Wailin' on a whirlwind, these three women are at the beginning of a promising career Wailin' on a whirlwind, these three women are at the beginning of a promising career.
After just releasing their first full-length album 40 Days, the Wailin' Jennys are hittng the road on a series of release parties including Medicine Hat on Tuesday, April 16 at the Grandstand Banquet Room.What was supposed to be a one-time performance of three solo folk artists, Nicky Mehta, Cara Luft, and Ruth Moody, blossomed into a folk trio sensation with instant musical chemistry. Their first show at a guitar shop in Winnipeg, where the group calls home, quickly sold out - twice. They knew instantly there was potential for a future collaboration. Little did they know it would happen so quickly.
"It was really surprising the way our voices fit together," says Mehta.
The trio went directly into the recording studio to put together a demo to accompany them to the North American Folk Alliance conference. Their showcases saw huge crowds, much of which they attribute to their clever name.
"We took the most awful picture of ourselves and put it on the poster. A lot of people told us that they came to see us because the poster was so hilarious and they liked our name," says Mehta.
From their debut at the Folk Alliance, the Wailin' Jennys filled their schedule with festival dates and other performances.
Soon after, they released a self-titled EP of six tracks and it was only a matter of time before they hit the studio once again to record 40 Days, which is just now fresh on store shelves.
Mehta says while the Jennys haven't had any time to write some new material as a group, there are nine original tracks on 40 Days they arranged together. With all three members being songwriters, there was no shortage of material.
The album also includes some traditional folk songs as well as cover tunes by artists including Neil Young and John Hiatt.
"There is potential for us to co-write, but there has been no time because we're on the road so much," Mehta explains.
As for the recording process, Mehta says they are glad to finally have the finished product in their hands.
"It was a lengthy process. It was really exciting for us and we learned a lot."
She says for the Wailin' Jennys show that have added a lot of instruments. And while they are still evolving performers as a group, it will all be new for Medicine Hat because they have never performed in the Gas City before.
"We like to have fun," says Mehta.
"There's lots of humour in between songs and we love to interact with the audience. We even do a couple of sing-alongs. But don't worry, we don't force you to sing."