Unwed Mothers
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Unwed Mothers

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | SELF
Established on Jan, 2014
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"No Rest for Unwed Mothers"

What:Sonic BOTM showcase featuring Unwed Mothers, Thompson Highway, Hungry Hollow.
Where:The Starlite Room, 10030 102 ST
When: Friday, Sept 27 at 9:00 p.m.
Price: $10

Stephan Boissonneault
Writer

After hearing Sonic’s latest band of the month, Unwed Mothers, people will no longer identify the name with single parents but a four-piece rock group that pushes a unique sound filled with aggressive guitar, earth-shaking drum beats and blues-driven female vocals, complemented by a groovy bass.
The group formed when Julie Adams approached guitarist Michael James with written songs for the purpose of playing only a couple gigs. This turned into more gigs and the idea to record an album arose, with drummer Kurtis Shultz producing the album at his job at Sound Extractor Studios. Both James and Shultz had been in a previous band, The Michael James Band, with bassist Josh Eygenraam. They decided to see if he was on board. Eygenraam accepted and Unwed Mothers was born.
As for the genre of Unwed Mothers, the band doesn’t like to limit their sound to one specific style. “I think we’ll try to play on our strengths… Mike has kind of that gritty guitar and I have that blues style vocal so we try to use that to our advantage,” Adams adds. When people think of their band, Unwed Mothers wants them to think of who they actually are as people and musicians. “We don’t want to have this contrived image [of our band]; we see that in a lot of other bands,” says Adams.
Even though Unwed Mothers won this month’s Sonic Band of the Month competition, they didn’t actually apply. “We had created some buzz,” says Adams. Edmonton Journal writer Sandra Sperounes wrote an article on Unwed Mothers and when Sonic approached her about Edmonton bands for SBOTM, Unwed Mothers kept on coming up.
The band is very flattered that they were picked and they believe Sonic made the right decision. “We’ve worked really hard on this project… We’re not cocky by any means, but we’re all aware we’re talented as a unit,” says Adams.
Unwed Mothers’s local fame has grown substantially since they were nominated. Before they won, Unwed Mothers believed they didn’t have a big enough fan base to throw a headlining show at the Starlite Room. “It’s a hard room to fill and you need a huge fan base,” says Adams. “It’s been a huge burst of exposure,” adds James.
Unwed Mothers is working on a new album they hope to release sometime next year. The band says there will be a lot more collaboration on the songwriting with the new album. Previously, a member of the band would present the “skeletal structure” of a song and the other members would write a riff or something for it. Eygenraam says the new album will be a lot heavier than the previous. Shultz adds that the album will sound very raw, while still sounding professional.
Unwed Mothers says they would love to tour more in the future and get into the festival scene. They have a Western Canada tour lined up in the future with a couple American dates as well. As for the show at the Starlite Room, they say people going can expect to hear brand new songs, but ultimately a long set of balls-out rock ‘n’ roll. - The Griff


"No Rest for Unwed Mothers"

What:Sonic BOTM showcase featuring Unwed Mothers, Thompson Highway, Hungry Hollow.
Where:The Starlite Room, 10030 102 ST
When: Friday, Sept 27 at 9:00 p.m.
Price: $10

