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Local Guides
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ASTRID YOUNG
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August 18 – 24, 2005 |
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“It’s kind of a long and winding road, but basically I’ve
always thought of myself as a musician. My parents put
me in the Royal Conservatory when I was young and
I’ve been able to read music since before I could read
words.”
Astrid Young is speaking to me from her home about
how she got her start in music. It’s not surprising that it’s
been second–nature to her since she was an infant; she
does, after all, share the same passion for music that
drove her brother Neil to international superstardom. He
left one helluva legacy behind, but it’s never caused his
little sister much concern.
Indeed, since she moved out to California in her teens,
Astrid Young has been treading her own path. Once
there, she started singing full–time and writing songs. In
the mid–’80s, Astrid found herself singing in the glam–
metal band Sacred Child in Los Angeles. After several
internationally charting releases, Young left to join her
brother’s backing band during the Harvest Moon era.
The gigs made her many new alliances and continued to
expand the scope of her capabilities, and the
possibilities of her career. A move back to Toronto in the
mid-90’s found her making another career 180 and
starting iST, a stoner–rock power trio, (featuring Young
on bass and lead vocals), who became the darlings of
Toronto’s underground hard rock scene
During a tour with Crazy Horse in 2000, Billy Talbot,
(bassist of Crazy Horse, for those of you who aren’t
cool), was able to convince his new Dutch label,
Inbetweens Records, to release iST’s album in Holland.
“In between when I spoke to the label and when I
actually went over there, I had done a solo record too, so
it sorta fell into place,” Young remembers. The record
was her solo debut, the moving, moody and intensely
atmospheric Matinee. Recorded during a whirlwind six–
day session, it features Young on all the instruments,
(which range from her trademark Fender 12–string, to
pump organ, theremin, lap steel, vibes, and a host of
other accoutrements), and brings her lonesome Jeff
Buckley–by–way–of Emmy–Lou Harris voice to the
forefront. It’s a gripping, haunting listen which has once
again shifted her career’s direction.
“The acoustic thing is something I’ve been doing for a
few years and not just ’cause it’s really easy. You know,
somebody calls me up and asks me if I can play at a
certain date and I can just say ‘yes.’ I don’t have to check
with anybody or book rehearsals. I’ve managed to get
pretty good at it and somehow I’ve developed a bit of a
following all over the world. That’s what keeps you
going. People keep coming back and putting themselves
in front of you and buying your record. That’s gotta say
something. When people ask me what it’s like I usually
tell them it’s a cross between Pink Floyd and Black
Sabbath,” Young laughs. “That’s about as close as I can
come to it.”
Buoyed by the support of her Dutch label and her new
fans, Young has shifted her focus to her acoustic
material and is currently working on her next release,
iNtegratron, a record she wants to be a more relaxed
affair, with more guests, to expand on the blueprint of
Matinee.
“Making Matinee was a gruelling week of recording and
playing. I look back on it as really fun, but I’d never want
to do it again. I want to take more time with the next one.
Bob Lanois is going to produce it with me. Basically
we’re going to do it one song at a time, give each song
its own day or week or however long it takes, you know?
I’m gonna play and write with a few different people, like
Tom Wilson, people I’ve worked with in the past. I want
to take elements of everything that I’ve learned and play
with the people that I most want to play with and
integrate it all together on one disc.”
With her next effort still in pre–production, Young is now
embarking on a small tour with label–mates Ad
Vanderveen and Shannon Lyon, not really to promote
anything, just to hang–out, sing some songs, and have a
good time.
“It’s gonna be great. I’ve played a lot of shows in Europe
with Ad, doing the same kind of thing we’re gonna do
with Shannon, a songwriter–in–the–round sorta thing.”
Astrid Young will be at The Casbah with Shannon Lyon
and Ad Vanderveen on Tuesday, August 23. V
[PATRICK FINCH]
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