Rising Waters

Indie band Rising Waters set to release debut album
SYDNEY — Richard Schaller had a knack for poetry from early age but says he struggled to have his words taken seriously.

Topics : Howie Centre , CD Baby , Halifax , East Coast , Arichat
That all changed when he transformed those words into lyrics.

“Pick up a guitar and start putting those poems to music, all of a sudden everyone listens and they actually give your words a chance,” recalled Schaller, a native of Howie Centre who is taking his songs one step further with the release of “The Fall of Rising Waters.”

It’s the debut album from Halifax-based indie-rock band Rising Waters, of which Schaller is lead singer and chief songwriter. The band is rounded out by Arichat native Keegan Leblanc on guitar, Halifax musicians Nick Donald Patterson on bass guitar, and drummer Sheldon Hodder.

The album “The Fall of Rising Waters” will be available online and in select music stores across the country Friday.

“We started on the album in October 2010 with the over-ambitious goal of being ready in like a month,” said Schaller, noting he’s learned a lot in the past year, including just how long it takes to record, mix and complete an album. In the case of Rising Waters, it took just under a year.

It’s an all-original album with Schaller penning all 11 songs. He chose them from a catalogue of about 150 songs he’s written in recent years.

Among those that made the cut is “West Coast Cash, East Coast Truck,” about the way so many Maritimers are living these days — working out West, but spending much of their spare time and money on the East Coast with family. Making that song even more special, Schaller said, is the fact that legendary Cape Breton singer-songwriter Sam Moon agreed to do harmony vocals on the track.

Schaller said he’s excited that songs like that appear to be gaining some traction among music fans in the region and will be looking to them to give the band some direction on what’s next for Rising Waters.

“We’re not going to tour if the songs don’t push us to a place where it makes us tour. If the songs are good, the people will like them and they’ll listen, and the music will demand that we go where we’re going. I’m a realist and being successful in a band, especially in a place like Nova Scotia where there’s so much talent, is like winning a lottery, and you gotta be really good, really different,” he said.

So what does set Rising Waters apart from the rest? Although the band has been in existence for over three years, Schaller said he still finds it tough to describe their sound.

“I love when people hear it and they tell me because I don’t really know, but what I’ve been told is that we’re East Coast rock along the same lines as Matt Mays,” he said.

Schaller said the band has two CD release events planned — one in Halifax in the next few weeks, and one in Sydney on Oct. 22 at Governors Pub, located at 233 Esplanade in Sydney.

“The Fall of Rising Waters” will be available for purchase Friday, online at www.risingwaters.ca, and through all HMV music stores across Canada. They will also be sold on various online music distribution sites like CD Baby and iTunes.


ljgrant@cbpost.com

- The Cape Breton Post - Arts - Entertainment

See link. - East Coast Kitchen Party

The latest from Halifax based gloom rockers takes a stand right from go, as soon as “Powerless” hits the speakers. One quickly gets a feel of post-apocalyptical longing, from the many references to the extinction of the human experiment, which continue on “Asteroids,” which seems to beg for an end to the world, greed and insensitivity. The theme is carried further in “Autumn” where the band rails against corrupted city views and CNN. Another welcome surprise is the vocals of Sam Moon on track nine. I had to play it several times---there seem to be many hidden messages within. Rising Waters, you have my attention. - The Coast

http://www.halifaxlocals.com/secondary.html?_function=bands&_action=details&id=266

http://www.thecoast.ca/Calendar-36656.113118_Uncooperative_Death_Sunday_Night_Special_Rising_Waters_Trevor_Pike.html

http://thecoast.ca/Calendar-36813.113118_Rising_Waters_Redman_Trevor_Pike.html

http://www.musicnovascotia.ca/Directory/DirectoryCategory.asp?Cat=2&SA=trueR

http://www.musicnovascotia.ca/Members%20Articles/articles.asp?ID=130&MID=0

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14690482885 - Various

http://tinyurl.com/bwoc63 - Google