Stephan Boissonneault
Writer

After hearing Sonic’s latest band of the month, Unwed Mothers, people will no longer identify the name with single parents but a four-piece rock group that pushes a unique sound filled with aggressive guitar, earth-shaking drum beats and blues-driven female vocals, complemented by a groovy bass.
The group formed when Julie Adams approached guitarist Michael James with written songs for the purpose of playing only a couple gigs. This turned into more gigs and the idea to record an album arose, with drummer Kurtis Shultz producing the album at his job at Sound Extractor Studios. Both James and Shultz had been in a previous band, The Michael James Band, with bassist Josh Eygenraam. They decided to see if he was on board. Eygenraam accepted and Unwed Mothers was born.
As for the genre of Unwed Mothers, the band doesn’t like to limit their sound to one specific style. “I think we’ll try to play on our strengths… Mike has kind of that gritty guitar and I have that blues style vocal so we try to use that to our advantage,” Adams adds. When people think of their band, Unwed Mothers wants them to think of who they actually are as people and musicians. “We don’t want to have this contrived image [of our band]; we see that in a lot of other bands,” says Adams.
Even though Unwed Mothers won this month’s Sonic Band of the Month competition, they didn’t actually apply. “We had created some buzz,” says Adams. Edmonton Journal writer Sandra Sperounes wrote an article on Unwed Mothers and when Sonic approached her about Edmonton bands for SBOTM, Unwed Mothers kept on coming up.
The band is very flattered that they were picked and they believe Sonic made the right decision. “We’ve worked really hard on this project… We’re not cocky by any means, but we’re all aware we’re talented as a unit,” says Adams.
Unwed Mothers’s local fame has grown substantially since they were nominated. Before they won, Unwed Mothers believed they didn’t have a big enough fan base to throw a headlining show at the Starlite Room. “It’s a hard room to fill and you need a huge fan base,” says Adams. “It’s been a huge burst of exposure,” adds James.
Unwed Mothers is working on a new album they hope to release sometime next year. The band says there will be a lot more collaboration on the songwriting with the new album. Previously, a member of the band would present the “skeletal structure” of a song and the other members would write a riff or something for it. Eygenraam says the new album will be a lot heavier than the previous. Shultz adds that the album will sound very raw, while still sounding professional.
Unwed Mothers says they would love to tour more in the future and get into the festival scene. They have a Western Canada tour lined up in the future with a couple American dates as well. As for the show at the Starlite Room, they say people going can expect to hear brand new songs, but ultimately a long set of balls-out rock ‘n’ roll. - The Griff


"Interview with Unwed Mothers"

(Video) - Breakfast Television-Global Edmonton


"Unwed Mothers Album Review"

I would like to introduce you to this great new group, Unwed Mothers. Their music features a unique blend of rock, blues, and soul.

Unwed Mothers is a four piece blues-rock outfit from Edmonton, Alberta. Members of Unwed Mothers include Julie Adams (vocals/guitar/keyboard), Michael James (lead guitar/backing vocals), Josh Eygenraam (Bass) and Kurtis Schultz (drums, backing vocals). Their first self-titled album was released in the Spring of this year (April, 2013).

Why the name Unwed Mothers one may ask since only one band member is female; one of the mysteries of the Canadian music business.

However, their blues/rock/country sound is tight and dynamic and their lyricism is impressive. Feel free to visit Unwedmothers
- CHRW Radio Blog


"Unwed Mothers Album Review"

I would like to introduce you to this great new group, Unwed Mothers. Their music features a unique blend of rock, blues, and soul.

Unwed Mothers is a four piece blues-rock outfit from Edmonton, Alberta. Members of Unwed Mothers include Julie Adams (vocals/guitar/keyboard), Michael James (lead guitar/backing vocals), Josh Eygenraam (Bass) and Kurtis Schultz (drums, backing vocals). Their first self-titled album was released in the Spring of this year (April, 2013).

Why the name Unwed Mothers one may ask since only one band member is female; one of the mysteries of the Canadian music business.

However, their blues/rock/country sound is tight and dynamic and their lyricism is impressive. Feel free to visit Unwedmothers
- CHRW Radio Blog


"Album Picks of the Year"

Unwed Mothers are a band I stumbled across while trawling on some blues-rock blog or other, and decided on a whim to check out their eponymous debut album. Opening track Skeletons draws you in instantly with a wonderfully sexy guitar riff and Julie Adams’ powerful and silky vocals that already have you tapping your foot after the first 20 seconds. It’s a very successful album opener, and is followed up by the sleazy, slow-burning Lose Control that is equally foot-tap worthy, as the organ-guitar matchup melds together very well, building to a pounding middle section and then simmering down once more for a chilled ending. Third track On the Run moves in to different territory, with its folky rhythm and powerfully delivered lyrics by Adams, whose voice really steals the show. The other notable track is Cherry Grove, a tearful lament that is packed with emotive feeling and is once again beautifully sung. It’s the song that sticks with you the most, and epitomises an album that is an admirable attempt to bring genres together, even if it sacrifices a little fluidity along the way. There could definitely be improvements, closer track Slow for an example is disappointingly derivative, but it’s a very encouraging start for the fledgling band. - The Student Review


"Indie Rock Blues with a Dash of Country"

Adult contemporary band Unwed Mothers released their debut self titled album in late March of this year. The album was recorded here in Edmonton at the Sound Extractor studio on the west end of town. For a band that formed less than a year ago, they have an impressively professional sound.

