very joyful and creative process and I am very pleased to report that it was. I wasn’t thinking about ‘is the CBC going to like this song.’ I just wanted to make a record that was the best record I could make and not worry about any of that other stuff. And I feel we did that concept justice.”
She said working with Bryson for the second time was a treat and that he brought out the best in her as a musician, songwriter and vocalist.
“Jim made me work hard. Vocally I worked really hard and I practiced and learned new vocalizing techniques so that I could be more emotionally present. Instead of going with the sort of usual vocal technique that I do I was able to play with my voice more, so that I could give the songs a little more of a visceral experience than I ever have been able to do before. There’s a strength that I sort of found and he helped me and pushed me harder to do a better job,” Hamilton explained.
Some of the new songs will be introduced to audiences during Hamilton’s set at the popular Wolfe Island Music Festival, which runs Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8 on Wolfe Island, just a short ferry ride from downtown Kingston. Also on the bill are Elliott Brood, a reunited Limblifter, Hayden and Constantines. Hamilton plays on Friday at 10 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Hall, as part of the KPP showcase.
“Ideally, I want to do a series of release shows in Ontario and Quebec following the September album release. I am hoping to do more matinee shows so I can bring Audrey with me. It’s one of the challenges of two working parents, but I also think it would be great for other parents to be able to come out and bring their kids too,” she said.
For more information on Hamilton and the new album, visit https://meganhamiltonmusic.wordpress.com/.
For more information on the Wolfe Island Music festival, visit www.wolfeislandmusicfestival.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and author based in Napanee, ON, who has been writing about music and musicians for a quarter of a century. Besides his journalistic endeavours, he now works as a communications and marketing specialist. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
