Wailin' their way North

Folk trio enjoying 'crazy whirlwind' of a year, hit Yellowknife for Gumboots show Folk trio enjoying 'crazy whirlwind' of a year, hit Yellowknife for Gumboots show

No cats were harmed in the course of this interview, though one did get its head stuck between the slats of a set of blinds.

Nicky Mehta, who sings mezzo-soprano for folk trio The Wailin' Jennys, was laughing as she explained the crisis to a reporter. Thankfully the cat managed to extricate itself without her aid.

"Now, where were we?" said Mehta.

It was a perfecly legitimate question. Mehta described the past two years as a "crazy whirlwind." The group has just celebrated its second birthday. The trio formed in 2002 and has since toured all over Canada. They've produced a six-song self-titled CD and have a second album due out in March.

The Jennys, who perform at NACC tonight and tomorrow on a double bill with the Gumboots, thrive on three-part harmony. Complimenting Mehta's mezzo-soprano, Ruth Moody sings soprano and Cara Luft sings alto.

All three are also songwriters an bring their diverse influences to the group's songs.

"Cara's stuff is a blend of folk influences and her desire to be a rock star," said Mehta.

"Ruth's stuff has a more traditional feel, more down home and acoustic. And my stuff is sort of ambient contemporary folk. But they all end up sounding like Jennys songs," she said.

Together they produce a sound Mehta described as roots with influences from Celtic music, country and alt country.

On the phone from her home in Winnipeg, Mehta said all three Jennys were excited about coming to Yellowknife.

"We were in Whitehorse last summer," she said.

"So we're looking forward to the chance to experience both extreme seasons."

Mehta decided to take a year off school before pursuing her Masters degree. That was eight years ago. She fell into folk music when she attended the North American Folk Alliance festival as a back-up singr.

"What a scene," she said.

She found the folk music community very supportive.

"They make it possible to actually make a living," she said.

Mehta's first solo album, Weather Vane, was nominated for a Canadian Music Award.

Gumboot Ray Bethke told Yellowknifer he was pleased to bring the Wailin' Jennys up north now because a year or so down the road, they might be impossible to book.

"It's so funny to hear stuff like that," said Mehta. "It's hard to imagine that. I'm sure we'll always play smaller places. We'll b back."

Local Trio Building on Strong Start

In the middle of January 2002, a trio of Winnipeg singer/songwriters got together for a one-time show at Sled Dog Music in Wolseley. The immediate interest in that show spawned a second night, and the interest in both nights would go on to spawn a very promising career that’s taken off over the past 22 months In the middle of January 2002, a trio of Winnipeg singer/songwriters got together for a one-time show at Sled Dog Music in Wolseley. The immediate interest in that show spawned a second night, and the interest in both nights would go on to spawn a very promising career that’s taken off over the past 22 months.

The three musicians who make up The Wailin’ Jennys had each previously worked hard to carve out their individual careers, each with different focuses, but all with promising success.

Nicky Mehta has been singing and playing around Winnipeg since 1995. In 2001, she released a critically acclaimed solo CD called Weather Vane. It’s a collection of serious and thought provoking songs that are introspective and poetic and beautiful. Cara “Lovely” Luft was raised by professional folk singing parents, and has a great love and appreciation for traditional folk. She also harbours, what she calls “her inner rock child” which has helped make her a well-respected guitarist who once played England’s prestigious International Guitar Festival. And Ruth Moody spent four years touring the world as the lead singer for internationally renowned celtic band, Scruj MacDuhk. When that band broke up, she went on to release a solo CD called Blue Muse.

With such promising individual careers, there was no plan to form a band and start something else, the pieces just sort of fell into place, says Nicky Mehta, “I remember at the time, the person who helped us put our first show together, the owner of Sled Dog Music, John Sharples, I remember him saying, ǃ

Three of a Kind

Three singer/songwriters were comfortably pursuing careers, recording albums, playing concerts and festivals, until Ruth Moody, then a member of the soon-to-be-defunct folk/bluegrass band Scruj MacDuhk considered the possibility of hooking up and singing with other female artists Trio stacks the deck with talent

Three singer/songwriters were comfortably pursuing careers, recording albums, playing concerts and festivals, until Ruth Moody, then a member of the soon-to-be-defunct folk/bluegrass band Scruj MacDuhk considered the possibility of hooking up and singing with other female artists. That was two summers ago, when she approached Winnipeg musicians Cara Luft and Nicky Mehta at the Winnipeg Folk Festival-and the Flying Jennys were born.

"A mutual friend of ours who owns a little guitar shop in Winnipeg got wind of the whole thing and thought that it would be a fabulous idea," says Mehta. The proprietor of that establishment (Sled Dog Music) offered to stage a show for them in January, and even give them a name (a play on the late Waylon Jennings' moniker).

