As far as definitive steps forward go, it doesn’t get much clearer for Prince Edward Island native Tim Chaisson. The accomplished multi-instrumentalist – performing as support for blues guitarist Colin James at Moncton’s Capitol Theatre tonight as well as Sunday Mar. 1 – returns with the release of his third album, Lost In Light.
Chaisson has kept busy in the time since his 2012 release The Other Side. In addition to having toured the globe, playing more than 150 shows in support of that album, Chaisson is an East Coast Music Award-winning artist who has shared the stage with the likes of the Goo Goo Dolls, Johnny Reid and The Trews.
Produced by Band of Horses member Bill Reynolds, Lost In Light is a direct reflection on his musical evolution to date. While his signature Celtic-roots-folk sound remains firmly intact, he has integrated a country-infused pop instrumentation into his songs, resulting in one of his most confident sounding efforts.
Despite not having personally met Reynolds prior to the making of Lost In Light, Chaisson admits that as a long-time Band of Horses fan, he was confident that the two would be a natural musical fit.
“Making this record with Bill was very much a joint effort,” Chaisson says. “He was very open to exploring all possibilities on where we could take these songs. Bill was more about getting the right vibe for each of the songs rather than capturing the most technically perfect take. The creative process was very open and loose; it was exactly what I wanted to do with this record.”
Chaisson says that one of the greatest qualities that Reynolds brought to the making of Lost In Light was his willingness to embrace such a broad range of music for the record. While many in the music industry have an innate need to slot a musician into a particular genre, Chaisson says Reynolds encouraged him to go where he felt the songs should take him.
“I don’t feel that the music I write can conveniently into just one slot because as a singer-songwriter, I love all styles of music. Some songs lean a little more towards country while others lean more on the pop side of things. At the end of the day, I was free to do what I wanted to do. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
What: Tim Chaisson, special guest of Colin James
When: Saturday Feb. 28 & Sunday Mar. 1, 8:00 p.m.
Where: Capitol Theatre, 811 Main St., Moncton
Tickets for the Feb. 28 performance are sold out. Advance tickets for the Sunday performance are available at the Capitol Theatre Box Office, by phone at (506) 856-3479 and online at www.capitol.nb.ca