Crissi Cochrane. A hidden gem in the Canadian music industry.
Tell us fella Canuck where were you born?
I was born about an hour outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia in a gorgeous little region known as the Annapolis Valley.
I grew up on Maple Drive in the village of New Minas and was a student at Horton High School when I first started making music. I later moved to Halifax and studied Music Business at the Nova Scotia Community College in Dartmouth.
Who are some of the famous artists that came out of your city?
Nobody’s come out of New Minas that I can think of, it only has a population of about 1000 people, but I definitely want to help put it on the map! I got better known when I was living and playing in Halifax, which is home to many great musicians – some of my favourites there are Rose Cousins, Rich Aucoin, Joel Plaskett and Jenn Grant.
http://www.twitter.com/crissicochrane.
What would you consider your genre of music Crissi?
Pop jazz/soul. I used to play folk music though, so a good chunk of my older repertoire doesn’t fit that category, but everything going forward is absolutely that.
What drew you in to the southern most part of Ontario, Windsor?
I visited in early 2010 to play some shows and do some co-writing with Michael Paul, who is now my husband. He had a band and I’d been sharing stages with them in Halifax for years before that. I remember being totally floored by the beauty of the Detroit skyline, having had no idea that Windsor was on the US border at all. I moved there later that same year.
Who was your favourite artist growing up that inspired you the most?
Growing up in such a small town, and mostly growing up without the internet, I really didn’t get to hear my favourite music until later in my life. I outgrew a lot of what I listened to as a young person, but I still listen to and love Elliott Smith. My all-time favourite artist, however, is Billie Holiday.
What do you do when you want to get away from the world and just have Crissi time? Is there a favourite spot you go to or a routine you have!!
I have a family cottage in Nova Scotia that is heaven to me. My grandfather built it by a small lake and I got married there. I don’t get out East much though, so when I do have downtime, I usually bury my nose in a good book or watch my all-time favourite TV show, Mad Men, over and over (I’m currently re-watching all seven seasons for the fourth time).
What has been the funniest moment you can remember at a show that will always be in your head?
At the Shores of Erie International Wine Fest in 2014. http://www.soewinefestival.com/the-wines/wineries/
It was a very hot summer day, and there were two gigantic fuzzy bumblebees mating on my set list, right at my feet the whole time I played. Another time, back in Halifax, when I was in a band called Gamma Gamma Rays, we had a song where I had to hit the Vibroslap, a very unusual percussion instrument, at a very specific time. I messed it up and everybody called it my “VibroSLIP”.
Lol the above pic was her set where the Bees were showing their love for music on her set list.
If you had a choice to do a collaboration….who would you love to do one with?
There are plenty of artists I’d love to collaborate with, but I feel like in reality I would be so nervous to do the gig, I’d probably faint. I think the dreamiest collaboration for me would be having someone well-known record one of my songs, like Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae, or Ledisi.
What would you like to change in Canada as far as artists getting more exposure?
With the internet, I feel like it’s actually a pretty level playing field right now. If you’re tenacious and you’re making good music, exposure comes. But I would like to see a stronger middle class in Canada, I think that would help a lot of musicians keep going. The fact that most people actually can’t afford (or don’t think it’s worth it to pay) for a concert or a CD is what makes it really hard to be a musician here. Exposure is easier to get, but finding a way to turn it into a living is the hard part for artists in Canada.
What has been the hardest hurdle in your life you have had to overcome to get to the point you’re at?
Like most entrepreneurs, I deal with bouts of self-doubt and anxiety. The music I’m making today is a lot more challenging than what I started out doing, and sometimes I just get overwhelmed with the complexity of performing live, and the pressure of being the most perfect version of myself every time I’m out in public. But the more I work at my music, the better I feel about everything. It’s still a battle for me, but I know I’m not alone. And everything I learn about how to cope, I write about in my songs, so I can help other people deal with it too.
Do you have a favourite Canadian brand of clothing or accessories that you love to support?
Can’t really think of any! I mostly shop at the mall (though it makes me feel guilty because everything comes from sweat shops these days) or second hand stores. I would love to find a Canadian clothing sponsor one day.
Who has been your biggest support within your musical career?
My husband Michael Paul, no question. He’s also an accomplished musician and songwriter, so we understand each other well, celebrating the highs and staying strong through the lows. We’re constantly sharing new music that we discover or create, and I think our songs form a very special dialogue, two halves of the same story.
http://www.facebook.com/crissicochranemusic.
Was there a moment when a fan touched your heart in a big way?
Anytime someone reaches out to me to tell me that they’ve enjoyed my music, it brightens my day. Hearing that it gets them through a hard time, or makes them feel better, that’s the exact reason why I make music. Recently, I made friends with some fans in South Korea, and one of them suffered the sudden loss of her beloved sister. She sang one of my songs at the funeral, a slowed down version of the first half of “A Damn Shame”. I would have never imagined that song in that context, but it is surprisingly appropriate. I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about that.
What was the first instrument you picked up and how old were you when you started messing around with it?
There was a very old acoustic guitar at my family cottage, and I picked that up when I was about 9 years old. It was so old, it didn’t have a brand name. I still have it, but it hasn’t aged well, so it’s mostly just for decoration.
Any shoutouts you want to give?
I want to thank the CBC for always supporting Canadian musicians and helping us get our careers off the ground. And I want to thank Waye Mason and all the teachers of the Nova Scotia Community College’s Music Business program for teaching me how to stay afloat.
What’s your favourite restaurant in Windsor to go to?
One of the greatest things about Windsor is the food – it’s a very multicultural city so we have some of the best food from around the world. It’s impossible to pick just one favourite. I love Mimi Gardens, Pho Xic Lo, Eddy’s Mediterranean Bistro, and Antonino’s Pizza.
Http://www.soundcloud.com/crissicochrane
What’s your favourite place that you always have to visit when you’re back in Nova Scotia?
Anywhere in the Annapolis Valley, especially along the Cornwallis River, watching the world’s highest tide go in and out. The valley is full of beautiful farms and wineries, and the views from the mountains are incredible. My favourite place there is Grand Pre. My heritage is Acadian, and Grand Pre was an Acadian settlement, established when the French came to Nova Scotia in the 1600s. The land itself was reclaimed from the Bay of Fundy with a system of dykes and sluices to stop the tide from flooding in. I love that the French didn’t take the land from the natives, they made their own instead.
http://www.instagram.com/crissicochrane.
Can you tell us of any upcoming shows and events that we will hopefully see you at? If there is any events you want to get into, let’s name them and tag them in the article if you want!!
I’ll be busy working on my new album this year so I’m not gigging much, but I think I’ll put in an application for the Detroit Jazz Festival. They probably won’t take me, but I’ll be there anyway, listening!
What would you say to an aspiring young artist who is just beginning their journey?
All you have to do is not give up. Of course there’s a lot else to it – you’ve got to be resourceful, hard-working, and kind, and you’ve got to love what you do. But ultimately, it just comes down to staying in the game. I’m always glad to give advice if anyone wants to ask me anything in particular, just visit…. http://www.crissicochrane.com/ and click on contact.
We have a common friend in the industry. Can you tell me a little bit of how you Came to know Woody?
I met Woody last week at a show in Windsor, but he seems like a very kind guy, and really passionate about helping musicians succeed.
It is my greatest honor to be able to do these interviews with my Canadian brothers and sisters. It’s a great thing to get feedback about what’s happening in Canada. And to listen to the changes that need to happen. Thanx for this interview Crissi Cochrane
