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Yael Wand - At Your Door
By Rachel Sanders for Exclaim!
Yael Wand roped in a variety of talented Canadian musicians to provide instrumentation for the jazzy folk songs of her sophomore release. The participation of notables such as Ken Whiteley (mandolin), James Hill (ukulele) and Jesse Zubot (violin) speak to the quality of Wand's songwriting, the charm of her melodies and the effortless beauty of her voice. The music has a tangible sense of place, and with the gentle transition to each new song it travels somewhere new and enchanting. Lap guitar carries her voice to a moonshine maker's still, the cheeky plunk of a ukulele evokes a Louisiana nightclub, traditional Indian and African drums draw the listener into an exotic Middle Eastern market, a desolate trumpet wail calls to mind the cold stars twinkling above the mountains of Wand's northern BC home. With Wand's non-stop tour schedule, it's no wonder her music travels so well. And folk fans Canada-wide will be delighted to discover her as she passes through. (Reduction Road)
- Exclaim!
The Province – John P McLaughlin
Israel-born and Vancouver-raised, Smithers singer/writer Yael Wand is a strong, literate writer who's obviously put in her woodshedding time. Narrative, love song or lighthearted ode to spring, she deserves to be better known. B
- The Province
April 12th, 2007
Yael Wand - (Reduction Road Music)
At Your Door
Steve Guimond
Fine folk of the first order for Israeli-born and B.C.-raised Yael Wand, a singer-songstress whose simple words and music will melt away the last vestiges of a too-long winter. Wand casts a spell with acoustic guitar and an innocent meandering yodel, accompanied by a West Coast assemblage of very capable musicians riding shotgun as a Grand Ole Opry orchestra. At Your Door is album number two, a varied affair that also delves into slower jazz territory, country and pop, an easy listen if you give it a chance.
- The Hour, Montreal
Ottawa Express, Steve Baylin
April 5th, 2007
Roots maven Yael Wand has come to appreciate the simple pleasures of rural life: clear night skies, endless pristine backwoods trails and the eternal good will of tight-knit "community minded folk." Born in Haifa, Israel, and raised in Vancouver, the restless wildwood flower packed up her belongings late last year, hit the road and transplanted her heart and soul in the splendour of Smithers, B.C. - a tiny town approximately 6,000 strong that's set against the backdrop of Hudson Bay Mountain.
"I wasn't sure if I could hack it," says the soft-spoken Wand over the phone from Saskatoon in the midst of a mini cross-Canada tour, mulling over her transition from hip urban dweller to rustic resident.
"But all those things that I thought would be really important, like the convenience of being able to buy whatever you need at a particular time, I don't miss at all. I know people by name when I run into folks on the street."
Naturally, life wasn't always so simple, and the evolution in question was much like her decision to pursue music. An environmental studies grad, Wand settled into an agency job but soon drifted far afield, eventually landing in the arts administration business. Before long, she came to face the inevitable crossroads: whether to keep working diligently on behalf of other artists or take a leap of faith of her own.
"I was looking ahead and thinking, When I'm on my deathbed, what am I going to regret?" recalls Wand.
Wand has emerged as a songwriter of uncommon skill whose resplendent homespun roots musings span the distance from the British Isles to the Appalachian hills and beyond.
Not since Kate Rusby surfaced across the pond in the late '90s to galvanize and tastefully transform the purity of traditional folk has an artist so thoroughly and convincingly stoked the fire of the time-honoured form. By turns honey sweet, forlorn and jubilant, Wand's lush 2006 sophomore effort At Your Door is a lean and literate meditation on life's ever-changing seasons, wherein she gives voice to restless romantics and conflicted souls alike, both in search of a flickering light of hope wherever they can find it: in the guise of a dreamer panning for the glittering prize of gold in the mud, a simple strike of a match in the darkness, the unfolding wonder of spring, or the delicate dance of the Northern Lights.
- Ottawa Express
John Orr
Metro Weekend, April 20, 2007
"It's hard not to be enchanted by the sepia tones of this West Coast singing/songwriting siren. A pretty voice singing pretty songs that avoid both pretense and cliche, Wand casts an inescapable. But it's when she turns to a more mischievously jazzy sound to sing about spring or moonshine that you really start to question why you are in a crowded train car or bus, and not some bucolic Birkenstock hideaway, far from the city."
