It was by chance two singer-songwriters, who now make up a Juno-nominated group, met at a bar one night, but after learning their families had been friends for years, perhaps it was a sign the duo was meant to be.
Madison Violet will be performing in Turner Valley Nov. 19 as part of the tour for their new album, “The Good in Goodbye.”
While Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac have always written about relationships, the songs on their new album are quite personal and depict their lives over the past few years, from breakups to changes, explained MacEachern.
“I think that’s the job of a storyteller or a songwriter is to bring your personal stuff in there but at least try and make it so that other people can relate or identify with the topic,” she said.
Both women sing and co-write songs, while MacEachern plays acoustic, tenor and steel guitar and MacIsaac plays fiddle, mandolin and guitar.
Their music has evolved since their first album in 2004, which was more pop-oriented than their contemporary music, explained MacIsaac.
“I’m very proud of all the material that we’ve put out, but I feel like the more we perform together, the more we grow and grow into the sound that’s more natural to us,” she said.
The singer-songwriters describe their music as based around harmonies and in the style of roots, Americana and alternative country, although they don’t like to restrict themselves to one genre.
MacEachern said it would be unfair and boring to restrict themselves to one category of music. While the elements of their music will change, some things remain constant no matter the style, similar to a visual artist’s work, she explained.
“The brushstrokes are our voice. The voices are always going to be the same, but it’s the canvas or what comes in to inspire you which changes the painting in the end.”
Before their performance at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Nov. 19 in Turner Valley as part of the Beneath the Arch concert series, Madison Violet is finishing up their six-week European tour, which they said has been a success.
“It’s been a fantastic tour,” said MacIsaac. “It’s nice to come back here (Europe) for our umpteenth time and see the growth and see the audiences grow and familiar fans.”
“The Good in Goodbye” took off in Europe right away, said MacEachern, but because they have been focusing on the European market, the album had more of a soft release in Canada, and they might even do somewhat of a re-release here, she added.
The duo will spend a lot of time on the road touring next year. They enjoy performing live as engaging their audience is important to them. MacIsaac said if an artist just reproduces their album at a show, she would prefer to just listen to it at home.
Playing night after night has its challenges too.
“There are times where you just are so exhausted you can barely get yourself out of bed because you’ve done eight shows in a row and you haven’t had a day off and your next one day off you have is a nine-hour drive to get to the next city,” explained MacIsaac. “Then you get on stage and you feel rejuvenated and the audience gives you back that energy.”
After releasing the album “No Fool For Trying” in 2009, Madison Violet started gaining attention for their work.
“It was a really great couple of years. I felt like the media and more globally, people started perking their ears up and actually acknowledging what we were doing, which was nice,” said MacIsaac.
Since then, the group won the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for their track “The Ransom,” which MacIsaac said was quite an honour. They have also been nominated for a Juno award and multiple East Coast Music Awards. In 2009, Madison Violet won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year.
Ever since the women were young, music has always been a part of their identity, explained MacEachern.
“Both of us grew up with music as being one of the languages spoken in our house,” she said.
Originally from Montreal, MacEachern grew up in Kincardine, Ontario and has lived in Toronto, where she met MacIsaac, for past 15 to 20 years. MacIsaac moved to Toronto when she was 19 years old in search of a new scene after playing in folk bands in her hometown of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The two met at a bar 12 years ago and later learned they knew each other’s families and their fathers went to school together. They have been performing together ever since.
Madison Violet performs at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick in Turner Valley Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. For more information on the Beneath the Arch concert series visit http://www.beneaththearch.ca/. For more on the band visit http://www.madisonviolet.com/main.html.