The album begins with the promising indie-rock piece “Skeletons.” This track effectively sets up the dynamic of the band: Julie Adams is appropriately placed at the forefront as a powerful and dynamic lead vocalist, backed by a rhythmic and savvy set of musicians. This is where the group shines; they are at their best when they are mixing indie-rock jams with Adams’ blues-stricken vocals.

The band doesn’t stick too comfortably to this dynamic, however. Tracks like “On The Run” and “Slow” clearly have a country influence. The latter song provides a beautiful and poignant close to the album – an ending that wouldn’t be possible by sticking strictly to rock. My personal favorite song comes second on the album: “Lose Control.” It’s a slow and brooding blues piece loaded with organ. It dramatically shifts from calm and controlled to a spastic outbreak by the band’s rhythm section, subverting the core of the song’s lyrics for a dazzling effect.

If you are looking for a group with great rhythm, tasty keyboard work and one hell of a singer, look no further than Unwed Mothers and their first album. - Sound and Noise


"Indie Rock Blues with a Dash of Country"

Adult contemporary band Unwed Mothers released their debut self titled album in late March of this year. The album was recorded here in Edmonton at the Sound Extractor studio on the west end of town. For a band that formed less than a year ago, they have an impressively professional sound.

The album begins with the promising indie-rock piece “Skeletons.” This track effectively sets up the dynamic of the band: Julie Adams is appropriately placed at the forefront as a powerful and dynamic lead vocalist, backed by a rhythmic and savvy set of musicians. This is where the group shines; they are at their best when they are mixing indie-rock jams with Adams’ blues-stricken vocals.

The band doesn’t stick too comfortably to this dynamic, however. Tracks like “On The Run” and “Slow” clearly have a country influence. The latter song provides a beautiful and poignant close to the album – an ending that wouldn’t be possible by sticking strictly to rock. My personal favorite song comes second on the album: “Lose Control.” It’s a slow and brooding blues piece loaded with organ. It dramatically shifts from calm and controlled to a spastic outbreak by the band’s rhythm section, subverting the core of the song’s lyrics for a dazzling effect.

If you are looking for a group with great rhythm, tasty keyboard work and one hell of a singer, look no further than Unwed Mothers and their first album. - Sound and Noise


"Unwed Mothers Album Review"

Unwed Mothers are a true genre-bending band. While listening to their debut, self-titled album, I tried to think of a sound to compare them to. My list includes Rilo Kiley, Bikini Kill, Carrie Underwood, Amy Winehouse, the Black Keys, Alanis Morrissette, Janis Joplin, Tom Waits, and the Eagles – bands and artists that sound absolutely nothing like each other.

Unwed Mothers are a little bit blues, a little bit country, a little bit indie, a little bit folk, and a little bit arena rock. They would sound at home on your mom’s favorite adult contemporary station – all the hits of the ‘80s, ‘90s and today – or on your local college radio. They’re deceptively polished, so that you don’t quite notice what they’re doing until you really stop and listen.

It’s all about singer Julie Adams’ voice: it’s captivating, a powerhouse. She’s an expert at conveying different emotions and genres: her voice can be raw and husky, sweet and crooning, innocent and whispery.

Adams is truly the backbone to the band, formed in Edmonton, Canada less than a year ago, in summer 2012. The Unwed Mothers Bandcamp page informs us that Unwed Mothers – Adams on vocals/guitars/keyboards, Michael James on lead guitar, Kurtis Schultz on drums, and Josh Eygenraam on bass – informs us that the band “met in a series of university halls, jam spaces, and dimly lit bars,” but other than that, their origin is mostly a mystery.

The album opens with “Skeletons,” which is also the band’s first single. “I never lose, I never lose control,” Adams sings, her “Woahs” and “Ohs” getting increasingly raw to close with a guitar-heavy wail.

One standout is “White Knight,” a high-energy, bluesy song that showcases James’ lead guitar skills as well as Adams’ vocals.

“Boy, you left me in a daze,” Adams sings, to an answering guitar lick. “Had love in your pocket but you threw it away.” It’s part country, part ‘50s rock’n’roll, part childhood repeat-after-me song. Adams even incorporates part of a nursery rhyme and a handclapping game, infusing the line “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, jump clean on over that candlestick” with a fervor only rivaled by the next line, from “Miss Mary Mack” – “He jumped so high he reached the sky / Came calling back on the fourth of July.”

