Coral Egan
Coral Egan is an artist reborn. Enjoying success early in her career - The Path Of Least Resistance (2002) and My Favourite Distraction (2004) winning a Juno nomination and Félix award between them - Egan might have been forgiven for hitting artistic cruise control. Instead, following the success of 2007's Magnify in her native Quebec, an album she co-produced, came three years of change: she had a child, then fell madly in love, kick-starting a bout of soul searching that became the catalyst for an artistic conversion.
In 2010, "taking inspiration from a new generation of independent musicians" and this time without a producer, Egan began writing again. Inspired by new life experiences, she collaborated with songwriter Albert Chambers to pen her most autobiographical material to date. Entering the studio in late 2011 with co producer/engineer Tim Gowdy, she began a series of collaborative sessions with a group of Montreal musicians that included drummer Robbie Kuster and bassist Mishka Stein of Patrick Watson's band, pianist Jon Day, beatboxer Jason Levine, as well as a guest appearance from guitarist Warren Spicer of Plants and Animals, and Coral's partner and inspiration, the 'he' from the title also had a hand in the development of the album. Drawing from a rich palate of influences, the group together arranged, produced and recorded a set of songs that evoke California soul, singer songwriter and indie-rock, while retaining Egan's distinctive jazz-inflected vocal style.
The resulting album, The Year He Drove Me Crazy, is centered thematically on relationships, specifically on the effects of romantic love and the complications of blended families. Artistically, it is a deeply personal ode to her passage from "lyrically detached and controlling artist" to a musician who has discovered the desire to share her highs and lows with her public and embrace a spirit of spontaneity and musical collaboration sure to win her a whole new set of fans.
In 2010, "taking inspiration from a new generation of independent musicians" and this time without a producer, Egan began writing again. Inspired by new life experiences, she collaborated with songwriter Albert Chambers to pen her most autobiographical material to date. Entering the studio in late 2011 with co producer/engineer Tim Gowdy, she began a series of collaborative sessions with a group of Montreal musicians that included drummer Robbie Kuster and bassist Mishka Stein of Patrick Watson's band, pianist Jon Day, beatboxer Jason Levine, as well as a guest appearance from guitarist Warren Spicer of Plants and Animals, and Coral's partner and inspiration, the 'he' from the title also had a hand in the development of the album. Drawing from a rich palate of influences, the group together arranged, produced and recorded a set of songs that evoke California soul, singer songwriter and indie-rock, while retaining Egan's distinctive jazz-inflected vocal style.
The resulting album, The Year He Drove Me Crazy, is centered thematically on relationships, specifically on the effects of romantic love and the complications of blended families. Artistically, it is a deeply personal ode to her passage from "lyrically detached and controlling artist" to a musician who has discovered the desire to share her highs and lows with her public and embrace a spirit of spontaneity and musical collaboration sure to win her a whole new set of fans.
