Naomi Kavka Shares “Landline” From Then & Now Album
Naomi Kavka, a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Smithers, BC, has unveiled the new single, “Landline.” The track is from Naomi’s album, Then & Now.
A classically trained cellist, vocalist, and guitar player, Kavka brings a myriad of influences to her songs, forming a daring indie-rock sound that is musically polished, lyrically visceral, and emotionally raw. Her songs come from the unique perspective of a queer woman, a child of a refugee, a resident of the precipice of the wilderness of Canada.
Kavka’s band, Geoff McFarlane (Handsome Eli) Ian Olmstead (Alex Cuba), Jake Jenne (Aerialists), and Jordy Walker, deftly support her as they perform deeply intimate, political, and cathartic songs. Brought together by soundscapes and comradery, they blend their backgrounds of jazz, classical music, folk traditions, and rock to communicate complex emotional landscapes.
Naomi shares,
“I started writing this song in 2010. I was living in Victoria, and got rid of my cell phone for a landline. I was young and didn’t know any better so I was in a long distance relationship and often fought with my partner over the phone. I’d save coins to make calls from the payphone at the conservatory, and always felt awful when I’d be asked for change as I walked downtown, knowing I’d be saving them to likely get in an inane fight with my partner. I finished it in 2022, combining another unfinished song I had written after that relationship had ended, rounding out the chorus and changing it from a plodding folk song to a driven indie rock anthem.”
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Naomi Kavka. I’m a musician, I’m 36 years old, and I live in a little apartment with my cat Bucky, in Smithers BC, on the territory of the Gidimt’en Clan and the Witsuwit’en people. I am a massive dork with a lot of hobbies that range from identifying mushrooms to playing hours of Dr. Mario while listening to podcasts. I play in a bunch of different bands, on cello, guitar, bass, and vocals. I write the songs, sing, and play guitar in my band. On any given day you’ll probably find me at the local brewery drinking inhuman amounts of kombucha and playing cribbage.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
“Then and Now” is my second full-length album. Its songs were written between 2008 and 2023. It’s a weird little indie rock album. Each song is stylistically distinct, but it coheres around a few themes. Mostly conflict and reconciling with yourself. I think the ultimate feelings I want to convey from this album are optimism in recognition of hardship and an insolent sense of hope in the face of the unknown. The album came together as I was finally starting to feel like myself again after a rough few years. Some important friendships really collapsed during a time when I was struggling, coping with the death of my dad, the end of a big relationship, and a suicide attempt. Then COVID happened, and I finally had time to just be with my thoughts and work through a lot of that trauma. These songs helped, and then I lucked into assembling all the musicians in my band, who really propped me up when I was feeling shaky. Through my drummer, Jake Jenne, I was introduced to Jordy Walker, who produced the album. Jordy made all of my songs make sense together. I felt really cradled by him as we shaped this album, and through working on it together we’ve developed a really sweet friendship. I play in his band now, and none of this would have been possible without his support and mentorship.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
When I write a song, it’s usually because I have an idea stuck in my head. I don’t normally sit down with the intent to write a song without that being present. The idea is already there, and I’ve probably been thinking about it for so long that when I do put pen to paper it kind of feels like it’s writing itself. It usually starts with a phrase, and I’ll play around with chords to see what fits. I like using chords to really pull out emotional ideas a little further than the words and melody can on their own. I’ll substitute relative minors, or flirt with tonicizations or chromatic relationships, throw in a B major where I’d previously used a B minor to add some tension. I studied tonal harmony in music school, but I always related it to pop music which is primarily modal, so I often think about chord progressions from that perspective. I like to see how far I can meander while still feeling like it’s staying mostly consonant, all while serving the feeling I’m trying to convey.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
My second single “Hate to Say It” is out in May, and I’ll be releasing a video along with that. The video is my second collaboration with Elijah Larsen, who filmed some live videos for me that are also up online.
In May I’m going on tour with Richard Garvey! We’ll be heading around Vancouver Island, and up into the interior. This summer, I’ll be performing at festivals all over BC. I’m really excited for Vancouver Island Folkfest with Kym Gouchie and Rachele Van Zanten. I’ll be updating my website with tour dates and festivals.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
In 2015 I got fired from the Prince George Symphony, where I was working as Principal Cellist. I was a year out of music school, and it was really demoralizing. I didn’t go to school with the intent to become a professional classical musician, but it sort of worked out that way. After losing that job, I didn’t know what music was to me anymore. I thought about selling my cello and becoming a hunting guide. The two things I really know are music and being in the bush, and I felt like I had somehow lost my way with music, so all I had left was to become a bushed weirdo. But I had all these songs I needed to get out first, so I worked a job at a campground for a summer, and saved enough money to rent a cabin in Haida Gwaii and record my first album. That experience changed my life, and I’ve been a music-making bushed weirdo ever since!
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
I feel a bit sheepish because I’m on both the records I’m going to recommend, but I feel like I had the smallest part in making them happen and I’m so excited for both of them. Richard Garvey has a beautiful album coming out soon! It’s produced by Corwin Fox, and I just got a preview of the masters and it’s so lush and playful and vulnerable. Also, Kym Gouchie is releasing a children’s album, but it’s really an album for everyone. She had such a dream team working on it, and her songs carry so much depth. There were times when recording it that I completely forgot it was a kid’s album because the songs absolutely slap. Both these records manage to talk about some really big and emotional topics, but with an uplifting message that everyone should hear.