Gavin Slate
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
By Sam Sutherland
November 10, 2004
The debut EP of this Toronto-based performer is an extremely strong collection of melancholic acoustic pop songs, entirely recorded in Slate’s bedroom and sounding every bit as earnest as home recording is meant to sound. Though the instrumentation here is decidedly sparse — little more than acoustic guitar and voice, with occasional touches of violin and female vocals — the songwriting is ambitious in its structure. The opening “Influenced Confidence (Get Away),” is perfect example of Slate’s strengths, starting off small before exploding into an emotionally drenched finale. With a voice that sounds equally pretty and strained, Slate manages to avoid ever sounding too nice, a feat that helps keep his songs from verging too closely on pure pop music territory. In the end, however, it is the songs that carry this release, as they demonstrate both powerful and original songwriting, written and played with the utmost sincerity. - Exclaim Magazine
Discography
Tracks:
"Goodnight Lovers, Goodnight Thieves"
-Featured in 2011 Webby Award Nominated Show 'Out With Dad'
-Featured in 2009 film Shark City (Vivica A. Fox, Carlo Rota)
"Love Now"
-Featured in 2011 Season of Degrassi: TNG
"The Line"
-Track featured in West 49: Ambition Skate Camp series finale.
"Failed Again"
-Track featured on Sony/BMG recording artist Nikki Kerkhof's (winner of Dutch Pop Idol) debut record.
Records:
"Life As A Salesman EP"
-Released in April 2011
-Has had placements in various film/TV across North America
-Will be releasing a series of 3 corresponding music videos directed by Gavin Michael Booth (Third Eye Blind, Vanessa Carlton, The Afters)
Photos
Bio
A hush fell over the crowded room at the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee as Gavin Slate strummed the emotional opening bars of “Goodnight Lovers, Goodnight Thieves”. Months earlier, the same song grabbed attention in Shark City (starring Vivica A. Fox and Corey Haim) when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. And now, Life as a Salesman, Gavin’s new EP provides a living room listening experience for the tunes that have been capturing the hearts of fans from cafes to venues throughout North America.
Produced by Colin Cripps (Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams, Kathleen Edwards), Life as a Salesman brings love, commitment and compassion together to melt the heart of any hopeless romantic. His song, “Falling”, is sure to tug at your heartstrings, and his melancholic lyrics and sincere delivery just might make you cry.
These aren’t Gavin’s only songs to stun audiences with his captivating poetry and enchanting melodies. In fact, as he ventures forth in his burgeoning career, Gavin is turning many industry heads. And his recent song placement in the television show West 49 Ambition generated a multitude of followers both at his live shows and on his website.
While Gavin is among the indie elite in Canada and the United States, he also has a notable presence in Europe with a cut on the CD of the Dutch Idol winner Nikki Kerkhof (Sony/BMG), a record that debuted at #9 on the Netherlands iTunes charts (ahead of Kanye West).
He is a regularly featured performer at Toronto’s “Wednesdays Go Pop!” at The Supermarket (Toronto’s newest club for head-turning artists.) Gavin has also shared the stage with Justin Nozuka, Jeremy Lister (NBC’s The Sing Off/Street Corner Symphony), The Midway State, Lindi Ortega, and Tony Arata (writer of The Dance-Garth Brooks), to name a few.
Gavin has also been embraced across the border having played shows at Eddie’s Attic (Atlanta), The Bluebird Café (Nashville), Rockwood Music Hall (New York) and The Basement (Nashville).
There is no doubt that Gavin Slate’s innate songwriting ability and his natural performance style engage every audience he encounters. Coupled with his compelling presence, it’s no wonder he is silencing a room and leaving his fans speechless when he performs.
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