There’s been little press on Unwed Mothers so far – they’ve been featured on a handful of indie music blogs but have had little mainstream coverage and lack even an iTunes bio. The lack of press is the only sign that this is a debut album and that the band formed less than a year ago – from the sound of it, most people might guess that this is a fifth, or eighth, or tenth album from fan favorites who started playing together a decade together. They’re polished and practiced, yes, but more than that, Unwed Mothers know exactly what they want to sound like and exactly where they want to go – and their debut album is the roadmap. - MV Remix


"CD Review: Unwed Mothers"

Review by: Corbyn Bricie
Hot diggity-doggon-damn. Unwed Mothers’ self-titled CD UNWED MOTHERS is rock/blues/soul that we can wholeheartedly get behind. Usually, our reviewer opinions don’t necessarily represent the moods and feelings of the entire staff. I’m not always excited enough by what I hear to share it with everyone. But this album is something entirely different. Lead singer Julie Adams, has that undefinable grit to her voice that smacks of authenticity. She sensibly hovers just above guitar riffs supplied by Michael James and maneuvers throughout the beats of drummer Kurtis Schultz. The band’s sound is tied up with a nice bow supplied by bassist Josh Eygenraam.
This album has a well-balanced un-polished yet polished sound giving the record a sound that is alive and glamorously layered and anchored in reality. ‘Skeletons’ has that gravelly rock feel that smacks of badass lyricisms. ‘Lose Control’ is slow rock grime that incorporates tricky rhythm changes that remains controlled and tethered by Adams’ vocals.
Not sure what’s up with the group’s name but that will most likely have to be revealed in an interview should we happen to catch up with them. Thanks to the person that forwarded their bandcamp link. All in all, UNWED MOTHERS is a most worthy listen. - Knowshi


"Unwed Mothers"

Unwed Mothers
self-released; 2013

4.0 out of 5

By Matt Jensen
I swear it seems as if they don’t breed any good rock n roll female vocalists these days like they did back in the 70’s with the gritty voice that erupted from the stomach that Janis Joplin, Grace Slick and Patti Smith all possessed. These days it seems as if “cute” is the way a lot of female vocalists are going, which is ok in moderation, but sometimes I want to hear a woman really belt a song out. Aaahhh - when I first popped in the new self- titled album by Unwed Mothers I immediately fell in love because it had those raw, womanly vocals that I didn’t even realize I was missing. As I listened to the album I fell more in love with Julie Adams’ voice as she can truly sing and shows you that she means business. Sexy, raw and powerful, her voice is the centerpiece of these songs. However with that being said the band itself shreds. The band is powerful and play a great combination of dirty rock n roll and blues. The music itself reminded me of The Hold Steady in that it wasn’t very experimental and often stuck to cliché rock sounds but in the end you really don’t mind because they do it so well. Their new album is a compilation of some new songs along with some older material. Adams stated “It's a transitional album and has really set the tone for the new band ‘Unwed Mothers’ by moving into a realm that is more attitude driven and rock oriented and moving away from the folk rock/down tempo music I had been more focused on in the past.” I haven’t heard the older stuff but I was thoroughly enjoying the change, as her voice seemed perfect for the music.

The first song “Skeleton” is a awesome rock number that contains dirty bass, crunchy guitars, and a nicely recorded live drum kit and Adams’ voice that just soars during the chorus. The second song “Lose Control” introduces some blues elements and Adams; voice sounds a bit more refined and soulful in the beginning before the band starts to rock and her voice goes up a couple of octaves. I would guess that “White Knight” might be a crowd pleaser in a live situation. The song has a straightforward rock n roll arrangement that could have fans singing along by the second chorus. Ironically I think my favorite song on the album, the last song entitled “Slow,” was the least rock n roll. It sounded like something that could be on the next beach house record and was atmospheric although the guitars weren’t in the center as in the other songs. Instead a beautiful organ was present and sounded great in the song. The vocals as expected sounded exceptional but the melody itself was probably the catchiest of the album. After listening to the album I was somewhat depressed that most bands have no idea how to make this type of music anymore. The Unwed Mothers are a rare gifted breed that made a rock n roll album Jefferson Airplane would be proud of. - Indie Music Album Reviews


"Katuwapitiya does Canadian Music Fest"

