The Tryst of Joanna Chapman-Smith

Artist Information

Biography

Joanna Chapman-Smith grew up with her New Zealand-born father, Italian-American mother, in a family of six on a quiet street on the edge of Toronto. Her father fell in love with the folk music of Eastern Canada when he came to Canada in 1983, singing his four children to sleep with these and the songs from his home every night. With the Toronto traffic rushing on in the distance, this is how Joanna learned music.

When Joanna moved out west to Vancouver, British Columbia - her music met a vast new array of cultural traditions. She acquired her BFA in Music, which has exposed her to Gamelan, Acoustic and Electroacoustic composition, and Dance Accompaniment. Joanna's music is a satisfying blend of these disparate sounds - ranging from contemplative ballads to upbeat pop to belting blues - sounds she ties together with a sensitive and powerful vocal style.

This past year Joanna released her first full-length album, Eyre Corvidae. Eyre Corvidae demonstrates Joanna's many talents as a multi-instrumentalist and her ear for tasteful harmonies and arrangements. Joanna's passion and her joy of life come across in her music and insightful lyrics. Even when serious, this music remains uplifting.

Joanna is currently recording her second album ("Contraries" 2008) at Rear Window Sound & Song with Co-Producer Adam Popowitz (Mariam Matossian, T. Nile). This album represents the high energy and innovation of Joanna's new repertoire. Joining her on this recording is her boistrous ensemble, including Wayne Adams on bgs & percussion, Dawn Zoe on bgs & accordion and Justine Fischer on bgs & stand-up bass.

For more information, visit
www.joannacs.com
www.myspace.com/joannacs

Instrumentation

Joanna Chapman-Smith - Main Vox, Guitar, Piano, Clarinet

Wayne Adams - BG's, Percussion
Dawn Zoe - BG's, Accordion
Justine Fischer - BG's, Stand-Up Bass

Discography

Eyre Corvidae (2007)
Contraries (2008)

Audio

• Melodies (Demo)
  Listen  
• Urbanity (Demo)
  Listen  
• Adrienne
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Ryan Fletcher, CJSF 90.1 FM [+ Show ]
  

  This album will be timeless. I heard it the whole way through the first time and immediatly wanted t...This album will be timeless. I heard it the whole way through the first time and immediatly wanted to hear it again. Chapman-Smith's songs are intelligent, clever, and wise. It makes me think of when I heard Jewel's 'Pieces of You' for the first time. Let us hope it reaches enough ears to make the same kind of impact. This artist is ready. Every song is a winner.
  
  Joanna has the knack for finding the right delivery for the right lyric. She truly sounds like a master, and that can't be an accident. Overall the album is soft, the music is catching, and the songs are priceless.
  
  I'm currently most interested by the tracks 'Hit the Drums', 'Moment of Green', 'Little Sister', 'The Dealer', 'Adrienne', 'Passion', and 'Closer'.
  
  

• "Tim", Online Review [+ Show ]
  

  Yesterday, I received two CDs in the mail, both of which I was very eager to get my ears on. The fir...Yesterday, I received two CDs in the mail, both of which I was very eager to get my ears on. The first, which I’ve been eagerly awaiting for a few months, is the debut release from a Canadian singer/songwriter named Joanna Chapman-Smith.
  
  This CD, entitled Eyre Corvidae is a wonderful, acoustic collection of original songs by a very talented up-and-coming name in the Canadian music scene. Instrumentally, the songs are very stripped – usually only guitar with tasteful vocal layers. There are a few exceptions though, where Joanna adds some violin, electric guitar, bass, and even drums! There’s some wonderful violin work on the second track, “Moment of Green”, giving it a very Irish folk sound. My favorite track on the CD is Adrienne, which has drums. No, that’s not why it’s my favorite track.
  
  Mood-wise, the CD is reminiscent of Lori Carson, who was wonderful at really capturing a feeling and putting that into sound. Lori Carson was much more melancholy than Joanna, however, who even with serious songs doesn’t become gloomy. Very well done. I love this CD.
  

• The Georgia Straight [+ Show ]
  

  ...Rounding out the chorus is honey-voiced Joanna Chapman-Smith, whose acoustic guitar and warm pres......Rounding out the chorus is honey-voiced Joanna Chapman-Smith, whose acoustic guitar and warm presence are grounding elements in the show.
  
  

• The Georgia Straight [+ Show ]
  

  It was not all doom and gloom, however. Joanna Chapman-Smith... brought vivid nature, whales and wa...It was not all doom and gloom, however. Joanna Chapman-Smith... brought vivid nature, whales and waves, into the concert hall...
  
  
  

• Tony Reif [+ Show ]
  

  Joanna Chapman-Smith is a very promising young singer-songwriter with a lot of charm as a performer....Joanna Chapman-Smith is a very promising young singer-songwriter with a lot of charm as a performer. I warmly recommend her to you.

• Sandy Scofield
  

  Joanna has a gorgeous voice that seduces you into the dreamy world she sings about.

• Jesse Zubot
  

  The CD [Eyre Corvidae] sounds really cool.

• Don Alder
  

  Joanna's gift of music hits you straight in the heart like arrows from cupid.

Setlist

Selected Original Material.

1. Arbitrary Lines
2. Melodies
3. Cry For The Departed
4. Being A Woman
5. A Glass of Right & Wrong
6. The Dealer
7. For Good
8. Urbanity
9. Closing My Door
10. Adrienne
11. Things Are Gonna Go Wrong
12. Just A Kiss
13. Closer
14. To Klezbian Life
15. Unspoken
16. Moment of Green
17. The Grass is Always Greener
18. The Air
19. Haven't Seen you Lately
20. Nature's Garden
21. Beautiful Space
22. A Tactile World

Basic Requirements

Calendar