Katrina Skalland Collaborates With Drew Grow, Records New Album
posted in: Artist Features • Reviews & Playlists
Last week, OurStage featured writer Paul G. Maziar posted a review of the new Drew Grow and The Pastor’s Wives album on the OurStage blog. As a compliment to that post, we wanted to keep the love in Portland and broaden the spotlight to focus on another local up-and-comer, Katrina Skalland. Katrina Skalland and Drew Grow are long time friends and admirers of each other’s music. Back in 2008, the pair collaborated on a joint album entitled Sow to Sow. Skalland is currently hard at work on a new album with producer/instrumentalist Dave Middleton (The two make up the songwriting duo Deluxe.) Their music is eclectic to say the least, combining elements of indie rock, acoustic balladry and singer-songwriter storytelling. Skalland took some time to talk to OurStage about working with Drew Grow and the new Deluxe album.
Skalland remembers the day vividly when Drew Grow called her and the idea for Sow to Sow came to fruition. I was on a bicycle ride, half way up this ridiculous hill in the Sunset. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Drew. I stopped to take the call, sat down on the sidewalk and looked out over the neighborhood. The conversation materialized on its own. We arrived at this decision to make something together because it would be fun and beautiful. It must have been in the stars for us, it was relatively fast and easy to accomplish. We both stretched ourselves to meet the other person half way. Drew is a gem to work with. He has a strong spirit and a kind nature. Though, with all of that said, he is also somewhat enigmatic. I am often surprised by him and never feel as though I can anticipate what he is going to do next.
The new Deluxe record, described as an indie pop record by Skalland, is currently in the process of being recorded in two separate studios and features Sam Coe (Low Flying Owls, Seventeen Evergreen) on the drums and Kris Doty (The Pastor’s Wives) on the bass. My songs are influenced by my need to move, comments Skalland. She states that although she’s listened to so much dance music these last couple of years, the songs will still be true to form singer-songwriter stories. When asked about new studio techniques, Skalland commented, We have been using live drum sequences, sometimes 2, 3 or 4 takes of different grooves set against each other. Same with the rest of the tracking. . .it is us having fun experimenting. To listen to music from Deluxe, and tracks from Sow to Sow, head to Katrina Skalland’s OurStage profile or check out the playlist below. Be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming new album from Deluxe, The Light Tree, due in early 2011.