Artist of the Day | JOHN GULIAK
ARTIST OF THE DAY
09.12.2020
JOHN GULIAK
LOCATION
Edmonton, AB
GENRE
Roots/Canadiana
CURRENT MEMBERS
Last recorded with Ayla Brook and the Sound Men; next project with Jason Kodie, Aladean Kheroufi, and Conner Ellinger
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 try not to think about it too much: I was in the middle of of a recording project and marketing plan that included tours of the West Coast and Europe through the Fall and Winter of 2020.
How has that affected your plans for the coming months? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?
My original plans are on hold. The recording project has progressed but much more slowly than anticipated - I don't think that bringing several households together to rehearse and record is smart at the moment. I fully expect that my touring plans of a year ago will continue but it is impossible to project those plans into the near future.
What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home?
I have been trying to stay active through online activities; making video recordings of covers of some of my favourite songs (LISTEN HERE or at the bottom of this article), and participating in online events such as Carolyn Mark's Virtual Hootenanny, but truthfully; i don't find online performances, live or pre-recorded, very engaging either as a performer or an audience member. Perhaps younger folks, who have grown up with online content, find it easier to engage with but for me it does not come close to a live performance.
What was the first thing you did/place you went to now the country is starting to slowly re-open?
I still don't have solid plans to travel but hope i will be able to take a safe break from the cold later this Winter and stay with some friends on the West Coast for a bit - i can be certain that my first truly "free" activity will be to gather with friends around some music event.
Favourite Starlite Room Moment?
I have seen many excellent bands at the Starlite but my favourite moment was when I had just returned to Edmonton after living in Glasgow for nearly a decade. Despite the fact that Edmonton hosts many brilliant local and touring bands, I was missing the exceptional live music and pub scene in Glasgow (still do). The Starlite Room gave me relief from this homesickness when it hosted a band that i had been obsessing over at the time, Deerhoof. Not only did i get to enjoy seeing the band, but because i am one of those goofs who always shows up too early, i also got to shake hands with Greg Saunier and have a nice little chat with him; Edmonton felt pretty cool at that moment.
Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?
I'd like to thank all the folks who have encouraged my online performance activities by watching and sharing them and who have continued to support my music by purchasing it online. i sure miss all the friends i have made through Edmonton's rich music community and am looking forward to reconnecting with you all when it makes good sense to that.
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