Canadian-International artist Faye Blais comes back to Guelph for a hometown show, sticking around for a couple unique projects before returning to Australia

Beth Purdon-McLellan

In a style that she would call “melancholy folk,” Northern Ontario-based artist Faye Blais drew her audience in from the cold last Sunday to the Cornerstone’s live music venue. Her performance was part of a tour along with percussionist Josh Turnbull and fellow performer Bradley Tindall. The music delivered at the show Nov. 7 was a mixture of both the old and new, with two of Blais’ most recent albums Here in the Shade and Two Pieces, being primarily featured at the show. Needless to say, her delivery of music and lyrics is both raw and powerful, which one would only expect from a musician with Blais’ experience. Blais brings a whole new definition to the term “globe- trotter,” creating a sound that has been spread across continents.

While teaching abroad Faye burst onto the foreign music scene, finding herself on a tour that would take her around the world, from Taiwan, to Australia and finally home. To top it off, this fearless musician is one of Guelph’s own – a graduate from the Business and Administrations program. When she left to teach in Taiwan, she had released her first album and her intentions were geared towards a short travel experience. Instead, she was launched into an incredible music career. The foreign music scene in Taiwan served as an interesting start for Blais. Her music became popular almost as soon as she had hit the ground. Being one of the few female leads, this success speaks volumes for the quality of Faye’s music. While Faye has added to this incredible music scene, Taiwan has had a large effect on her music as well.

“It’s such an intense place to live, with a lot of everything, a lot of polar opposites,” said Blais. “I definitely developed as a performer and a musician.”

Blais has released three albums: one in Canada and two on the road. She began her recording in Taiwan, and then continued onto Australia to finish her album. Her soulful songs echo her experiences and are filled with stories of her international journey.

“Four years of life recording, touring and traveling,” said Blais of what went into the latest album.

“The album is called Two Pieces because among other things, the album was literally done in two pieces, two countries,” said Blais.

The challenge now for Blais is bringing it home. Regardless of her three years of touring experience, Blais is still working on climbing up the Canadian music ladder. Blais is now in the process of creating a soundtrack for a documentary about growing up in Ontario. The film will focus on Canadian heritage, especially in regards to aboriginal peoples. For Blais, not only will this project present a new way of song writing, but it will also offer a reintroduction to Canadian culture. Unfortunately her stay in her home country will be short, and Faye Blais will be returning to Australia by the end of the year. Fans feel it has been wonderful to have her home, regardless of how short the time was. Her university town support group of fans, friends and family were grateful she could stop by, and look forward to being included in her inevitable upcoming tours. The Cornerstone café has brought yet another stunning performance to the usually quiet Sunday night downtown, and has no intention of ending that trend.

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