SPILL FEATURE: TOURING AND WALKING THE POWERLINE – A CONVERSATION WITH JENNIFER FOSTER & STEPHEN STANLEY

TOURING AND WALKING THE POWERLINE

A CONVERSATION WITH JENNIFER FOSTER & STEPHEN STANLEY

Starting Nov. 5, at Clifford Brewing Company in Hamilton, singer-songwriters Jennifer Foster (from The Pursuit of Happiness) and Stephen Stanley (from The Lowest of the Low) will soar through Ontario and Quebec on a double-tour. Foster will brew up a setlist from her latest album, Powerline, and Stanley will fill the acoustic airwaves with his current band, Stephen Stanley & NoElectric.

JUNO-nominated vocalist Foster, who’s been an igniting force in the Canadian music space since her 1999 debut album, Speedyhead, wants fans to be patient with the upcoming tour. “It won’t be until November, but we’re very excited to get started and put on a show that audiences will enjoy!”

During the Zoom call that will build this feature, Foster appears on the screen first with a glowing smile. Next comes Stanley, the mindv behind The Stephen Stanley Band. As the interview kicks into gear, Foster and he laugh as he gives a disclaimer about his lagging Internet connection. “Sorry if you hear funny noises in the background. The WiFi here is not great.” Although the two singers have only decided to tour together just recently, they act like lifelong friends, especially when they talk about how much they look forward to performing at venues such as Hugh’s Room in Toronto.

Due to their chemistry during this interview and their music’s similarities in sound (each of them combining lively acoustic guitars and folk-style vocals), the idea of a collaboration makes a lot of sense. However, according to Stanley, it has taken some time for him to appreciate Foster’s music. “When I first went,” he begins, “and this isn’t at all an insult to Jennifer, I wasn’t a fan at first, but I loved the bands that we would be playing with. Also, over time, I really respected how Jennifer authored this whole collaboration, and I started to resonate with her sound a lot more. So, we really look forward to performing together.”

Foster added, “It was just recently that the idea to work with each other came up, but once we decided to do so, I loved how easy it was to bounce ideas off each other and really commit to creating something that we’re both proud of.”

Thus, it’s safe to say that Stanley and Foster are excited about standing right there, in front of their audience, giving them music that they will remember for years. Foster muses, “It’s nice to see people enjoying the music in person, hearing their voices, seeing their reactions when your music resonates with them.”

JENNIFER FOSTER – POWERLINE ALBUM REVIEW

Stanley chimes in, referring to the need for in-person immersion, compared to audiences’ just recording or watching the event on their phones or other devices. “Yeah, I even heard about Apple doing the 360 feature and surround sound, and I guess that helps with the experience to some degree, but not by much. You have to be there. You have to witness and experience the whole thing yourself to really enjoy it.”

What is particularly special about this Toronto-Quebec tour is everything that would eventually lead up to it, including Foster and Stanley’s early childhoods and their first experiences with music.

Both musicians study the ceiling as they try to trace back to their origins. Foster’s eyes light up as she recalls, “Wow, I was super young back then. I was also different from the other kids. While most kids were playing and making friends, I was very quiet and mostly kept to myself. Then, there was this teacher who taught a ukulele class. I ended up loving it so much, and everything changed. I got serious about music ever since.”

Growing up is notably significant for Foster’s Powerline, as well. In most tracks on the album, she sings about swinging outside, walking through the woods, and other nature-filled memories of her childhood home, New Brunswick. She also reflects on her move to the hectic city of Toronto. “It was a huge experience for me, and it felt weird leaving my father behind, too. Toronto is a great city, but it was a big step moving there from my home. It took a lot of getting used to, but I don’t have any regrets, because I understood how much I needed to grow, move forward, and explore life. It’s these feelings of saying goodbye and taking the next step that really shaped [Powerline].”

Stanley credits his family as his first taste of music. His eyes are now staring at the floor, but a nostalgic grin and chuckle radiate from his face. “I was really young, too, about six years old, I think. I have a relative whose brother actually had his own band, and, one day, I got to see them perform. He was like, ‘Yeah, help yourself! Enjoy the show! Don’t be shy!’ So, I watched them do their thing, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was so motivated and impressed, and I decided, from then on, that I wanted to do exactly what they were doing.” Moments like this would later lead to Stanley’s first band, The Lowest of the Low, and would transform into The Stephen Stanley Band and his eventual tour with Foster and his current band, Stephen Stanley & NoElectric.

Soon, all of the individual work and growth that Foster and Stanley have endured over the years will pay off in their November tour. As a result, Stanley has some advice for aspiring musicians who are afraid to take the leap: “If you have an idea, just go for it while it’s still fresh, because two things could happen: You either never get that idea back again, or it won’t be as exciting as it was the first time you had it. So, don’t be afraid. If you have an idea, just go for it the minute you have it.”

Tour Dates

November 5 – Hamilton – Clifford Brewing Hamilton Tickets
November 6 – Toronto – Hugh’s Room Toronto Tickets
November 8 – Picton – The Andrew Picton Tickets
November 12 – Chelsea (PQ) – Hotel Chelsea Chelsea Tickets
November 13 – Wolfe Island – Hotel Wolfe Island Wolfe Island Tickets
November 14 – Uxbridge – Second Wedge Brewing Uxbridge Tickets
November 15 – Port Sydney – Jimmy Joy’s Jimmy Joy’s Info

Jennifer Foster Links

Stephen Stanley Band Links