Just Us Folk

Nova-Scotia singer-songwriter Charlie A’Court was at a bit of a crossroads in his career.

For so many years, his music was blues-based.

But since around 2012, he had been moving away from the blues and more towards the roots/Americana music he’d grown up with.

Up until then in his songwriting, Charlie never wanted to get “too too raw” or “too too personal.”

In working with other songwriters for what would become his latest album, San Palarino, he gave himself permission to get out of his own way.

“I’ve witnessed their capacity to face their own vulnerability as writers,” he explained at last year’s Folk Music Ontario conference.

“In my opinion, they sit down and face themselves in a very real way that I was reluctant to do.”

What came out of the collaborations was a new way forward as a writer and performer.

The title song, co-written with Matt Andersen, was the beginning of the process that’s lead him to the new album. Between then and now though, Charlie released the live album, When Country Gets the Blues, and a blues album with Suzie Vinnick and Lloyd Spiegel.

“But then it was time to come back to the centre of making a Charlie A’Court album,” he said.

Many of the new songs deal with how so many people, including Charlie, had a difficult time with their mental health during the pandemic and how they got through to the other side.

“I try to be kind of a happy-go-lucky fella, and I think a lot of folks see me as that,” he said.

“But I certainly have my dark moments like anyone else. So, I wanted to give that a bit of space on this record and get down to the roots of that.”

Charlie knows he’s fortunate to have the support and understanding of his wife and son to be there for him, and to give him his space when he needed it.

“I sing on this album about ‘How do I fit in this world?’ and ‘How do I reconcile a desire to want to still be in it?’” he said.

Working with the other songwriters helped him to put into perspective what he’d been feeling.

“We had to go through this isolation that was totally for the greater good but there was a price to pay,” he said.

Collaborating with the likes of Matt Andersen, Ian Sherwood, Dan Young and producer Chris Kirby also re-affirmed Charlie’s worth to himself as a songwriter.

“The beauty of working with others is realizing that while it might be my initial idea, it doesn’t have to be my way of singing it to express it in the best way.”

Hence Charlie was able to feel confident in his decision to trust his collaborator’s abilities as songwriters.

“I’ve been loving this experience of being able to create the kind of music I’ve really been wanting to make for a long time.”

Charlie’s relationship with Chris Kirby goes back to 2012 when Chris produced Charlie’s Triumph and Disaster album. They’ve continued working together in live performances since then. That familiarity with Chris is another reason Charlie was able to open himself up so much on San Palarino.

“There’s an unspoken level of comfort between the two of us,” he said.

After a number of years wandering musically, not knowing where he fits in, Charlie feels he’s coming into an environment that’s made for him.

“We’re all trying to find a place to call home, so it’s heartening to feel these positive vibes washing over me,” he said.

For more on Charlie A’Court and San Palarino, go to https://charlieacourt.com.