Just Us Folk

When an artist goes into the studio to record a new album they’re faced with endless possibilities and decisions. Which songs are they going to record? What instruments will they use? Will there be guest artists on the album? Which vocal and instrumental takes will they use? The choices are almost endless. And all of this is happening while the cost of studio time is adding up hour by hour. Some artists thrive in this environment as it feeds into the creative process. But others prefer a less stressful experience to unlock their creativity. It can mean the difference between hoping you’ve made the right decisions in the studio and knowing you have.

Less stress in making an album was what The Once were aiming for when they recorded their latest album, Out Here.

“We wanted a work environment where we didn’t have stress too much. Where every idea could either live or die in peace,” said Geraldine Hollett.

The band, which also includes Phil Churchill and Andrew Dale, turned Geraldine and Phil’s basement into a recording studio. Built pre-pandemic, the new studio gave them the opportunity to explore new musical ideas once the pandemic hit.

“It was a solution before we had the problem,” they said.

The band enjoyed recording their seven previous albums and learned something each time but there was never enough time to make mistakes or try a lot of new ideas.

“We’re slower,” said Phil. “The amount of songs we write generally are the songs that end up on the record. We’ll edit and refine and change to create the songs. So when you’ve got that way of working, it’s hard to make good decisions sometimes when the meter is running.”

It’s been six years since their last full-length album, Time Enough, not counting 2022’s eight song release Acoustic Vol. 1ce, but it was time they needed to find a place of calm and rest where they could record a new album.

“Because of time constraints,” said Andrew, “we had to say, ‘No, that’s the take we’ve got to go with. We don’t have time to explore other options.'”

The new approach to recording meant The Once could be more relaxed and open to new ways of doing things.

“We had nap times, we’d go for a walk, we went into the studio when we were ready,” said Geraldine. “We took our producer, Daniel Ledwell, snowshoeing one day. We did it in the way we wished we could have done it for years.”

It even got to the point where Geraldine tried a new approach to singing.

“My voice feels good today. I’m going to have a shower and make it sound better!”

Besides the songs on Out Here, there are instrumental pieces opening the album and sprinkled throughout it. Phil sees them as a return to their self-titled debut in 2009.

“It’s a very Irish or East Coast thing,” he said.

When the band started, their musical peers were songwriters like Ron Hynes and Amelia Curran.

“We shouldn’t have been in the same room as them, but we were,” Andrew said.

So, they worked very hard at improving their songwriting skills. In doing so they kind of left behind the instrumental aspect of their repertoire.

“The new album is designed so that Side One begins and ends with just music and Side Two begins and ends with just music,” said Phil. “It doesn’t have anything to do with vocals. It’s melodies and harmonies no matter what kind of instrument you use. It’s whatever puts you in the right mood.”

They’re so satisfied with the results of Out Here, they plan on creating the next record along the same lines instead of changing everything around as they’ve done in the past.

“It took a long time to get around to something that feels this good, so we don’t want to leave it fast,” Geraldine said.

The search for no stress in creating the new album is reflected in songs like ‘Oh You’.

“If there’s no real kind of purpose then there’s no real kind of pressure,” said Phil. “There’s the idea of looking towards other things to solve your problems or having to solve problems on your own. I think the flip side to that is maybe there is no problem. As a man of science, I’m comforted by that.”

The relaxed, stress-free aspect of Out Here has carried over to the Once’s live performances.

“There’s a peace and calm on stage,” said Geraldine. “So far it’s been really beautiful.”

For more on The Once and Out Here, go to https://www.theonce.ca/