Runs July 18-22nd.
Tim Chaisson (born September 6, 1986) is a Canadian singer/songwriter from Souris, Prince Edward Island. He is also a world-class traditional fiddle player and is featured performing fiddle along with guitar, mandolin, and piano.
Tim Chaisson is a member of the Chaisson family, who are prominent in the music scene of Prince Edward Island. Though he had been playing many instruments since he was a child, Chaisson began his professional career at the age of 14 when he was asked to join Celtic/contemporary band Kindle with his two brothers and three cousins as their bassist. He was the youngest member of the group, touring from 2000 to 2005.
At the age of 15, Chaisson embarked on a solo career locally, and released his first solo album, Timothy Chaisson, which mainly focused on traditional songs. In 2004, he released his second independent album, where Chaisson was able to showcase his song writing and instrumental abilities. This album, Something Acoustic, was a mixture of traditional and original songs as well as traditional fiddle tunes. Chaisson later recorded his album, Even, which featured 10 original songs. It features Chaisson’s instrumental abilities playing acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums, piano, mandolin, fiddle and vocals. Released in 2006, it received many awards and nominations. Later in 2011, he was chosen as Musical Director for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s highly publicized Royal Visit to PEI.
Tim Chaisson is having his moment.
Even if he weren’t perched firmly on top of the most accomplished record of his career – the many- sided country/folk/pop opus Lost in Light, produced by Band of Horses wunderkind Bill Reynolds – the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist would have countless career highs to celebrate.
Where to begin? Three knockout showcases at Austin’s famed South by Southwest Festival last spring and subsequent dates supporting alt-rock legends the Goo Goo Dolls. That spot at the Mariposa Folk Festival covering Gordon Lightfoot under the approving gaze of Lightfoot himself. The SiriusXM INDIE Award nomination for Collaboration of the Year for “Beat This Heart” with Serena Ryder, lifted from Chaisson’s much-feted 2012 Colin Linden-produced disc, The Other Side. A nomination for the 2013 Canadian Country Music Award Discovery Series. Nomination for SIRIUS-XM US Coffee House Discovery Of The Year 2013 and TV special in Canada on CMT’s “Live At The Edison” series.
“I love writing by myself but it’s also exciting writing with other people and happens a lot when you are on the road,” he says. “In the past, songs I have co-written always ended up being the songs I loved best.”
Yet the 12 skillful songs on Lost in Light sound effortless, natural.
As Chaisson explains, near-constant touring over the past few years – including five trips to Australia– sharpened his writing while extensive demoing in his home studio ensured Chaisson’s new material was fully primed by the time he entered the Chalet Studio in Claremont, Ontario last June for two intense weeks of recording alongside Reynolds.
“I love writing by myself but it’s also exciting writing with other people and happens a lot when you are on the road,” he says. “In the past, songs I have co-written always ended up being the songs I loved best.”
I’ve always listened to everything – I love country but also pop and folk and Celtic music and roots music. I am a huge James Taylor fan but I also I grew up as a fiddle player and I find it really hard to write a song that only focuses on one genre.