- Metro Ottawa
Yael Wand
At Your Door
Reduction Road Music
At Your Door is a concept album that bares the inner soul of the artist; delivered in the jazzy, sassy sauce that Yael spreads across her music. Yael Wand is making a statement for the classically trained voice in folk music. A native of Haifa, Israel, her songs bring us back to the pre-war cabaret music that was so new then and appreciated now.
At Your Door is as much a showcase for her fine vocal talent as it is for her beguiling lyrics, a charismatic folk-jazz album that hugs the listener and won't let go as it transcends the boundaries between folk, jazz, and worldly influences. Seasonal themes offer little vignettes that weave their way around outstanding instrumental work.
Wildflower, Restlessness, and Moonshine Maker are definite highlights in an album of finely crafted songs." - John Roman, Penguin Eggs
- John Roman
- Penguin Eggs
Yael Wand is a unique and singular voice on Canada’s dynamic singer-songwriters scene. Where others might be content to mine the bottomless pit of “relationships” Yael reaches out and engages the audience with her compelling vision of the larger world she has perceived and experienced… Her songs draw you in and will stay with you long after the gig is over. Don’t miss a chance to experience Yael Wand live in concert – this is where the future of Canadian songwriting is alive and well!
- David Essig
- David Essig
Yael has a clear distinctive voice which conveys the emotions of her material with ease - from sensuousness to anxiety, from sorrow to joy. In a world where there is an overwhelming number of singer songwriters it is hard at times to tell the wheat from the chaff. This is 100% whole wheat and stands up well to repeated listening.
- Penguin Eggs
Antinomy is a very well rounded album, with songs that are as varied as the many places Wand has lived in her traveled life… The album’s insightful lyrics are refreshing and mature, reflecting a well-grounded persona, and supreme comfort in the art of expression. - The Valley Sentinel, Valemount
Yael Wand has wowed audiences… Comfortable in both a small intimate setting or in front of a large festival crowd, Yael’s voice is captivating, her lyrics moving, her stage demeanor is charming and engaging. As an events organizer, I have Yael on my list of “artists to invite back” and would highly recommend her for any stage. - Frank Wall, Artistic Director, Edge of the World Festival
Discography
At Your Door (2007)
Antinomy (2004)
Midnight Sun - with Perpetuum (1999)
Since its release, Antinomy has been played on campus, college and cbc stations across Canada. several songs from Antinomy have been featured on Canadian compilations including Canoesongs II (2006) and Grrrls with Guitars Vol 3 (Maximum/Universal 2005).
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Bio
Yael Wand - Biography
True to her divergent roots and wanderings, Yael Wand (pronounced “Yah-elle”) delivers songs with the sensibility of folk and allusions to jazz, all set in the landscape of a wild country.
Born in Israel and raised in Vancouver, Yael now makes her home with foxes, bears and miners, deep in the northern mountains of British Columbia.
Her shift from big city to small town plays out in her music. Yael sings urban lullabies along side tales from the rustic cabins of the backwoods. She navigates the political terrain of the middle-east with the same ease and passion as she does the wilderness of the Canadian west. Her classical vocal training and 17 years of live performance make her a powerful performer. She draws in an audience with the sound of her voice, clear and passionate, and captivates with the colour and substance of her songwriting.
Yael released her solo debut, Antinomy in 2004, and hit the Canadian highways. She’s gathered fans and received airplay across the country. Tracks from the album are featured on several national compilations, including Canoesongs II (2006), and Let It Snow Too (2006) and Grrrls with Guitars Vol 3 (Maximum/Universal 2005).
At Your Door (Feb 2007) is Yael’s sophomore release and showcases her growing artistry as songwriter and performer. This optimistic acoustic-roots collection is jazzed-up and world-informed, flowing from folk-rock rhythms to winter-night ballads. The album starts in Yael’s northern garden, meandering to the backdoor of a moonshine maker, to a mid-eastern market, to mountains peaks and ending with a lullaby somewhere on a dusty road. At Your Door is full of spirited string arrangements and acoustic instruments all wrapped around Yael’s voice – warm and comforting like the glow of a wood stove.
Yael has performed in venues from Haida Gwai to Charlottetown and tours regularly throughout Canada. She’s taken the stage at numerous festivals including the Prince George Folk Festival, Brandon Folk Music Festival, Smithers' Midsummers Festival, Edge of the World, and Ottawa Ladyfest. This self-propelled will be on the road throughout 2007.
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