Soap Box Duo

Local artists Jenesa and Alexander MacMullin have been performing throughout the tri-area this past summer, and though many don’t know their names, residents are more than familiar with the music of the Soap Box Duo.

This couple has been putting on shows at Spruce Grove’s Public Markets, Grove Cruise Nights in Columbus Park and Perks Coffee House, after becoming full-time musicians at the beginning of 2016.

“We were working full-time jobs, teaching (music) in the evenings and then performing,” said Alexander.

“It was so much that we decided to cut one of them out.”

It just so happened that in January Alexander lost his job as a result of the economy, and both realized that this might be an opportunity in disguise.

“We took it as an opportunity to do music full-time,” said Alexander.

“We needed a push, we both studied music in university and wanted to do this as a career,” added Jenesa.

Soap Box Duo released their first album this summer with five original songs, which touch on multiple issues, including how the two fell in love.

“Can I Call it Love is the song I wrote for Jenesa,” explained Alexander.

“It was about figuring out whether I really loved her. I didn’t want to toss the word around like it was nothing. I wanted it to really mean something.”

Other songs on the album delve into deeper issues, such as drug and sexual abuse.

“Our vision with our music is to use it as a platform to talk about things we think are important,” said Jenesa.

“One of the tracks on there (Kissed the Girls) is about people who have been through sexual abuse … and the restoration that is available.”

The duo characterizes their music as folk-pop, but said that their album covers a variety of genres.

“It can go from a bit of R&B to blues to jazz,” said Alexander.

“Because we went to a jazz and contemporary school, there is a lot of fusion and cross over, which gives a layer of colour to our sound,” added Jenesa.

Speaking of colour, the couple’s clothing during their performances is reminiscent of the 1940s, era, when people would stand on soapboxes to speak about social issues.

“We called ourselves the Soap Box Duo, because in the ‘40s, people would use soapboxes, which they would flip over and stand on the street corner, and preach to the crowd what they were passionate about, what they wanted changed,” explained Alexander.

“So we liked that idea and that era, so we dress 1940s.”

The Soap Box Duo has several events in the tri-area scheduled for this month, including a performance during Flavours of the Fall on Sept. 17 and Open Mike Night at Perks Coffee House on Sept. 25.

For more information about the duo’s upcoming performance dates or to purchase their new album, visit www.soapboxduo.com.

ymayne@postmedia.com

Twitter: @YasminMayne - Stony Plain Reporter

With a clean-cut vibe, the Soap Box Duo stands out from the rough-and-tumble esthetic of most local music scenes. Young newlyweds Jenesa and Alexander MacMullin are hoping to inspire, not alienate, listeners through sharing their own experiences of struggle.

The MacMullins met while studying music at Grant MacEwan and connected over a shared interest in social justice. Their self-titled EP, to be released on June 23, features an upbeat, folk-pop collection that reflects the band’s mission statement: “to inspire others to use their gifts to promote justice”—an ode to their band name.

The song “Kissed the Girls,” for example, speaks to the healing process after surviving sexual abuse. “Poison” illustrates Alexander’s struggles with addiction—namely, drugs and porn.

But the pair says the songs don’t come across as preachy because they are telling the stories through a personal narrative.

“We aren’t making the statement that no one should ever do these things,” Jenesa reflects. “It’s more like, ‘When I did these things, I realized it was destroying my life.'”

But carving out a squeaky-clean image can be isolating. Not only is the duo based in Spruce Grove, but their lifestyles diverge from both the liberal arts community and the larger music community in Edmonton.

“There’s times when you feel outside of the circle. It’s like being on the playground as a kid. We live a little bit different than other people, and sometimes we sit on the sidelines. But we’ve found people who are very encouraging and positive and [can] be world-changers and love on people through their music,” Jenesa says, referencing Chris Wiebe and Luke Deutekom, who play drums and bass on the EP.

She also mentions Sherwood Park trio the Royal Foundry as a positive influence on their band: “Music is central to who they are, and they use it in their best way to bring joy to other people.” Royal Foundry frontman Jared Salte produced the Soap Box Duo’s EP at his studio, and drummer-cellist Robbie Szabo rounded out their sound with his strings.

“In some ways, we’re separated from the community,” Alexander says. “But in another way, we’ve found a community of really great musicians.”

Thu, Jun 23 (7 pm)
With the Command Sisters, Josh Sahunta
Mercury Room, $10 in advance, $12 at the door - Vue Weekly Magazine

Soap Box Duo, Alexander and Jenesa MacMullen who just got married and are from Spruce Grove, Alberta perform folk/rock music together. Alexander is a guitarist and Jenesa is a vocalist. (Rosanne Fortier/photo)
Rosanne Fortier

Unique and versatile was the music from the artists who performed at the Bandshell at Vegreville Country Fair. On August 4 in the evening, the audience got acquainted with The Good Goodbyes, a five piece band who special- izes in R&B and Rock but performs all genres of music. August 5 presented Carter and the Capitals, a five piece energetic funk/pop outfit and August 6 saw Daniel Deighton, Maria Phillipos, Soap Box Duo and Funk Velvet for the Emerging Talent Showcase.
These singers arrived from Edmonton and area and many of the lyrics in their songs spoke about experiences they had in this region.
Randy Kereliuk from the Off Ramp Boys was the Master of Ceremony for the Bandshell in the afternoon on August 6 where he performed a few tunes during intermission. The audience com- mented that it is always a treat to see Randy perform.
After this, Daniel Deighton, singer/songwriter took the stage and let her music flow as naturally as the breeze that made its way through the fair during the warm day. Daniel mainly performed blues/folk music with her first song being about running away from love. Daniel is a drama/edu- cation student at the University of Alberta who was born and raised in Calgary.
Then Maria Phillipose, a 19 year-old singer/ songwriter from Edmonton, walked on stage and performed pop/rock music that had an interest- ing effect when she shook a rattle or turned her voice into a one-of-a-kind tone to make her music powerful.
Following this was Soap Box Duo, Alexander and Jenesa MacMullen. This couple from Spruce
Grove, Alberta are newlyweds who perform together. Alexander is a guitarist and Jenesa is a vocalist. They had a like-minded attitude while performing and the folk/rock sound created a mood as their lyrics communicated the message of promoting justice in the world. A few tunes were very energetic at times while they moved smoothly into a soft melody minutes later.
Funk Velvet was up next and created, authentic and energetic performances that were mainly funk, but they added different genres to the music as well. This trio is from Edmonton. - Vegreville New Advertiser

>photo with minimal text - Spruce Grove Examiner