Unwed Mothers

Unwed Mothers is an up-and-coming blues-rock band from Edmonton. Rocking the Cadillac Lounge, lead singer Julie Adams’ powerful yet soulful voice is refreshing in an indie scene that can become somewhat repetitive. The highlight of their set was undoubtedly their first single “Skeletons,” which features some great work from guitarist Michael James. Its groove and pace had the entire crowd moving. Their self-titled debut album will be released April 11th: - Katuwapitiya


"Edmonton Acts Head to Canadian Music Week"

One Way State might not exactly incite an uprising with their latest video, Riot (Midnight War) — unless the images of a man shaving his armpits disturbs enough viewers.

The Edmonton rockers will perform two showcases at Canadian Music Week in Toronto — March 20 at The Hideout, March 21 at the Underground Garage.

One Way State is one of a handful of local artists performing at the annual schmoozefest, which kicks off March 19.

Other showcasers include: soul-tronic siren Nuela Charles, (temporarily) reunited punks Choke, cinematic folkies Wool on Wolves, blues-rockers Unwed Mothers, promising pop-rockers Nature Of, synth-popsters Flash Jam, pop-punks Greater Than Giants, rockers One Day Late, Rend and Short of Able, singer-songwriters The Command Sisters and Koreen Perry, indie-rockers Sweet Vintage Rides, and rapper Cadence Weapon. Yes, he lives in Montreal, but his CMW bio lists “Edmonton” as his location. #YEG forever! (Same goes for urban-popster Krystle Dos Santos, who now resides in Vancouver.)

OK, that’s WAY more than a handful. That’s enough for THREE hands. Edmonton’s Shout Out Out Out Out will also be CMWing it … less than a week after the electro-monsters survive SxSW for the umpteenth time.
- Edmonton Journal-Sandra Sperounes


"Edmonton Acts Head to Canadian Music Week"

One Way State might not exactly incite an uprising with their latest video, Riot (Midnight War) — unless the images of a man shaving his armpits disturbs enough viewers.

The Edmonton rockers will perform two showcases at Canadian Music Week in Toronto — March 20 at The Hideout, March 21 at the Underground Garage.

One Way State is one of a handful of local artists performing at the annual schmoozefest, which kicks off March 19.

Other showcasers include: soul-tronic siren Nuela Charles, (temporarily) reunited punks Choke, cinematic folkies Wool on Wolves, blues-rockers Unwed Mothers, promising pop-rockers Nature Of, synth-popsters Flash Jam, pop-punks Greater Than Giants, rockers One Day Late, Rend and Short of Able, singer-songwriters The Command Sisters and Koreen Perry, indie-rockers Sweet Vintage Rides, and rapper Cadence Weapon. Yes, he lives in Montreal, but his CMW bio lists “Edmonton” as his location. #YEG forever! (Same goes for urban-popster Krystle Dos Santos, who now resides in Vancouver.)

OK, that’s WAY more than a handful. That’s enough for THREE hands. Edmonton’s Shout Out Out Out Out will also be CMWing it … less than a week after the electro-monsters survive SxSW for the umpteenth time.
- Edmonton Journal-Sandra Sperounes


"Free Music Friday"

I love new music discoveries so on this Valentine’s Day weekend I’ll post some new talent that caught my ear. See I actually do read the emails you send. Enjoy! - letsnotgetcarriedaway.com-Dave Sloan


"Unwed Mothers Crash Pride Party"

