Artists sometimes pay tribute to those who have inspired them by covering their material. But often those renditions are run-of-the-mill, note-for-note efforts that rarely push the creative envelope. Thankfully, Toronto Island-born and now St. John's, Newfoundland-based indie pop singer and acclaimed flutist Rozalind MacPhail has given kudos to Canadian jazz pop singer Jill Barber with a sensational, chic cover of "In Perfect Time," a song Barber originally released on her 2004 EP entitled Oh Heart. It's the lead single from MacPhail's anticipated 2025 studio effort Push & Pull.
MacPhail was inspired to cover "In Perfect Time" during the Unscripted Twillingate -- Digital Artist Residency (DART), an artist residency MacPhail took located on rural Newfoundland's majestic island of Twillingate back in 2021. She says the song has "always held a special place in my heart" since it came out two decades ago. "Her melancholic melodies and heartfelt vocals paint a poignant picture of love lost and the ache of moving on," she says. "Jill's song has comforted me during many heavy moments throughout my life. Her lyrics speak to my soul."
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MacPhail, who plays omnichord and alto flute on the track to complement her adoring vocals and delivery, says the time and location was perfect to cover "In Perfect Time," creating "an indie folktronica version of this folk classic." As well, musician Brad Weber, best known for his work in his group Pick A Piper and drumming in the Juno Award-winning group Caribou, adds electronics for a mystical, atmospheric vibe. Terry Barrow recorded MacPhail's vocals in St. John's, Newfoundland while MacPhail recorded some tracks for the single in the rural island Salt Harbour, Newfoundland. Meanwhile, Jason Jaknunas mixed the song and Noah Mintz mastered it.
"In Perfect Time" differs from the roots-based, train chugging back beat of Barber's version, instead giving it an eclectic electronica flavoring, bringing to mind Metric or Metric's Emily Haines solo work, Florence & the Machine, Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O., or even Marianne Faithfull. It hits all the right notes in all the right places while taking the song in an entirely different but marvelous musical direction.
MacPhail also released a video for "In Perfect Time" shot in Twillingate by Newfoundland cinematographers Julian Earle and Joshua Caine. The video shows an elderly woman with middle stage dementia waiting for her husband (who passed several years prior) to return every day from work, forgetting he has died. "I lost my own grandmother to dementia, and my husband and I are currently caring for other family members who are experiencing different stages of dementia," MacPhail says. "It's a heartbreaking experience to witness their mental decline, but there are also many touching moments we experience where we get a glimpse of how our loved ones are still there. These tiny moments of clarity give us hope. This was our attempt to help those experiencing it with their loved ones feel less alone."
"In Perfect Time" is the first single from MacPhail's upcoming studio album Push & Pull, which will be a "waterfall release" over a 12-month period before being issued on vinyl at the end of 2025. It marks MacPhail's first time branching out into more vocal-oriented material after previously recording instrumentals on flute. The album was inspired by the singer feeling "a sense of urgency" to document the local history and stories from Twillingate and its residents through the eyes of a singer-songwriter.
MacPhail, a classically-trained looping flutist, has produced several solo albums while composing music for film the last 20 years. Her first solo album was 2007's Edgework. Since then, additional releases include 2013's Head First, 2016's From the River to the Ocean, 2017's Sunset Sunrise, 2018's Love and Let Be, 2019's Don't Let Me Fall Too Far, and 2021's single Never Let Go. The artist has received five ECMA nominations for Electronic Recording of the Year to go alongside four MusicNL nominations for Instrumental Recording of the Year over her career. She has also toured internationally while winning MusicNL's Music Educator of the Year Award in 2022. In 2023, MacPhail earned an East Coast Music Award Industry Innovator of the Year nomination. And she's also performed internationally in festivals while appearing on Radio Sweden, NPR, and CBC Radio.
Now with a new single in "In Perfect Time," a new studio album in Push & Pull, and plans for international touring with an "interactive hybrid concert" entitled Inspiration Soup, Rozalind MacPhail has found the perfect song that will be playing in your head for some time to come!
