Canadian Musician - September/October 2020 | Page 50

PHOTO: HEATHER SAITZ
Matthew Cardinal of
nêhiyawak
instruments, are musicians in
general better suited to cope with
isolation than others might be?
“One hundred percent,”
Grunwald says. “We’re experts
at uncertainty and not knowing
where our next round of work is
coming from, so absolutely. I think
we’re better suited for that kind of
thing; however, this is the first time
we’re faced with uncertainty of
this magnitude.”
For some, the pandemic
lockdown hit when they were
either on tour or working away
from home. That was the case for
Aquakultre bassist and synth player
Jeremy Costello, and although
he was eventually able to return
home to Halifax, he spent the early
days of self-isolation in Toronto,
staying with musician friends. “We
were all in the same boat and it
was like, ‘What do we do now?’
Collectively, we were all a little
directionless, so we entertained
that relationship, perhaps Edmonton-based
singer/songwriter
Ruth B. puts it best: “The piano, for
me, is my perfect dance partner.
I’ve always had that image in my
head [of] dancing with the piano.
It’s like a partner. As I’ve grown as
an artist, I’ve used other instruments,
but for me, the piano is
always the best.”
That idea has only been reinforced
throughout the pandemic.
“Musically speaking, I actually feel
like I’ve gotten back in touch with
how I started making music, which
was just me and my keyboard,”
she adds.
each other and spent a lot of time Granted, we all have our
jamming. We had a pile of gear favourite axe(s)…
that we could throw together, so
Costello and I discussed the
I’d bring synthesizers into the living Hammond organ he inherited
room, plug them into the stereo, from his neighbours – technically
and we’d watch YouTube videos his first instrument – as well as
and score them – not necessarily the Mini Moog Model D he used
making recordings, just enjoying during sessions at the National
the improvisational aspect of it.” Music Centre (NMC) studio where
Tools, Tech & Toys
It’s clear in speaking to each of
these players that they all share
a deep, personal relationship with
their instruments of choice, and
that relationship is something all of
them have been relying on heavily
over the past few months.
When it comes to describing
the band recorded their heralded
and Polaris-longlisted album,
Legacy.
Grunwald tells me about the
modular synth he’s been building
and hopes to use for his next solo
record and subsequent live performances.
For Cardinal it’s his Moog
Rogue and PH Engineering OP-1.
“If I could influence someone to start making their own art, that
would be amazing. That’s why representation is so important –
because if you see someone that you can relate to doing something
you want to do, you realize that you can do that, too.”
-Matthew Cardinal
50 CANADIAN MUSICIAN