Edmonton band the Unwed Mothers will perform at Whistle Stop’s Pride Weekend party, and may even dress to suit the event’s fairy tale theme.
“I’ll see what the boys say,” laughs vocalist, guitar and keys player, Julie Adams. “Maybe we can dig up some costumes.” The “boys” are fellow bandmates Michael James, Kurtis Schultz and Josh Eygenraam. They worked together on a few projects and jammed collectively before they joined forces with Adams to form Unwed Mothers.
The bluesy folk-rock and soul group is embarking on their first tour together after the recent release of their debut album.
The group recently returned from Canadian Music Week in Toronto. Travelling to Toronto “gave us an idea of how we’re going to be touring together,” said Adams. “It was awesome, we just had so much fun.”
Being the group’s sole female member doesn’t bother Adams. “I can be kind of a tomboy at times,” she laughs. “[My bandmates are] recruiting me more and more to these masculine aspects, which is fine.”
The name Unwed Mothers juxtaposes the band’s heavy male presence. It represents a taboo concept that also depicts a “powerful female force. It’s original, unconventional ... not what you’d expect.”
Adams’ gritty and soulful voice is undoubtedly a powerful force for the band. She said it was a four-month overseas trip to Nepal, India, Thailand, and Cambodia that helped her sound evolve. “It’s interesting because my style, I think, is more blues and rock, whereas before it was a folk influence.”
The album’s opening song, “Skeletons,” creates a hypnotizing and melodic atmosphere with dramatic vocals. A few tracks later “White Knight” emerges with punchy instrumentals and discernible blues licks.
With their first album barely under their belt, Unwed Mothers has ambitions to release a second album before the end of 2013.
“We have lots of new material ... we’re just constantly creating new stuff,” said Adams. “Everyone in the group is super creative.”
Before perfecting another album, the band is focusing on their upcoming tour. Jasper is the second stop for the band, who is “really excited to be playing for something that promotes equal rights.”
Unwed Mothers take the stage on Friday, April 12 at 9 p.m. Cover is free. - Jasper Fitzhugh-Sarah Makowsky


"Unwed Mothers"

"I like the idea of chicks with attitude," laughs singer Julie Adams of what she says is the slightly taboo-sounding name of her current blues-rock project Unwed Mothers, for which she also plays keyboards and guitar. "I like when women are unconventional and a little badass, because that's kind of what our music is."

The relatively new act has been playing together since only last summer, but now has its first appearance at Canadian Music Week in the books, and is ready to release its debut full-length album accompanied by a tour across western Canada. All of its members—the lineup being rounded out by lead guitarist Michael James, drummer Kurtis Schultz and bassist Josh Eygenraam—had been involved with various other musical endeavours and became acquainted with one another through various circles, but it wasn't until Adams returned from a four-month-long trip through India and Southeast Asia that she decided to seek out a band.

"While I was travelling the creative juices were just flowing, so I wrote a lot when I was away and started writing out band parts without really having a band to go on," says Adams, who previously performed as a solo acoustic artist and as part of the folk group Floating Feathers, adding that the time away prompted her to concentrate even more on music when she returned home. "I saw so many different kinds of music, you know, not necessarily stuff that was incorporated into my writing, but ... for people it's just their life. They just love playing so much and they were playing on the street and playing with whoever, and you could see that it just made them so happy. I just wanted to play as much as possible when I got back."

Once Adams teamed up with the guys, the creativity continued as new instrumental possibilities unfolded and new perspectives were voiced. Soon the foursome teamed up with Stew Kirkwood at Sound Extractor Studios—where Schultz is also a sound engineer—to lay down the tracks of what would become its gritty yet soulful debut. The songs have got plenty of attitude and dynamic rock riffs, but Adams was looking to make the personal, observational lyrics driving the melodies about more than typical angst-ridden topics of love and heartache.

"I mean, it's not bad to write love songs, but I think it's unfortunate that for a lot of people, that's the go-to and thematically that's all they write about. I think we live in a pretty crazy time and people have a lot more to say, but they don't really challenge themselves to put it into their writing or their music," she says, noting Janis Joplin as an influence of her own vocal style and music. "She doesn't have any proper technique or training in her vocals, they're just scratchy and she's this little party animal, but it just comes off as really cool. I think it's fun to play with the natural inflections that come out in your voice and not try and mould it into something it's not."

Thu, Apr 11 (9 pm)
Wunderbar, $10
- Vue Weekly-Meaghan Baxter


"Concert Preview: Unwed Mothers celebrate CD Release"

EDMONTON - Four-letter words can often lead to surprisingly wonderful results.

What started as a blog is now an exciting Edmonton collective of musicians, led by blues-rockers Unwed Mothers. J. Eygenraam and Daniel & The Impending Doom are also part of the family, officially known as Ruffian. All three acts share members, with back-to-back-to-back rehearsals on Sundays.

“Josh (J. Eygenraam) started a blog, posting about anyone he liked, and eventually he realized he was only blogging about a few people,” says drummer Kurtis Schultz.

“So, then he decided it wasn’t a blog, it was a website, and now we’re in the process of turning it into a record label.”

