Pharis and Jason Romero have made it into the Smithsonian.
Well, into Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, that is.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really exciting for us, itB次元官网网址檚 our first time doing a record with a record label,B次元官网网址� said Pharis, one half of the award-winning folk duo. Though they are usually self-reliant, producing, promoting and distributing their own records, the pair are happy to hand over those jobs for this release.
The pairB次元官网网址檚 latest album, B次元官网网址楾ell B次元官网网址楨m You Were GoldB次元官网网址� takes its name from one line in the song Souvenir.
The line stuck out for both of them, from the lyrics Pharis wrote, and which Jason then put the music to.
The video for the song was filmed in the historic 153 Mile Store, near Williams Lake.
Pharis said the location for the video came about after talking to Rick Magnell, a local photographer and videographer who she and Jason have worked with many times before.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 the ultimate videographer and photographer because he is constantly pushing his skill set and his equipment set,B次元官网网址� said Pharis, of Magnell.
The folk duo have worked with Magnell on three records to make promotional photography and videos.
They were brainstorming historic and interesting locations which would fit with the songB次元官网网址檚 theme and title, coming up with Barkerville, their old barn and then Magnell suggested the historic store.
B次元官网网址淚 had never been in it, but that was the perfect idea,B次元官网网址� said Pharis, who explained the location seemed like a fit for a couple of reasons.
PharisB次元官网网址� maiden name is Patenaude, so she is distantly related to Roger Patenaude, who along with his wife Alison, have been caretaking the store for the past few years on behalf of the Patenaude family.
RogerB次元官网网址檚 family used to own the 153 Mile Ranch and have been maintaining the historic store for a couple of generations now. The store is something of a museum, housing all manner of historic goods.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 this incredible time capsule of Cariboo history,B次元官网网址� described Pharis, referencing one line in the song: B次元官网网址渁 souvenir of time.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎lthough the song is not a direct reference to things being physical, tangible souvenirs, the store felt like such a great representation of just the idea of things being a souvenir.B次元官网网址�
She said the filming of the video in the store, however, was a challenge. They were trying to convey a sense of intimacy in music and a sense of the place they were in, and to overcome working in such an old building.
B次元官网网址淲e had extension cords running all over the place,B次元官网网址� recalled Pharis, with only one electrical outlet to light the space.
But the video gives no hint of those hurdles, and the video glows with both light and the warmth of the folk power-couplesB次元官网网址� voices.
The Souvenir video is the first for their new record, an album that seems different to them, she said because it has more of a thematic feel, focusing on banjos, with Jason playing seven unique banjos in the 16 songs.
The emphasis is on each of these instrumentsB次元官网网址� sounds and backstory, which is appropriate because this year marks 20 years of the coupleB次元官网网址檚 banjo-making business and this year they will produce their 500th banjo.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lots of like B次元官网网址楾ing! Ting! Ting!B次元官网网址� moments,B次元官网网址� said Pharis. B次元官网网址淚t feels quite incredible, actually.B次元官网网址�
Jason has been building and hanging onto banjos for the last few years to work towards this project, which also included a film crew coming up to Horsefly, documenting the making of the album.
This year also marks 15 years of marriage for Jason and Pharis.
While in some ways, Pharis said the 15 years can feel like they have gone by quickly, in other ways, it has been far from high-speed.
B次元官网网址淚f I sit back and just think about the last 15 years of my life and whatB次元官网网址檚 happened, I think B次元官网网址極h no, thatB次元官网网址檚 not fast at all.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 so full. So thatB次元官网网址檚 a good feeling.B次元官网网址�
The pair so far produced two kids, five records, won three Juno awards and seven Canadian Folk music awards.
B次元官网网址淟ots of similarities and lots of difference, enough to keep it interesting,B次元官网网址� says Pharis, of the partnership.
Read more:
Read more:
ruth.lloyd@wltribune.com
Like us on and follow us on
