Just Us Folk

An age-old challenge for many a performer is trying to match the energy of their stage shows once they get into the recording studio. Many times, audience members will go to the merch table in search of the album that best reflects what they just heard. Artists will sometimes release a live album for that express purpose. For others, that inability to match their live show in the recording studio affects their career development.

The London, ON trio The Pairs think they’ve risen to the challenge with their new album, Together on a Rock. Hilary Watson along with sisters Renée and Noelle Frances Coughlin are classically trained singers who met producer Tracy Walton at a NERFA conference a while ago. He was a fan of the group and offered to record a live studio video of them at his recording space in Northfield, CT. While there, the trio shared that they were looking to record an album that better reflected their live sound.

“Tracy was in this place of loving what he saw and looking for a recording of us that matched what he saw,” said Renée.

Spending about a week and a half at Tracy’s home, the trio was able to try all sorts of musical ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. Detaching themselves from their cell phones and social media, they worked on songs right after breakfast. If things weren’t working out, they’d take break and go for a walk, trying again after clearing their minds.

“It felt like we ate, slept and breathed this album as we were creating it,” said Hilary.

Together on a Rock is the fourth release by The Pairs. Lyrically, they wanted to offer up something truly from their hearts to help people understand the human condition.

“We hope the songs on this record are a catalyst for diving deep into that understanding,” said Renée.

Each member of the Pairs writes individually so it’s only when they collect the songs together that they discover which ones form a thematic whole.

“These are songs within the times of our own kind of unravelling,” said Noelle Frances.

An added benefit to the success of The Pairs means each member has had the confidence to present themselves as solo artists. Noelle Frances is the first one to release songs and videos to social media; Renée and Hilary have projects of their own in the works. The popularity of the trio means there’s a built-in audience for their solo work.

The Pairs have been part of the folk music scene for about six years. Not knowing it existed up until then, they quickly immersed themselves into attending regional, national and international conferences as a way to spread the word about their music. In doing so, they’ve expanded their touring schedule, met various members of folk media and conferred with other musicians on how to face the challenges of sustaining a career. So far this year they’ve toured in the U.S., Atlantic Canada and Ontario and performed on the cruise ship MS Europa, sailing from Hamburg, Germany to Montreal. Next up is a tour of Western Canada before heading to Australia in the new year. It’s to the point where they’re so busy, all three of them have been able to leave their day jobs.

“It kind of feels like this train we’re latching onto and letting it carry us for now,” said Hilary. “It feels really great. It’s a dream.”

For more on The Pairs and Together on a Rock, go to https://thepairsmusic.com/.