The original intent was just a one-off performance, but the response was so persuasive that the three shelved their solo aspirations for the benefit of the collective.

"In the beginning we had our eye on our solo stuff," Mehta explains. "There is still the intention of doing that, but we've decided that our primary focus at this particular point is the trio. We're still able to do original material and there's just way more work for the trio."

"There's so much interest in the act that it would be kind of stupid not to follow it."

When the natural soprano (Moody), mezzo (Mehta, and alto (Luft) are combined, the results are dazzling, an effect well demonstrated on the six song CD they put together last year. The record is a nice introduction into their world of folk and country, with a touch of acoustic pop, and their version of Leadbelly's "Bring Me L'il Water Silvy" is simply breathtaking. Now their next problem is getting together enough material to record a full-length effort, probably sometime this spring.

"We haven't had a chance (to write together) because we've been on the road so much, and if we're not on the road, we're planning tours or we're dealing with business. We actually are going to make it a priority in the next few months. Some will be done independently of each other, but we're probably going to take a stab at writing together at some point."

However, despite the hectic pace at which the group has evolved, they've managed to get their act onto such a solid platform pretty quickly because, as Mehta puts it, they just know what the gig involves.

"It's kind of like the way our voices are: we're very different singers and we're very different people but for some reason it just works when we come together. It's a nice blend of personalities and a nice blend musically. There's not a whole bunch of ego happening in this band. We're all pretty respectful of each other, and by virtue of having done this for a while and our age and just making sure we listen to each other, we do pretty well."

The Wailin' Jennys

None of them is actually named Jennys and they don't play Waylon Jennings covers, either. Instead, The Wailin' Jennys are the trio of Winnipeg musicians Cara Luft, Nicky Mehta, and Ruth Moody-all of whom are singer-songwriters in their own right, and each with burgeoning independent solo careers None of them is actually named Jennys and they don't play Waylon Jennings covers, either. Instead, The Wailin' Jennys are the trio of Winnipeg musicians Cara Luft, Nicky Mehta, and Ruth Moody-all of whom are singer-songwriters in their own right, and each with burgeoning independent solo careers. What started out as a mere folk lark exercise about a year ago has turned into a much bigger concern than any of the individual members' solitary enterprises.

Within days of performing what was supposed to be a one-off show at a hometown music shop, Luft, Mehta and Moody started fielding gig offers with guarantees well in excess of their usual take. In fact, before the trio had even so much as recorded a demo tape, the Jennys had already been booked to play a half dozen Canadian folk festivals last summer, including those in Ottawa, Guelph, Winnipeg, and Victoria.

To be fair, the unit's overnight discovery had more than a little to do with the solid reputations the three artists had already cultivated on their own (in Moody's case, with her former Juno-nominated band Scruj MacDuhk). As well, part of the Jennys' appeal to folk festivals was the outfit's ability to package itself as four acts in one-a boon to programmers dealing with multiple stages and workshops. Ultimately, though, it's The Wailin' Jennys remarkable three-part harmonies (conveniently, the trio consists of a super-effective alto/mezzo/soprano split) that continue to win over promoters, artistic directors and audience members alike.

The Wailin' Jennys are currently touring in support of a self-titled debut EP. Fans coming out to their Lydia's show can expect to hear original material from the disc, as well as some playful covers by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Led Zeppelin, and Kim Mitchell-but not late, great country gentleman Waylon Jennings. Incidentally, the band took its name prior to Jennings' death earlier this year.

Wailin' Jennys prove there's strength in numbers

What was billed less than a year ago as a one-time-only concert featuring three of Winnipeg's best known female singer/songwriters has become one of the hottest new acts on the Western Canadian roots music scene How new act blends great chemistry with a sense of humour

What was billed less than a year ago as a one-time-only concert featuring three of Winnipeg's best known female singer/songwriters has become one of the hottest new acts on the Western Canadian roots music scene.

Working under the banner The Wailin' Jennys, Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta, and Cara Luft made the right decision when they realized there was indeed strength in numbers following an overwhelming reception at two sold-out shows in their hometown kast January. Moody had just finished watching her band Scruj MacDuhk implode after a four-year run when she approached Luft and Mehta about pulling a concert together that would feature both traditional folk material and originals from each performer.

"Those two shows went so well that we decided to team up for a few impromptu shows at the Folk Alliance Conference in Jacksonville, Fla., a few weeks later," says Luft.

A mandolin and guitar player who has recorded three solo albums, including last year's Tempting The Storm, which was nominated for a Prairie Music Award, Luft quickly saw the writing on the wall after the four-day blitz of solo and group performances at the major roots music showcase.

"We were getting a lot of support from people like Rick Fenton, the artistic director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival."

Luft said the chemistry between the three was particularly strong on the vocal front.

