Toronto, ON-based band, The Purcell Project is made up of Alex Purcell (Guitars/Vocals/Lap steel/Synth/Percussion), Lauren Mayer (guitar/vocals), Jennifer Pos (keys), Peter Bull (bass/vocals), and Robert Purcell (drums). The band has recently released their 10-track album, Modern Art.
Check out the album below and find out more about The Purcell Project via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! I’m a Halifax import to Toronto, working to connect to a new audience while improving the discipline of folk-pop songwriting. I lead The Purcell Project, a five-piece ensemble featuring my brother Robert Purcell on Drums, Peter Bull on bass, Jennifer Pos on keys, and my best friend and partner, Lauren Mayer. Lauren and I share the lead vocals, harmonies, and guitar parts together. Everyone is from Nova Scotia, with the exception of Lauren, a native Torontonian, who is the newest member of our band. She is adding an exciting sound to the music with her unique and powerful voice.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.
I’ve been schooled the jazz way, the classical way, and by the popular music legends that society surrounded me with and thankfully continues to do so. I have always tried to synthesize these different aspects of music into one concrete form, but never has it come together in such a succinct way as this latest record I’d like to tell you about. It’s called Modern Art and it was written, recorded, and released all in the same year that Lauren and I began our relationship. The main theme of the record is through the breaking of your heart comes the opportunity for a stronger path forward in love and life. I’m taking that new path with Lauren and have dedicated a lot of the inspiration of these lyrics and songs to her, and our relationship as a whole. We released the record digitally on our one-year anniversary a few weeks ago at the B-Side Lounge in little Italy. It was a wonderful night we will always remember. A great friend of mine from the East Coast, Margaux Ross, created the album art for the record. She imagined the two of us against an Aurora Borealis, and the result is such a visual stunner.
Do you have any upcoming shows? For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance?
The next gig is Nov 14th at Duggan’s Brewery for Thermo Thursdays, a weekly showcase that features up and coming talent in the city. It starts at 8 PM, and is PWYC – perfect chance to sample my tunes and other amazing artists. Expect our live show to feature a lot of sweet harmonies and even sweeter banter between Lauren and myself. We will try not to get carried away this time, but no promises. We will play songs from the new album, which you can stream on Spotify, Apple Music, or Bandcamp, just search for The Purcell Project. You can also follow me at @ThePurcellProject on Instagram.
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
Go for the title track, ‘Modern Art.’ I feel it encapsulates everything else you will hear on this record and tells the story straight from the heart.
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?
Right now I’ve been rocking a lot of great Toronto Indie. We truly are blessed in Canada with the amount of unreal musicians working hard out there. Please check out Claire Hunter – she writes these intimate folk tunes with the perfect amount of Nashville pop twang. While you are streaming, look up Kaili Kinnon, a smoky soul-pop artist that rocks the low notes just as much as the highs. As well, Lauren is working on her debut release, but in the meantime please follow her @LaurenMayerMusic on instagram, and get excited for amazing music from her!