Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
2024 ECMA Winner Gina Burgess Captures The Hibernation State of Magical Worlds With "Kingsburg Blues" from Her New Album ISNOW

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • 2024 ECMA Winner Gina Burgess Captures The Hibernation State of Magical Worlds With "Kingsburg Blues" from Her New Album ISNOW
Gina Burgess
Fri May 17, 2024
Cashbox Canada

There’s nothing all that bluesy or melancholy about “Kingsburg Blues,” the new single by 2024 ECMA Fusion Recording Of The Year for Anuri, Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia)-based Gina Burgess, although it is indeed haunting. Instead, the song, which blends psychedelic elements with Celtic and Inuit roots, takes us into a magical and mischievous fairy world shimmering with fireflies and secrets. Check it out on YouTube here:

 There’s only one lyric to the song: “And how long does it take for a rose to bloom and die?” But that lyric allows an entry point into that November day in Nova Scotia when Burgess was first inspired to write “Kingsburg Blues.”

“I was walking along the ocean coast in the village of Kingsburg, on the south shore of Nova Scotia,” Burgess recalls. “The path I walked was lined with rose bushes entering their hibernation state for the winter. The wind picked up and I heard this majikal music. It felt as though the rose hip spirits were singing this melody to me.”

In fact, it was more as though Burgess was being led into the song rather than fully forming it herself. “Quieting my mind, I could hear the whispers of the fae folk as they taught me this song,” she says. “I immediately went and got my violin and played the notes I had heard.”

The trance-y, hypnotizing composition features Burgess’s violin accompanied by Cynthia Pitsulak’s contemporary Inuit throat singing. Also featured is the Angolan instrument, the berimbau, played by Ross Burns. Double bass is played by Jordan Stephens, along with Matthew Gallant on the drum kit.

Listen on Spotify here: hopen.spotify.com/track/1nyw6ez47934jB1ipsuBxv

 “I met Cynthia Pitsiulak in Ottawa at a Silla and Rise (her band at that time) performance. I knew immediately that I wanted Cynthia to record the contemporary Inuit throat parts,” Burgess recalls. “We have since then created a wonderful friendship and collaborative spirit together.” Burgess’ collaborations with Jordan Stephens and Matt Gallant go back even further. “I have played with Jordan and Matt in many capacities over the last two decades,” she says. “They are both incredible musicians in their own right and I knew I wanted to work with them for my solo project.”

The Brazilian percussion is played by Ross Burns, a capoeira practitioner and teacher. “Ross and I have a long history performing together in the swing manouche band Gypsophilia,” Burgess explains. “We composed, performed, and toured together in that band for 12 years. During that time, he would occasionally bring the capoeira instruments into the mix, and I absolutely love those sounds.”

“Kingsburg Blues” is one of nine songs on Burgess’ new album ISNOW. The genre-bending compositions were written for violin, contemporary Inuit throat singing, double bass, drum kit, and Brazilian percussion, and they fuse together the different musical elements that have influenced Burgess through her musical training and travels. 

“I spend a lot of time in nature,” says Burgess. “That’s where I hear music the most. When I am still and listening, the music comes to me. I have never actually sat down to write a composition yet. I feel more like a conduit where the spirit of music flows through me.”

From Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), internationally recognized artist Gina Burgess is a multi-genre violinist, composer, yoga instructor, educator, and musician wellness facilitator. A former member of the JUNO-nominated Iqaluit-based arctic rock band The Jerry Cans, a four- time East Coast Music Award winner with the Hot Swing group Gypsophilia, and collaborator with numerous ensembles, Burgess is a highly sought-after performer. Her latest project ISNOW reflects her diverse experience by mixing classical music with Celtic folk and incorporating contemporary Inuit throat singing with elements of jazz.

ginaburgessmusic.com/music

Reviews
Album
Gina Burgess
Month: Dec 2020
David Bray At 200,000+ Streams, Songwriter, Artist & Producer DAVID Bray…
DJ AURO ft Jonas Music & Lucky Widmore DJ AURO is Out to “Move That Body” with New Latin Groove
Fake Magic No Illusions Here! This Is Real Rock From Toronto's FAKE MAGIC And…
Jay Gordon Wright Toronto's JAY GORDON WRIGHT Wants More Cowbell In New Single, “Take…
Short For Arthur Moncton, NB’s psychedelic blues rockers Short For Arthur are out…
K BESD K BESD turns rock, pop, and hip hop genres Releases New Single in…
Anaté No Clarification Needed: Downtempo Duo ANATÉ Debut Single “Confusion…
Cameron and Crawford CAMERON & CRAWFORD Release Jazzy New Single “I Want a Song”
Peter Bloom Band Reindeers Away Comedian/Radio Personality Pete Cugno / Peter Bloom Band Releases…
Roland Roberts ROLAND ROBERTS Created a Gold Rush All His Own in Debut LP, 'All…
Runa The Tide of Winter Runa The Tide of Winter
Joseph The Keen and the Kind Single Lands Ahead of Forthcoming Sophomore Release The Keen…
Steve and April Bennett Santa Cruz, CA's Father/Daughter Alt-Country Duo WILD &…
Taylor Abrahamse Eddie Kramer calls him a 'songwriting genius!" Toronto…
Duke Robillard Stony Plain Records and Duke Robillard Remember Jay Geils

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 27
  • Page 28
  • Page 29
  • Page 30
  • Current page 31
  • Page 32
  • Page 33
  • Page 34
  • Page 35
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers