Nostalgic echoes of Georgian Bay, Tom Thompson and Neil Young have inspired Elora-based singer-songwriter Lee Watson to return to his roots with a solo record under a brand new label.
“I just love the creative process when things come out of me that I didn’t expect out of nowhere,” said Watson. “I just kind of marvel at that.”
The self-titled album, set for official release May 19, is the first for the newly established Dead Radio, Love record label.
“The name of the label came from a local concert series started here by Spencer Shewen,” said Watson. “He is also part of Riverfest and ran the Fortnight Music Series out of Guelph.”
It was recorded at Noble Street Studios in Toronto and produced by Stew Crookes. The vinyl master was cut by legendary engineer Chris Bellman who has worked with artist ranging from Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye to The Who, Ringo Starr and Neil Young.
The carefully crafted tone is a musical departure for Watson who spent nearly 10 years with the Vancouver based, indie-folk-bluegrass band The Breakmen.
“We played a lot of bluegrass festivals and worked mostly with people in the bluegrass genre,” said Watson. “After a time it became a little bit limiting as far as developing my songwriting and musical style. I wanted to do something that wasn’t under that umbrella.”
The new sense of creative freedom allowed Watson to reflect on his experiences growing up and to celebrate the influence Ontario’s landscape has had on his personal and artistic development.
The first single Falling South draws inspiration from artist Tom Thompson whose iconic work remains, for many, the quintessential interpretation of Ontario’s natural beauty and identity.
“He spent all that time up in the Algonquin Park area doing his sketches and collecting ideas,” said Watson. “When the weather got bad he would come south to Toronto to his little studio and rework them into bigger pieces. I felt a connection to that idea of being out in the wilderness then coming home to work”
Watson was born in Owen Sound in 1978 where he lived until his early 20s.
“Georgian Bay was right there and we were exposed to all kinds of stuff to do up in the Bruce Peninsula,” he said. “We spent our summers near Honey Harbour on Beausoleil Island.”
The soundtrack from those formative years flowed from his father’s turntable where Watson was first introduced to the music of Neil Young.
“I wouldn’t deny that he’s had a major influence on the album,” he said. “I still have the actual copy of Harvest that I listened too since I was born.”
In 2014 Watson, his wife Micaela and daughter Hilah moved to Indonesia where Micaela was studying indigenous culture for her master’s dissertation. Watson had already begun formulating ideas for a solo record and the feelings of cultural and geographical alienation he developed while living in Indonesia renewed his appreciation for home.
“I guess through missing Canada and the geography here and what I feel is my natural surrounding the whole concept of the album came together,” he said.
The family moved to Elora in 2015 where Watson got a job with the Elora Brewing Company and in his spare time recorded the album.
When he isn’t making music he loves working with wood – another thing he has in common with Tom Thompson.
“I’ve worked as a carpenter and a guitar maker,” he said. “When you look at Thompson’s sketch boards you see all the beautiful scenery in the texture of his paint but if you look through that you can see the wood that he painted on. That is kind of how I see my music and what I am doing.”
