“More words we need more words / Paragraph and verse on billboards / Paragraph and verse healing indifference.”
Wanna discover a get-rich-quick-scheme? Well, it you accumulate a dime for every time you catch me stating that it is “better late than never” when discovering not-so-new music or artists – well, you would have a hefty piggy bank of those little silver-colored coins by now. Turning dimes into dollars with music exploration – yeah, that’s a solid financial plan I can endorse – with enriched sonic pleasure tossed in for good measure.
We recently heard from Vancouver-born (now Toronto-based) singer-songwriter Jane Gowan, sharing great news of the latest single released by her indie-pop band, The Real Shade. You may recall that our own discovery of this band dates to early 2022, with their “Waiting for Good News” single included in a Snappy Singles feature – even if the tune had been released into the world some eight months prior to landing on our radar. Better late than never, right? Two paragraphs in, and another dime magically appears…
Unless you live under a rock or have some undisclosed method of avoiding the barrage of news and media cycles, we don’t need to tell you that the world around us is a crazy place right now – one rife with uncertainty, especially here closer to home. With this latest single, “Can We Wake,” The Real Shade seek to counteract the negativity with what Jane describes as “a joyous anthem,” adding that it is itself “a call to action, a plea for change, and a tribute to the power of humanity.”
Jane (vocals/guitar/piano/trumpet) shares that while bandmate Tim Vesely (Rheostatics) is absent on this single (but future music with Tim will follow), she was excited to collaborate with producer and multi-instrumentalist Annelise Noronha (with additional mastering by Heather Kirby). Taking things to another level, Jane and Annelise drew together a talented crew to bring this tune to life in a Prince Edward County studio: James Bunton (drums), Mel Hilmi (backing vocals), and long-time GDW pal Stephen Stanley (guitars/vocals).
The opening electric guitar picks and choral chants cannot fail to earn your immediate attention, paving the way for Jane’s subdued, almost-spoken vocal delivery. Melodic indie-pop elements are here, as expected, but flirt heavily with folk and Americana cues to really accentuate that ‘inoffensive protest song’ vibe – sounds ebbing and flowing as the verses retain a level of calm amidst the more boisterous chorus moments, where cymbals, trumpet, and guitar rings intensify. And how about those vocal harmonies that slow the track down towards minimal instrumentation and eventual close? Simply beautiful!
“This song is a labour of love and friendship,” Jane concludes. “[About] delivering a shared hope for a peaceful and more caring world.” If seeking certainty is the destination, Jane is asking the pertinent questions. For peace. For happiness. For a better world. Utopia cannot arrive soon enough, but better late than never. Dang it, now I need to break open a fresh roll of dimes…
Photo Credit: Lisa MacIntosh
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
