ALANA YORKE

!MIXING IN MONTREAL!

Dec. 12, 2013 - We mixed Dream Magic last week in Montreal at The Pines with Mark Lawson. Five 12-hour days together. I think we made something really big.

FIRST SINGLE: ANTHEM

Nov. 18, 2013 - We shoot a vignette for Anthem on the Halifax-Dartmouth bridge just as Mark Lawson (Arcade Fire, Timber Timbre, Snowblink) gets ready to mix the single in Montreal.

NEW ALBUM: FIRST VIGNETTE

Nov. 6, 2013 - The first video vignette: a little glimpse at what's to come with the album.

WHITE RABBIT 2013

Aug. 2013 - Sometimes we get to go into the forest and play on a stage at midnight that was built by incredible artists, with the audience across a stream watching us through cattail torches. Photo: Eli Gordon

WHAT I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU

July 23, 2013 - A lot has happened lately and we were quite busy with The Carleton show, but (meanwhile), the following was tracked for Dream Magic: a sexy 80's sax solo with Chris Mitchell, an Irish-British speaking voice-over with Joshua O'Riley, plus Hammond tracking on location. And we now have a Roland D-50.

SUMMER SHOWS AND TRACKING

July 8, 2013 - The Halifax show of the summer is just around the corner: July 15 at The Carleton with Gabrielle Papillon! These days we're rehearsing the live show and finishing up tracking for Dream Magic. In the words of Petshop Boys: What have I, What have I, What have I done to deserve this? (in a good way). Next stop: White Rabbit.

"UNHAPPY HAPPY" MUSIC

May 22, 2013 - Ian Bent and I just finished doing the music for our first feature film, "Unhappy Happy". Here's a glimpse into one of our sessions at The Echo Chamber: Casio beats + tack piano + CP-70 + Farfiza + grand piano as a desk + the amazing Chas Austin = a super quirky cue for Montage 2. And a blast for us.

MORE STUDIO MOMENTS

May 14, 2013 - Some stills by Martin Noel from our gorgeous and unbelievable string session last week with Gina Burgess, Michael Walling, Susanne Brown, John Spears, and Adam Fine; Ian Bent (arranger) conducting and killin' it.

May 8, 2013 - String arrangements for Dream Magic are done, printed, and ready to be tracked tomorrow.

NEW PHOTOS FROM THE COHO SHOW

Apr. 25, 2013 - A few snaps from the show a couple of weeks ago at The Company House in Halifax. Thanks, Laura!

FLASHBACK TO WINDOW BALLET 2

Apr. 20, 2013 - As we're soon coming up on one year, some of us are flashing back to Lisa Lipton's Window Ballet 2. "Song of the Piano Man" was commissioned for this installation. The song is already recorded for Dream Magic; it is just awaiting the strings - the final touch. It's not every gig that I get to rock a Frida-inspired uni-brow (with "twin" Rebecca Zolkower of Dark for Dark; photo by Katie McKay).

STUDIO MOMENTS

Mar. 7, 2013 - Phenomenal guitar tracking and pre-pro this week and last. Guitar ecstasy with Nick Maclean, Ian Bent, and Charles Austin. Never ever would I have thought that my "spirit pedal" (the Stereo Flanger) would come back into my life yesterday and make its way onto the record.

Feb. 14, 2013 - Nothing says "I love you" like a sweet vintage synth drone. (Ian Bent using analog synthesis on Song of the Piano Man.)

Jan. 15, 2013 - My Yamaha CP-70 comfortably moved into The Echo Chamber next to the Baldwin grand piano in preparation for tuning. "This may be a keyboard-heavy record."

WORKING ON THE ALBUM

January 2013 - We're in the studio this winter recording Dream Magic, a collection of songs brought together by nostalgia and optimism. Vintage 8mm American home movies provide inspiration for this project and influences run from retro synth pop to indie folk. It's been a long time coming, and we'll have it out sometime next year.

LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO: "THE WEIGHT"

“I was completely entranced from the outset of the piece- and it wasn’t until the end I realized I hadn’t taken a breath the whole time. It was totally spellbinding.”
- Mickey Quase, Music Development Officer, Nova Scotia Culture Division