Ainsley Friesen

Ainsley Friesen is not afraid of making mistakes.  On stage or off, she takes musical risks with a humorous perspective and a sense of humility. Her lyrics speak of lapses in judgment and emotional twists, yet wind their way to resolution.  There is no mistaking, however, Ainsley’s natural abilities and talents when it comes to writing and playing.  Years of classical studies in piano and voice juxtaposed with self-taught guitar skills have bred a polished musician willing to break the rules she has learned. As a young teenager she was influenced by Joni Mitchell and Carole King, as is typical, but her love of jazz brought her the discovery of Ella Fitzgerald and Blossom Dearie. After the release of her debut album “Scattered…Inspired” in 1998, she toured eastern Canada with her dog and her K-car, moved to Halifax for art school, fell in love too many times to count but somehow always wound up back in Winnipeg. She has been performing for over a decade and continues to win audiences with her warmth and charm. Her most recent project is the April 2011 unofficial release of her EP, “Doucement”, which took on more of a country feel than her previous work, but still remains faithful to her style. She has also been developing her band since the Spring of 2011.