Feuerstack’s current and past artistic partnerships include composition and instrumental contributions to Bell Orchestre, Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars, the Luyas, and many more. For this work he has earned two Junos and a number of other accolades. He is equally known for his collaborative work with choreographers and filmmakers and for producing and mixing albums for both internationally regarded artists as well as for young artists emerging on the scene. Feuerstack is first and foremost a true artist. He is a tireless creator, collaborator, a seeker of stories to tell, and new ways to tell them.
“a national treasure. Like Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen, he will smuggle odd wisdom inside handsome arrangements. Like Bill Callahan or Laura Marling, he will conceal his songs’ strangeness in their traditional form. He will keep singing, certain in his songwriting, revered by his peers, even without the luxury of fame or fortune. He will unfurl a thousand perfect lines.” - The Globe & Mail
"Why is Michael Feuerstack still a hidden gem?” - CBC Radio’s Q
"slow, gentle songs of love and truth and unforgettable regrets.” - NOW Toronto
- ARTIST: Michael Feuerstack
- TITLE: Translations
- CAT#: FMG097
- FORMAT: Digital
- RELEASE DATE: January 07, 2022
I think the biggest lesson I learned from making this record is that interpretation is creation.
These are 14 songs I love by some of my favourite artists. I wanted to see what they could teach me, and also what I could bring to them.
This whole thing feels quite personal. Even though I believe that songs are for sharing, I don’t sing a lot of covers. Often I feel strange trying to embody the sentiments of others (a voice is such a personal thing). I have lots of favourites, but the ones comprised here are some that I found myself able to sing. That is to say, they felt convincing coming from me.
Normally I write and perform my own songs, or collaborate with others on their material. The original reason I got into music was to make songs, and I never really went through a period of learning by playing the music of others. This approach has given me my own impressionistic style. There is something special about stepping back now, and applying my way of creating to the unique works of others. I wanted to know some of my favourite songs in a new way.
When you get to know someone really well, your language starts to change. You begin to paraphrase your own thoughts. You become at once lazier and more precise. You take liberties, omit some details and embellish others. Somehow, all of this improvisation is part of an effort to be better understood. My favourite songs contain some of this flexibility – not just lyrically but in the relationship between the words and music as well. I’ve tried to tap into that spirit in my relationship with these songs.
I intended Translations to be listened to as an album. It feels helpful to keep the songs in conversation with one another. I collected and assembled the songs, and I invite you to listen to find your own connections.
“it’s impossible not to be wooed by this translation” – CBC Music
“Un truc tout simple, mais si bien exécuté” – Le Devoir
