Montreal vocalist Karen Myatt has released Valise, an 11-track album inspired by a decade of internal and external journeys. She will launch the record with a showcase at La Sala Rossa in Montreal on Saturday, September 5.
Comprising nine original compositions and two covers, Valise explores travel as a spiritual and emotional practice rather than tourism. Its songs consider time travel, multicultural pilgrimage and the ways encounters with unfamiliar places and people can alter how someone sees the world.
Myatt cites Phil Cousineau’s book The Art of Pilgrimage as an important influence on the project, particularly its emphasis on seeing, listening and experiencing a journey attentively.
“This idea had a profound effect on the making of Valise,” Myatt says. “Travel is engaging, educational and entertaining, and I believe vital for healing our world during times of conflict.”
The album opens with Pockets of Gold, followed by Angélique and When We Were Beautiful. Videos have been released for all three songs. The tracklist also includes Dust & Debris, Horizon, Anyoldtown, L’Étranger, Rivière des Mères and the title track.
Pianist and vocalist Madeline Joudrey appears on If I Give My Heart to You, while Montreal jazz singer Ranee Lee guests on the closing track, On the Road Again.
Myatt is accompanied by Stephen Patrick Clare on guitar, Christian St-Germain on bass, Julian Shively on keys and cello, Nick Baddeley on drums and percussion, Jonathan Moorman on violin, Frédéric Bourgeault on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Matthew Souaid on saxophones.
Valise was written and produced by Clare and Myatt. St-Germain engineered, mixed, mastered and co-produced the album.
Valise is available now. Tickets for the September 5 album launch at La Sala Rossa are available here.
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