Not content to wait, Unwed Mothers released their self-titled debut via Bandcamp.com, the handiest download/streaming site for indie musicians. The eight-song album, available at unwedmothers.bandcamp.com, is a soulful marriage of retro riffs, blues-funk rhythms, and lyrics about childhood homes, expectations and white knights, delivered by the raspy, feel-it-in-your-bones vocals of Julie Adams.

With so many female singers (or goofy computer effects) sounding like little girls — including Grimes, Taylor Swift, Emily Haines, Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir — Adams offers a refreshing punch in the gut. Listen to her rattle around on Skeletons, a smouldering, defiant tune about holding onto the past, and you might feel the same goosebumps you did the first time you heard Adele.

“I sang a lot as a kid. I grew up in a pretty religious background, so I sang in church,” says Adams, 25. “When people told me I had a deep voice, I was kind of like: ‘Uuuuuh, I don’t want to sound like a man!’ But now it’s fine — I have a mid-range voice and I don’t try to sing high, because I can’t.”

The part-time piano/vocal teacher grew up in the idyllic Alberta town of Cherry Grove. She eventually moved to Edmonton, studied at Grant MacEwan University, played some open stages, then took off for a few months, travelling through India and Southeast Asia.

When Adams got back last year, she realized she couldn’t dilly dally if she wanted to be a musician, so she started recruiting like-minded individuals — Schultz, Eygenraam, Michael James — to help record her tunes at Sound Extractor. Voila! Unwed Mothers were born.

“A lot of the stuff I was doing before was more acoustic or folk-rock,” says Adams. “This album is a good starting point for us as a band. We really didn’t know what the style was, and now it’s morphing into a lot more like blues rock.”

Unwed Mothers are about to morph into a touring act, with a series of shows in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. Their next goals?

“We want to take it as far as we can,” says Adams. “We want to tour, we want to put out another album before the year’s done. …”

They kick off their trek — and celebrate the release of Unwed Mothers — on Thursday, April 11 at Wunderbar, 8120 101st St.

Doors at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 — and come with a copy of the album.
- Edmonton Journal-Sandra Sperounes


"Eponymous-LP Review"

11th April 2013 sees Unwed Mothers from Edmonton in Canada who I took a look at back in December 2012 release their new eponymous eight track LP digitally along with CDs, which will first be made available at live shows during their release supporting tour from the 12th to 26th April 2013 in Western Canada.
Opening with Skeletons a track you will know from the video if you saw the introduction of the band last year – is a smart opener as it garners familiarity, whilst for those new to Unwed Mothers demonstrates ably, the powerful rock swathed within melody that is the hallmark of the band.
Lose Control opens with a throaty guitar that slows the pace before the timbre of the vocals slinks its way into the room and the listener is away on a keyboard fused bluesy ballad, with a scintillating interlude of instrumentation as the vocal spirals with the line ‘I never Lose Control’, before settling back to calmness. A delightfully ironic track.
Next up we are On The Run which has a country feel and the head is bobbing up and down as though trotting a horse across the plain. This I did enjoy for its very variance.
At the half-way point comes White Night a track that spears the core of the semantics of the lyrical content which focusses on interpersonal relationships and equally the dampens guitars to present a more barren sound which resonates with the sentiment.
Lover’s Disease takes the audience back to a more earthy sound – a space in which Unwed Mothers excel as the sultry vocal teases the ears. A particularly delightful break 3:30 into the track leaves percussion sounding like a rapidly beating heart as the voice seduces.
Positioned neatly in the LP is Cherry Grove, which is set to a more muted instrument as Julie Adams is given the opportunity to demonstrate the powerful emotions she can drive through the microphone.
Soul drops octaves with a swing beat and the listener can’t to help but smile with the shift that flows through this the penultimate track.
Concluding with Slow, which intriguingly opens with organ pipes is one of those – keep the best to last – my pick of the LP as the track pulls in all the threads of the LP with a composition that showcases all that is best of Unwed Mothers. Melodics, empathy, pace and atmosphere sit in a superbly balanced five minutes of intensely emotional reflectivity. - Indie Bands Blog


"Unwed Mothers Review"

On April 11, 2013, Unwed Mothers will release their self-titled debut album, introducing the music world to a blues/rock/folk/soul sound that is distinctly their own. Julie Adams, with her sultry, raw, and soulful voice, is the band’s front-woman. On guitar, Michael James will stun any listener with simple yet impeccable playing and catchy riffs. Kurtis Schultz on drums and Josh Eygenraam on bass lock in the rhythm and together these musicians play to create a polished sound.

