Featured Artists:
Ray Knorr is also originally from SK, and grew up competing in fiddle competitions and attending camps across Western Canada. As a 3-time Saskatchewan and 2-time Grand North American Fiddle Champion and a five-time finalist at the Canadian Grandmasters, he has earned his reputation as one of Canada’s rising fiddle talents. Emily has known Ray for many years since originally meeting at a fiddle contest in Weyburn, SK, years ago, and finds his playing a constant inspiration and motivation for herself as a musician. Ray's playing adds notes of twin fiddle, harmony lines, and in some cases an ethereal other voice in the arrangements.
Tom Gammons was a young guitarist from Montana with dreams of pursuing a career in traditional music in the Maritimes. Now, Tom is embedded in the music scene of PEI, a graduate of the Holland College School of Performing Arts and member of the JUNO-Nominated trad trio Inn Echo. Tom and Emily grew up attending the Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party together, and have had opportunities across their early careers to collaborate on fiddle music. When Emily hoped to record her own tunes, she knew Tom would have just the touch to enrich the tunes with groove lines and chord progressions that breathe new life into the stories.
Tuli Porcher was raised in Victoria, BC, and now lives in Charlottetown where she completed her Music Performance diploma at Holland College School of Performing Arts, and completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Prince Edward Island. Tuli has been turning heads with her unique west-coast style, groove, and approach to traditional music. Emily and Tuli met in Victoria when Emily joined Coastline, a youth group to which Tuli was one of the original members. Through this group, they grew as players alongside each other and their friends, and carry similar ideas when it comes to arranging thanks to Ivonne Hernandez, as well as Daniel Lapp, who Tuli also played under in the BC Fiddle Orchestra. Tuli's cello adds a depth to the arrangements on the album that was indeed the icing on top of the cake.
Although living across the country from each other, these musicians find a familiar sense of home in the music they create together.
Thank yous:
“Sounds Like Home” was a project developed over the course of 2 years, recorded by Sergey Varmalov at Crabbe Road Productions, and mastered by John McLaggan at Parachute Mastering. Cover artwork by Saskatoon artist and KLKP friend Ted View. Ted was one of the first people outside of my family who, at the time, asked “So, when is this album coming out?” at KLKP. This album could not have happened without the financial support of the SK Arts Board, as well as Canada Council For the Arts. I'd like to thank my family, my mom Cheryl, my sister Zoe, my dad Ben and my grandparents Gord and Mona. To Jeff, for being such a sturdy support in my life and my career, and my friends and loved ones for always being supportive of me continuing to pursue music. To my past teachers, Michele, Ivonne, Daniel, and so so many fiddle camp teachers, who have shaped who I am as a fiddler today. To Tom, Ray, and Tuli for helping me create such a beautiful piece of art that I am so so increcibly proud of - I wouldn't have had it any other way. And an extra thanks to Tom, who helped produce this album, who let me pick his brain endlessly about anything and everything to do with how to get my foot in the door to finally record this album, and being my sound board basically every step of the way.
