By Jasper Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 6, 2013
Getting to know West My Friend
Musical Influences: The Decemberists, Black Keys, Mother Mother, Punch Brothers, Bob Dylan, Owen Pallett.
Musical Style/Genre: indie-prog-third-wave-folk-quirky-pop-roots-music.
Biggest inspirations outside of music: Trees, bicycles and the ocean.
What separates us as musicians from the rest of the world: I dunno … we don’t make any money?
Songs We Would Recommend: “Tic-a-Toc,” “Saturn Maybe,” and “Take It Slow.”
The Fraser Valley will be treated to some West Coast talent this month as Brett Wildeman and West My Friend take their The Mainland Ho! Tour to local venues to showcase their individual sounds. The combination of musical styles nicely represents the laid-back lifestyle that the West Coast is so well known for. The tour itself was named after each artist’s need to sail to reach the rest of BC as Wildeman is based out of the Sunshine Coast and West My Friend is a Victoria-based band.
For music fans looking for a raw, down-to-earth style, Brett Wildeman is a musician that delivers just that. After taking a listen through some of his work, a casual listener can hear the honesty in Wildeman’s voice. When asked how he would describe his musical style Wildeman professed that it is “pretty stripped and pretty raw. It is nice to have it polished but not too polished where it loses its authenticity. I think I kind of fall into the roots folk singer songwriter acoustic genre if there is such a thing.”
Any casual music lover can appreciate the simple honest rhythm that is brought to Wildeman’s music. In a world where auto-tune and overproduced music has become king, listening to this brand of music is refreshing. Wildeman comes across in a very genuine fashion, citing his inspiration in music to be something very simple: life.
“I write a lot of songs about everyday experiences,” Wildeman explained. “Whether it is experiences friends have gone through or stories my grandma had told me. Life inspires my music, whether its stories people share or experiences I pursue. It is amazing what inspires songs and song writing.”
Wildeman was also very humble in describing what separates him from the rest of the musical world. “I write honest music; I write music that people can relate too. I am always trying to tell a new and unique story that hasn’t been previously captured.”
For the new fan, recommended listens include “1 Year Pass,” “October 25,” “Old Woman’s Mind,” and “Roosters on the Red.” Each provides the fan with a story and new aspect of Wildeman as an artist.
But in the end Wildeman said there is no replacing live music.
“Come check us out at a show. Live songs are always better than recordings.”
Wildeman and fellow musicians West My Friend are coming to the Fraser Valley in the coming week. Dates of interest to UFV students include March 12 and 13 when the tour will hit Chilliwack and Abbotsford. On the 12th, the bands will be in Chilliwack to play at TractorGrease ($10 cover) and in Abbotsford on the 13th at Champion Jacks ($5 cover).
