Artist of the Day | STEVEN HEIGHTON

ARTIST OF THE DAY

22.11.2021

STEVEN HEIGHTON

LOCATION

Kingston, ON, Canada

GENRE

folk-blues-rock

 

CURRENT MEMBERS

Steven Heighton

With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt? 

I was in the Post Office Studio, on Wolfe Island, working with producer Hugh Christopher Brown on the bedtracks for my first album--an exhilarating but daunting process for a rookie. The onset of the crisis added a new element of difficulty and doubt. But difficulty and doubt can be your fuel if you embrace them.

How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?

The album, The Devil's Share, released in May, mid-lockdown. Release party plans and various outdoor gigs were of course put on hold or cancelled. It was disappointing, but I told myself that if long-time musicians-- people who'd been working hard to make a living this way for years--could get through it, I should not complain.

What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home? How are you supporting your mental health through all of this?

For years I've made my living as a writer--novels, poetry, fiction--so in a way not much changed for me. Throughout 2020 I continued to work on my books--and songs--in my apartment. And creative work is what keeps me sane.

As things are reopening & restrictions are lifting have you booked any new gigs? Tours? Etc? If your region is still under restriction, how are dealing with the Covid third wave?

Yes, now at last I'm getting a chance to play the songs for people, face to face. An amazing experience. (I thought it would be similar to reading or reciting to an audience at a literary fest, but singing for people is way more intense.) More gigs, including a couple of indoor ones, fingers crossed, are planned for later in the fall, and with luck the producer's European affiliate will be bringing several Wolfe Island Records acts to Ireland and Holland in the winter. See above under "fingers crossed."

Favourite Starlite Room Moment?

I'm new to Starlite in all its forms. Thanks for inviting me to answer these questions--and thanks to excellent publicist Eric Alper for putting us in touch.

Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?

It took me years to return to music and write and record the album I always aimed to make. My message to others--and it's really a memo to myself--is don't keep putting shit off. It's always now or never.

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