Andrea Ramolo is paying Homage to the life and career of Leonard Cohen on the second anniversary of his death — and sharing her video tribute here on Tinnitist.
The Toronto singer-songwriter’s haunting, edgy new cover of Cohen’s 2014 lovelorn ballad My Oh My has been stylishly brought to life in this smouldering, seductive clip directed by Caitlin Cronenberg. The song is the first single from Ramolo’s new album Homage — a 10-track collection of some of Cohen’s best-loved works reinterpreted by the acclaimed artist and produced by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies.
Ramolo turned to Timmins — who also produced her 2017 Polaris Prize longer-listed NUDA — to oversee Homage, which features Ramolo on baritone guitar and vocals, Tom Juhas on lead guitar, Derek Giberson on keyboards, David Goncalves Gouveia on drums, and special guest Sahra Featherstone on harp. In all, Homage has been a true labour of love for Ramolo.
“I spent two months listening in depth to every single album of Leonard’s from top to bottom,” she says. “I wasn’t as leery about ruling out the famous songs as I was about making sure I didn’t repeat the same ‘colours.’ I included my personal favourites, like Famous Blue Raincoat and Suzanne, but I wanted to make sure the others I chose were a mix of newer and older songs to best represent his massive catalogue.”
It has been said that Cohen’s songs truly take flight when sung by others, and that argument can certainly be made with Homage. The blending of Ramolo’s mesmerizing vocals within delicate musical settings creates a haunting atmosphere unique to other Cohen tributes. Like Timmins’ own revered work with Cowboy Junkies, restraint is the key to the overall sound, offering stunning beauty and brooding tension in equal measure.
Watch My Oh My above and be sure to catch Ramolo at one of these upcoming shows:
Nov 7 (Wed) | Toronto ON | Burdock Music Hall (Official CD release show)
Nov 9 (Fri) | Burnstown ON | Neat Coffee Shop
Nov 10 (Sat) | Montreal QC | Casa del Popolo
Nov 17 (Sat) | Swift Current SK | House Concert
Nov 18 (Sun) | Regina SK | The Artesian
Nov 19 (Mon) | Saskatoon SK | 134 Homemade Jam
Nov 20 (Tues) | Calgary AB | Ironwood Stage
Nov 21 (Wed) | Edmonton AB | The Aviary
Nov 24 (Sat) | Lions Bay BC | Lions Bay House
Nov 25 (Sun) | Vancouver BC | Guilt & Co.
