Senja Sargeant – Senja Sargeant
Senja Sargeant – Senja Sargeant
Format: CD – Digital
Label: Ruby Records
Release: 2022
Release date: September 23, 2022
SENJA
Rising from the club scene in Montreal as a teen, Senja Sargeant signed her first major record deal at 26 with her country band, Ladies of the Canyon. The all-female quartet quickly gained notoriety and a dedicated following, garnering award nominations from Radio Music Canada as well as from the Canadian Country Music Association for their singles “Follow Me Down” and “Maybe Baby”, both written by Sargeant. Senja toured extensively with the group through Canada, the USA, and Europe, sharing the stage with renowned acts such as fellow Canadians: Broken Social Scene and Ron Sexsmith, and opening for legends like Kenny Rogers, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Alan Jackson, Lhasa de Sela, and Great Big Sea.
After leaving the band and setting out as a solo artist, Sargeant relocated to The Netherlands. In 2020, just three years after the move, she was invited to appear on the enormously popular television program ‘The Voice of Holland, instantly becoming a fan favorite on Team Waylon. Referring to her talent as “Godlike”, Waylon ultimately pulled her from the competition, claiming he would prefer to collaborate personally rather than proceed with her on the show. Unfortunately, that claim never panned out. In 2021, Sargeant returned to national television on ‘Beat Me: The Five Knockouts, where she again made a splash and won over the hearts of the jury comprised of Dutch celebrities René Froger, Ronald Molendijk, and Jan Dulles.
Following her critically acclaimed appearance on TVOH, Sargeant was introduced to lauded LA-based singer-songwriter and producer, Shane Alexander who also has an extensive history of performing and touring in Holland. The two hit it off creatively and bonded over everything from David Bowie and Roy Orbison to Lucinda Williams and Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde. Writing remotely on Zoom, the duo set out to make a timeless EP full of undeniable hooks and the kind of energy to connect with large crowds. Shane Alexander writes, “Our whole working relationship has been remote, which is absolutely nuts. Before Covid, I would have never thought it was possible. On our very first Zoom, I realized Senja was a monster talent and I wanted to help her write and record songs to complement her explosive voice and brutally-honest lyrics.”
The music for the EP was recorded live at Alexander’s Buddhaland Studios in Southern California and features a dream team of A-list players including drummer Fernando Sanchez (Pete Yorn, Chris Cornell, LP), pedal steel ace Jesse Siebenberg (Supertramp, Lady Gaga, Lukas Nelson), bassist Vic Ruiz (Last American Buffalo, Conway), keyboardist Carl Byron (Hot Club LA, Jackson Browne) and string arranger/performer Stevie Blacke (Beck, Pink, Rhianna).
Senja’s vocals were recorded in Amsterdam with Alexander producing remotely. The songs on the EP deal with controversial subjects ranging from domestic abuse in “Thunderheads”, addiction and mental illness in “Never Gonna Turn Away” to love lost in “Still Dreaming of You” and love found in “Now I Understand” – all from an empowered woman’s perspective. Mixed by Grammy-winner Brian Yaskulka, and mastered by Grammy-winner Hans DeKline.
Website: https://www.senjasargeant.com/
Tracks:
01. Never Gonna Turn Away
02. Still Dreaming of You
03. Thunderheads
04. Now I Understand
Senja Sargeant’s self-titled debut release show will be at Bitterzoet in Amsterdam on September 21st, 2022. TICKET LINK