Growing up in rural Prince Edward Island on a potato farm, JUNO-winning singer-songwriter Rose Cousins has learned to appreciate her country upbringing.
Having won a Juno Award for best Solo Roots & Traditional Album Of The Year in 2013, the well-traveled, Halifax-based, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist is set to tour Western Canada, but she always brings a piece of the East wherever she goes.
“I feel like the landscape in P.E.I. has informed my cellular structure. Every time I go back, everything feels aligned,” Cousins said.
“I think that it also informs the places that I write about, which are usually the most calm, the most open and near the ocean. It made for an easy transition to live in Halifax because it is so close to P.E.I. and near the water, but I’m a very small town person. When I started music, I thought my story was boring, but at this point in my life, I appreciate that upbringing so much.”
Along with the recent Juno grab, Cousins has won Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and East Coast music awards, respectively, and sees the east coast as playing a major inspirational role in her musical victories.
“I consider those to be signs of encouragement, but really, the East Coast is one of the best places to live and grow up, but it’s also an amazing place to launch a career as a musician. It’s a combination of tight-knit communities and Atlantic Canada is a strong region,” Cousins said. “And I think that a lot of us grow up the same way, with farming and fishing, and we all kind of make it through life together. There’s a sense of tight-knit community and being recognized is amazing because it’s like I’m being recognized by my peers.”
Along with the elation of winning the JUNO, Cousins was floored when she found out that her song Go First would appear on the hit television series Grey’s Anatomy.
“I don’t want to say that I can’t believe it because I don’t want to give false humility, because I kind of can’t believe it, but it’s also so cool. It’s Canada’s highest award and it’s crazy. It just arrived in the mail a week and a half ago, and I still can’t believe it.”
After playing at an open mic night in Boston over a decade ago, Cousins’ latest record We Have Made A Spark was inspired by and created within the Boston region and features a host of talent from the area.
“I’ve been traveling down to Boston for 10 years and I got pulled down there because several singer-songwriters that I listen to were from that area. So, I traveled down there and I basically met everyone I know there through this club called Club Passim,” she said. “Through that club, I have become friends with and played music with an incredible community down there. Boston basically became a second home to me and the whole thing been a very transcendental experience.”
Performing solo hasn’t always been the focus of the multi-talented songstress, as she sees a definite importance in being a background player.
Cousins has collaborated creatively with numerous Canadian powerhouses like Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays, Jill Barber, Kathleen Edwards, Jenn Grant and many more.
“It’s like a fire – collaboration enhances the musical experience. Music is a whole other form of communication and it’s often unpredictable and I love that,” she said. “I love coming to Toronto and thinking ‘Who is in Toronto that I can ask to sing?’ and I like how it shows that there is no separation between listeners and the people on stage. My latest record is a huge collaboration too and I love thinking of the very good relationships I have with all of the people who I’ve played with,” Cousins added.
Having headlined in Canmore and different parts of Western Canada for the first time last spring, Cousins has possibly found a third home among some of the warm people and places of the West.
“When I was touring in April of last year, it was my first spin through Western Canada as a headliner and I was really kind of touched that people showed up for me. I’ve been back through at least twice, and the people have been great. I’m really excited to be playing in Winnipeg and Canmore as the western festivals are always well-run, but I’m hoping that Canmore has definitely dried out a little bit by then,” she added.
Rose Cousins will perform at the Canmore Folk Festival on Aug. 3. For more information on tickets, please visit www.canmorefolkfestival.com.