The first song on the album, “Skeletons” begins with one of James’ catchy riffs as the rest of the band comes in with Julie’s unique voice. The song is definitely the hit of the album and gives a taste of Unwed Mother’s sound as a band.

“Lose Control” is a slow bluesy song on the album. Just when you may start to think you’ve heard what the gist of the song is, it builds with fills and wailing vocals that will blow your mind!

There are a couple tunes on the album that showcase the band’s softer side like “Cherry Grove” and “Slow.” They show more of that folk/rock feel the band has and the lyrics to these songs are beautifully written and sung.

Julie means it when she sings “I got soul, soul, soul” in their song “Soul.” The entire band plays with soul in every song on this album. If you haven’t heard this band, you’re definitely missing out.

The Review: 8.5/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

- Skeletons
- Lose Control
- Slow
- Soul

The Big Hit

- Skeletons - Blues Rock Review


"Unwed Mothers-Single Review"

Unwed Mothers is an alternative rock band based in Edmonton – Canada. Originally formed as a project by Julie Adams (vocalist / guitar /keys) the line-up now also includes: Michael James ( lead guitar); Kurtis Schultz (drums) and; Josh Eygenraam on bass.

Having released Skeletons a single in late 2012, the band is set for their debut LP in the spring of 2013.
I have had the opportunity to take a listen to some of the tracks on the LP and look forward to the completed article. Unwed Mothers has a sound that is a soulful vocal and lyrical reflective on life’s relationship, that is scuffed to a rock resonance with driving percussion and bass which metronomically urges the music forward, the guitars whilst wrapped in melodic structures also get themselves dirty and the keys add a layer of bluesy atmospherics. The combination is a sound that injects itself in to the brains rhythms and the listener becomes a willing participant in the music unfolding.

Whilst the music has a structured feel to it, on the other hand there is a genuine syncopation between the lyric and compositions that bring it to life and it is perhaps that measured delivery that adds to the power of the out-put as the audience gets the feeling the realities of relationships, where things are left unsaid in the fond hope that it will be OK in the long run, whilst underneath lies a simmering resentment.


The real surprise about Unwed Mothers is the location, Edmonton, rather than the mid-west of the USA as the pot-pourri is strongly rooted in Americana before the added value is dripped in to the mix.


Gaining exposure in their home town with their powerful live performances, it would be well deserved break if the LP launches them across a far wider sphere as the new tracks I have had the opportunity to hear find the band in a far more expressive and open space. - Indie Bands Blog


Discography

Unwed Mothers-Self titled debut album-Released March 2013

7" Skeletons/Slow-Single-Released November 20 2012.

Photos

Bio

Unwed Mothers is a four-piece blues/indie-rock outfit from Edmonton, Alberta that formed in 2012. Making a name for themselves as “the little girl with the big voice”, the band has become known for delivering a high energy, gritty style that boasts fat guitar sounds, heart shaking beats and power house vocals.

The release of their self-titled debut album in the April of 2013 was met with glowing response from multiple publications including Knowshi.com (Dallas) saying of the LP: “I’m not usually excited enough about what I hear to share it with everyone. But this album is something completely different”. The 8 track compilation dabbled in multiple genres showing off their stylistic flexibility and impressive lyricism. Within months of forming the band was invited to showcase at Canadian Music Week 2013 in Toronto and soon after their return they were back on the road touring Western Canada. Later tour dates would include stops in the United States with shows in Washington and Oregon. With a steadily growing fan base Unwed Mothers entered the regular rotations on College Radio stations all over Canada charting at #1 on CHRW London, ON and entering the top 20 in multiple other cities. In September the band earned the coveted position of the Sonic 102.9FM Band of the Month which led to some additional exposure including a live performance/interview on Global Edmonton’s Breakfast Television, a live acoustic webisode on Balcony TV and a slot at NXNE 2014 in June. Following their performance at NXNE, Unwed Mothers performed at Boonstock 2014 sharing the stage which popular acts such as Head of the Herd, The Airborne Toxic Event, City and Color and Mother Mother. The group also received two nominations for the Edmonton Music Awards for both “Rock Recording of the Year (Skeletons)” and “People’s Choice”.

 

Band Members