"Our voices work well in terms of ranges. We all sound different but the combination makes for one unified voice, plus we had fun with it right from the start."

The Jennys played a number of major folk festivals this past summer, and lately have opened some dates for Zubot and Dawson and played a few A-circuit roots rooms like Vancouver's Railway Club.

One component of the Wailin' Jennys' game plan is to begin writing as a team, or in pairs, once they've pulled off the road. But there's no pressure to rush into an album.

Joining The Wailin' Jennys this evening on the double bill at the Westwwod Unitarian Church Hall will be harpist and singer Keri Lynn Zwicker.

Tell me about the Jennys!

You could say that it was like three winding roads merging in the night, coming into the light and becoming a newly laid path The Wailin' Jennys aren't complaining about their busy touring schedule You could say that it was like three winding roads merging in the night, coming into the light and becoming a newly laid path. About a year ago, Ruth Moody, Cara Lyft, and Nicky Mehta came together in Winnipeg and haven't looked back since-and the whirlwind that has taken them through two albums and countless folk festivals in the last year shows no signs of slowing. They've already got a third record planned for a release next spring.

All three women are veteran folk musicians, all of whom were successfully pursuing individual music careers when they were asked to do a one-off show at Winnipeg's Sled Dog Music as a trio called The Wailin Jennys. At the time, they didn't think of the gig as anything more than a one-night stand; the threesome just wanted to have some fun together and gathered their best work as well as their favorite songs to cover-Emmylou Harris's "Deeper Well" was one song all three were enthusiastic about. The number landed not only on the Sled Dog setlist that night, but also on the self-titled debut EP that soon followed. "One thing that I particularly find fascinating," says Mehta, "is how creatively fulfilling it is to arrange even covers. You sort of think only original stuff is really creative, but the actual process of putting together a song and making it your own and adding new instrumentation is an incredibly creative and neat thing."

As three individual and independent artists, the Wailin' Jennys have managed not only to nurture their own talents but to learn and explore their art together. Luft's experience growing up with musician parents helps on the road. Moody brings her Celtic background to the band's sound. Mehta's academic knowledge allows an intuitive perspective of the issues. But at the end of the day, they all share the song. "We have a very easy working relationship, largely because we are such different artists and we all have very different styles," says Mehta. "It's never about who's the best guitar player, because, I mean, Cara is clearly the best guitar player in our group. But everyone has their own style and everyone has their own way of writing and they're all equally valid in very different ways. We enhance each other's weaknesses and play off each other's strengths, so it's really neat that way."

At least they didn't call themselves the Engorged Joans

The women didn't even invent the group's name, but they've come to appreciate its pros and cons. "It's a play on Waylon Jennings," says Mehta, "which a lot of people don't get immediately, but it also causes tremendous confusion because people think they're hearing 'Waylon Jennings.' We were booked into a hotel in Ottawa for the Ottawa Folk Festival and they couldn't find us on the register. We were going to through our last names and Jennys and Wailin' and everything. They found us under Waylon Jennings. Someone from the hotel had actually phoned the festival asking if Waylon Jennings was playing."

Mehta makes a further point of saying that they adopted the name about three weeks before the country singer passed away last year. "When we went down to the Folk Alliance (in Florida)," she says, "it was a little dicey because people maybe thought it was disrespectful. We had a few people saying maybe we should learn one of his songs and we certainly intend to when we get a chance. But it's interesting how much interest the name itself has generated and that's something again we just happened upon. We had people coming to our showcase that didn't know who we were but just loved the name. So you can't ask for anything better than that.

What's In A Name?

It's arguably the catchiest name to grace a folk band since Scruj MacDuhk appeared on the Canadian folk scene. But while The Wailin' Jennys-Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody, and Cara Luft-admit they'd love to be able to claim credit for their inspired moniker, Mehta confesses that it was bestowed on them by a friend with a penchant for dreaming up evocative band names For The Wailin' Jennys, hopefully a shortcut to the top of the folk scene It's arguably the catchiest name to grace a folk band since Scruj MacDuhk appeared on the Canadian folk scene. But while The Wailin' Jennys-Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody, and Cara Luft-admit they'd love to be able to claim credit for their inspired moniker, Mehta confesses that it was bestowed on them by a friend with a penchant for dreaming up evocative band names.

"We didn't have a name until after out first show was arranged," she explains. "A mutual friend who booked the show said, 'I think The Wailin' Jennys is a great name', and everyone loved it right off the bat. At the Folk Alliance show in Florida, people came to our showcase based on the name alone." But the large fan base and critical attention they've received since forming in January of 2002 has less to do with the trio's name than it does with its members' instrumental and songwriting prowess, imaginative arrangements and, particularly, their spine-tingling harmonies. "Three-part harmony is very attractive to people," Mehta says. "It's very rooted in time historically and it's just something that people really respond to for some reason."

