WE TALK MUSIC, CANADA AND HER NEW RECORD
Story by Poppy desClouds
Photo by Kofi Broughton
In a coffee shop on a busy Monday morning in downtown Ottawa, I take a seat across the table from Gabrielle Papillon. Surrounded by layers of clothing, bags, and her guitar, she sits smiling, calm and content. In only 20 minutes she is able to completely intrigue and inspire through her words and presence.
“Yes. Oh my god, it’s been a bit crazy. I’ve released two records in the last little while and I’ve written the next record. I’ve got all the musicians lined up, and the producer, but it won’t be released until this time next year. I started touring a year and a half ago – June 2010. I came back to Montreal where I was still living part-time at the end of that summer, and I decided I would just keep booking tours because I was having fun. I’ve just been travelling, playing, and recording. It’s been pretty amazing.”
ON THE NEW RECORD
“The Currency of Poetry is something that had been brewing for a long time. I called in a lot of favors and had some wonderful people working with me. My band came into the studio last minute, did all their parts, and got through two really intense back-to-back 10-hour days of studio time. The amount of tracks we packed in is insane. Everything fell into place really nicely. It was nice to have this new record to tour with, and maybe to put me on the map a little more. It’s a little more reflective of what I’m capable of doing.”
ON TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
“The Ironwood in Calgary is always a good experience. It has a phenomenal sound man [and] the stage is beautiful. The Black Sheep is another favorite. I played a show at the Halifax Pop Explosion and they just happened to book me at my home stage in Nova Scotia. I brought in one of my band mates from Montreal and another one of my band mates from Halifax. They both rehearsed their parts individually, and then brought it all together. It was a very special show.
We’ve had some really nice house concerts – two in Fredricton, which were just amazing. You could just feel the energy in the room. I kind of absorb that energy, and it affects me so much sometimes. The only thing I can do is sing it out. It makes for a great show and a great experience.”
ON INSPIRATION
“I’m actually very grateful that I’m the type of person that doesn’t need to be in a dark place to write. I can’t write if I’m in a dark place. It almost stifles me and makes things worse. Whereas, when I’m inspired, I can just sense it. I know when it’s time to sit down with my guitar and listen for that initial epiphany.
Every once in awhile there is a line that is very personal that slips into my writing. Other times, I don’t entirely know where it comes from. It’s a narrative and it’s a story. I love film and I love TV. It is kind of my dream to some day score a film. So, I think sometimes in my head the stories told by the songs are very cinematic – they have a beginning, a middle, and an end.”
Afterwards, we venture into the concrete maze of the city. We pick a secluded bench in the sun and Gabrielle plays a brand new acoustic piece for me. Her eyes closed, her voice quiet and calm, Gabrielle instantly transforms the bustling city space into her own quaint, poetic world.
