Lisa Marie Kruchak

There is something timeless about a songwriter who is willing to expose and explore within their music the most vulnerable parts of themselves. Equally refreshing is when those emotions are presented in a more honest and interesting way than we’re used to. It isn’t that ‘Miles Of Prairie’ doesn’t have that classic folk rockiness to it-it does-but more it is rare to find an artist who manages to encapsulate their life so well within their music, and where the music so well encapsulates the artist.

Lisa Marie Kruchak’s expressive, tortured vocals are accompanied by finely layered acoustics and are a well rounded portrait of an artist somewhat worn by her years in the Toronto music scene after moving from ‘lonely town’ Winnipeg. In ‘Lonely Heart’ she sings ‘I left school to see what I could find/Found me a city where the people are too busy/To listen to me sing?To listen to their hearts’.

‘Lonely Heart’, with its haunting intro, and ‘Without Losin’ are the highlights of the album. The latter reveals a sad awareness of life and time passing by and the disillusionment it can leave behind, with the lyrics “I remember when I used to write songs/I remember when I used to sing them all night long/And isn’t love supposed to make you feel happy/And isn’t love supposed to make you feel anything at all” .

The album is a series of soft confessions, thoughtfully rendered, with lyrics sometimes simple and sometimes complex-this being the signature of her songwriting; simple words to convey the seemingly simple nature of life on the surface, while alluding always to the complex nature of everything beneath it. By the last song the lyrics, backed by layers of acoustic guitar, mandolin and other strings, blend together in shades of folk and rock and blues to convey the intent of the songs and of the artist-a voice that says ‘this is what I’ve been through, its been hard but here I am, and here I’ll be. Or, in the words of the artist in the concluding track, ‘Everything will work out fine this time/At least I can say that I tried/For 10 minutes to be alive.’ - the Scene Magazine

The recording of last Thursday's show is right here on MIXCLOUD, listen with careful stride: https://www.mixcloud.com/lad…/follow-the-path-to-your-heart/ - Ladies First CHUO 89.1 FM

Down-to-earth songcraft and DIY to the bone, Lisa Marie Kruchak delivers acoustic incantations that straddle folk wispiness and bluesy richness, with a natural storytelling prowess that edges itself around Ani DiFranco and Fiona Apple. A strong, silken voice, that communicates personal, thoughtful lyrics, this Winnipeg native more than upholds the singer-songwriter tradition. A watercolour of life-experiences to song. - the Lonely Vagabond

Lisa Marie Kruchak, originally from Winnipeg and now Torontonian, has a few things to say about music and challenging the folk singer status quo.


How long have you been playing guitar?

I’ve been playing for about nine or ten years. I started playing around 16 or 17. I guess it was one of those things; they thought I wouldn’t keep up with it and didn’t want to waste money on lessons and a guitar, which is understandable. They finally caved in and let me take guitar lessons when I started ‘hanging out with the wrong crowd’, they wanted to keep me out of trouble. Heh. And now here I am, living my life for the damned thing…

How do you feel about being categorized as another folk singer? How would you challenge this blanket statement?

Generally I don’t mind, but I definitely don’t think it’s completely accurate–it’s just easy. I haven’t quite found just the right words that I think fully describe my sound yet. I always have a hard time categorizing or describing most musicians’ music, let alone my own. I’m influenced by acts like Gomez, Greg Macpherson, Matthew Good, Depeche Mode and Luke Doucet. Artists that are all very different and most of which are not folk music and I think that comes across in my music. I guess I could say that my music is alternative folk rock, but that would just be another blanket statement wouldn’t it? Ha ha. I guess I’d just say that my music is Lisa in audio form.

Your song “Gift of Gossip” comments on fashion and feeling like an outsider, what’s the story behind this?

Well, It’s not a negative song about fashion as I do appreciate fashion. It’s basically about not understanding people who base their entire identity on being liked, being seen with the right people and wearing the right clothes. I mean all those things are important to pretty much everybody to a degree, but when you have no personality outside of that, well, that’s just not something I understand.

You’ve gone back and forth from your hometown of Winnipeg and Toronto, what are the differences you’ve noticed between the scenes and audiences?

The scene is a lot closer knit in Winnipeg, everybody knows or at least knows of everybody else, but that’s generally because it’s a lot smaller. The Winnipeg Audience tends to be a bit more enthusiastic; Toronto’s harder to win over. Which could be seen as a bad thing, but it makes you work that much harder, it makes you a better musician, or at least I hope it does.

What do you think makes a real musician?

Hmm, it’s hard to say because there are so many different kinds of musicians. You could be an amazing musician and not be a working musician, you could be a Vet or something and still be a very talented musician. Then there are the working musicians, session musicians, people in bands, songwriters who don’t perform their own songs, they’re all musicians just different kinds. I guess if passion in your heart for it and communicate emotion through music, then you’re a musician.

What’s next for you?

So many plans so little money! Ha ha. Well I will be playing in Winnipeg and in Hamilton in the New Year, I’ll be gigging in and around Toronto for a few months after that. I want to record a full length album sometime soon, maybe at the end of 08, I’ve been working on plenty of new material and I’m very close to ready, the only thing in my way is money. So if anyone out there is feeling generous, I am currently accepting donations! Ha ha. After that, tour! - Torontoindie.com

Lisa Marie Kruchak and Jody Glenham:

Two Winnipeg-grown indie artists play Cafe Deux Soliels (2096 Commercial Dr.) tonight. Folk-inspired Kruchak, since relocated to Toronto, prides herself on playing "noodly bits" and her distinctive finger pickings and heart-felt lyrics have won her many fans on the TO circuit.


http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/liveatfive/archive/2007/10/09/oct-8-live-five.aspx - the Province