All three Jennys had gained prior recognition for their own CDs and careers: Mehta and Luft as singer-songwriters and Moody as a member of Scruj MacDuhk. But since its inception, demand for the trio at festivals and other venues is such that the Jennys have been left feeling, as Mehta puts it, "surprised, awed, amazed, and humbled." For this reason, the three musicians have put their individual careers on the backburner for the time being. "The emphasis is on the Jennys right now," says Mehta. "There us almost exclusive interest (from promoters) in the trio. We're willing to go with that right now, especially because we're doing our own original material within the band."

Actually, their eponymous debut EP is a mix of originals and covers, including Daniel Lanois' tune "Deeper Well" and a version of Leadbelly's "Bring Me A L'il Water, Silvy" that would have sounded right at home on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack. But their next CD will feature mainly originals-despite the fact that, according to Mehta, The Wailin' Jennys have not had a lot of time to write, largely because of their constant, often hectic touring schedule. But, she adds, touring with the Jennys is a pleasure. "It's really much nicer than touring alone," she says. "You know, strength in numbers."

It's a great name - but talent helps

Nicky Mehta would like to believe that her band's star-making performance at a music conference in Florida was based on talent alone. But she's guessing that wasn't entirely the case Nicky Mehta would like to believe that her band's star-making performance at a music conference in Florida was based on talent alone. But she's guessing that wasn't entirely the case.

At the Folk Alliance festival last February, the music of The Wailin' Jennys-which Mehta fronts with Ruth Moody and Cara Luft-was rapturously received by the influential radio and festival programmers in attendance. What the three friends ended up with in return was a number of unexpectedly packed showcase concerts at the influential music industry event.

Looking back on it now, the 30-year-old with the rich alto voice believes the immediate response was as much due to the acoustic trio's talent as it was their shrewd marketing.

"We took the worst shot of us that we could find and plastered it everywhere," says Mehta. "This one shot in particular was just brutal. Ruth looked like she had been stung by a wasp, and we had this fan on us so our hair was blowing everywhere. But people loved the name. We had all these people loved the name. We had all these people coming up saying, 'We don't know who you are, but good name!'"

Great name, in fact. And while its likeness to a certain outlaw country star has caused the occasional double-take-"We got booked into a hotel room as Waylon Jennings at the Ottawa Folk Festival," Mehta laughs-the moniker has served a valuable purpose in the short term.

Together just under a year the Winnipeg-based group has already shot to near the top of the folk scene in Canada. Early support from the CBC helped put the band on the fast track, Mehta says, but hitting the road and playing in front of people has been crucial in breaking the band's heartfelt harmonies to folk fans across the country.

Each Wailin' Jennys was a veteran performer before joining forces with the other two, which has been a blessing, she says. "Had we been fresh as performers period, it might be a different story. But I think that our collective experience helps. That extends from everything to booking a solid tour to stage presence. Everyone is a seasoned enough performer that nobody loses it on stage."

The group's run of good fortune began almost immediately. A mutual friend, who also happened to own Sled Dog Music in Winnipeg, had the idea of staging a performance at his guitar shop, and he asked the three performers to assemble a group for it. They agreed.

But never did the quickly formed trio, who had met the year prior at the Winnipeg Folk Festival when Moody was still a member of Scruj MacDuhk, expect their free-wheeling set-which featured originals and Led Zeppelin and Kim Mitchell covers-to warrant the reaction it did.

"The interest in that first show was so good that we booked a second date," says Mehta. "We had such a great time. I think we were all so burned out from pursuing our own stuff that this was just a chance to really have some fun and learn some songs. It was for fun and nothing else. There was always this very relaxed, noncommittal attitude towards it."

Mehta says The Wailin' Jennys maintain the same devil-may-care attitude, but there's no denying the fact that the pressure is mounting for this young band. Its first-ever summer festival date was as a headliner at July's Winnipeg Folk Festival; their eighth gig together was at the massive Harbourfront Center in Toronto.

Mehta says a highlight for the band was during the Comox Valley's Vancouver Island Music festival this summer, when the group was schedules to perform a Sunday morning gospel set. At the time, The Jennys had just enough material for two sets, and precious little of it was gospel.

Still, the trio performed flawlessly.

"We were madly trying to figure out what we could tackle from our existing set that could fit into a gospel thing," Mehta says laughing. "Anything remotely, even possibly connected to God was used. We were really stretching to the limits there."

It didn't appear to be a stretch for the audience, which responded to the band's endearing treatment of songs, some of which appear on the group's new self-titled EP.

But as for doing it again, Mehta isn't so sure that her band would get the same crowd reaction. "I think people have heard our stage patter too much since then. It's not so devotional."