Heather Bambrick sends a musical love letter to her native Newfoundland on new single and video Homeland — premiering exclusively on Tinnitist.
The latest single from the Juno-nominated jazz vocalist’s Fine State album, the warm and welcoming number makes it clear that no matter where life takes us, our true homes remain unchanged.
“I left Newfoundland in 1993 and while I was happy to pursue my dream of studying and performing music, leaving my island home was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life and remaining so far away becomes harder and harder as the years pass,” says Bambrick. “Anyone who’s ever been to Newfoundland knows the natural and spiritual beauty that exists there, and I wanted to paint that image, while ultimately writing ‘a love song to my home.’
“My pal (and brilliant writer) Jodi Proznick encouraged me to write more from my heart, so I passed my initial ideas on to her for input. Then, I reached out to another friend, award-winning composer — and fellow Newfoundlander — Keith Power to help with the chorus. I think the result is exactly what I wanted it to be, and I hope the crowd back home will hear this and know how much I love and miss Newfoundland.”
Even so, the hard-working vocalist isn’t shy about exploring new ground on Fine State. The album sees Bambrick moving in some new musical directions, with a more pop-influenced sound, featuring strong Canadian content and original material.
“(It’s) more of a departure from the traditional sort of records I’ve made in the past,” she says. “This project brings together more of the things that inspire me overall, not just in jazz and not just in music. The arrangements show influences from rock, pop, and folk music, and the tunes we’ve chosen have a strong connection to the events of the world around me, and the roots of who I am as a musician and a person.”
As one of Canada’s top jazz vocalists, Bambrick has collaborated with some of the best around, including Phil Nimmons, Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Anne Hampton Callaway, Carol Welsman, Jackie Richardson and Ian Shaw, as well as the late Rob McConnell and Peter Appleyard. She’s a founding member of vocal ensembles The Beehive Singers and Broadsway, and has appeared as a guest performer with numerous jazz ensembles and symphony orchestras.
Her recordings have received East Coast Music Award nominations for Jazz Recording of the Year, and her 2017 release You’ll Never Know earned a Juno nomination for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. She’s been honoured with Canada’s National Jazz Award for Vocalist of the Year.
Check out Homeland above, and connect with Heather Bambrick via her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
