Saskatchewan Pianist And Singer-Songwriter Jeffery Straker Releases Sincere New Single “The Time You’ve Got”
Life’s highest highs often accompany its lowest lows. Regina, Saskatchewan pianist and singer-songwriter Jeffery Straker knows this well. He’s opening up about some of the lessons he’s recently learned on his new single, “The Time You’ve Got,” out everywhere now.
“In the past five years I’ve watched both of my parents pass away,” Straker shares. “I’ve also found love in my partner of four years, Michael. Losing my parents has made me reflect on where it is that I was born, then decided to leave, and then felt drawn back to in recent years. All throughout this I’ve become cognizant of time: how precious it is and how important it is to use it wisely.”
Co-written with Beverley Mahood and Mac Shepherd, “The Time You’ve Got” reflects on that ever-profound common refrain of the bereaved– That we have to appreciate every day that we’ve got. Straker and Mahood were initially inspired to write the song while co-hosting the annual Telemiracle Telethon on CTV, where they both shared a profound sense of awe witnessing Canadians contribute their hard earned dollars to a good cause.
The single is the third off Straker’s upcoming album Great Big Sky, following “Brand New Light” and “Sing Your Song.” On Great Big Sky, Straker shares his story as Saskatchewan’s prodigal son in his signature folk-roots style, with eight self-penned tracks and two co-written with Nashville-based producer Steve Dawson. The full album will be released everywhere this July.
“In spite of the deep loss I’ve experienced,” Straker concludes, “an optimistic tone rings from these songs and I think it comes from gratitude. I feel lucky to have been raised in a beautiful place by wonderful parents. I’m lucky to be from and to call the prairies home. A place that reminds, inspires, lifts, and grounds me. Great Big Sky is about being lost and then being found again, it’s a whisper painted on a giant canvas, and the gratitude for not knowing all the answers but being able to ask all the questions.”
Jeffery Straker is a celebrated pianist and singer/songwriter hailing from small-town Saskatchewan. He received his licentiate diploma in piano performance from Trinity College, London when he was just 19, and has gone on to perform over 100 shows per year across Canada, Europe and Latin America. His music has been featured on CBC radio’s ‘Canada Live’, and he has twice been recognized as the Saskatchewan Music Awards Roots/Folk Artist of the Year.
Hi Jeffrey, care to introduce yourself?
I’m Jeffery Straker. A singer-songwriter pianist based in Regina Saskatchewan. I write, record and perform original songs. They’re rootsy storytelling style songs that are typically classified as Folk or Roots.
Tell us about the process of recording “The Time You’ve Got”?
I’d like to tell you a little bit about the inspiration for the song first I co-wrote this tune with Beverley Mahood and her writing partner Mac Shepherd. Beverley and I were co-hosting an annual telethon in Saskatchewan (called Kinsmen/Kinette Telemiracle). It airs on CTV and people call in and send in money they donate to this great cause. I was standing in the wings with Beverley watching the announcement of a really big donation that a gal had left in her will. Someone was reading her brief life history and it was really lovely and quite down-to-earth – almost simple: she liked gardening, knitting and time with family. Through her life she saved up this sizeable sum of money and then…donated it all to charity. I turned to Beverley and said something like “wow, seeing this really makes you ask yourself ‘What are you gonna do with the time you’ve got here'”? Beverley quickly responded “Write that down that’s a song”. No dust settles on her. We wrote the phrase down and knew we’d revisit it but it took several months. We connected via zoom and wrote about 90% of it, and then reconnected with one more short zoom (Mac & Beverley again in Ontario and myself in Saskatchewan). Both sessions were energized, easy, and joyful. I really can’t overstate how much I enjoyed writing this song.
I recorded it as part of the recording sessions for the full 10-song album I’ll soon release in June. I worked with producer Steve Dawson at his studio, The Henhouse, in Nashville TN. We got the majority of the 10 songs done in 4 days by recording piano, lead vocal, 1 guitar, bass & drums all live off the floor (with isolation to allow mixing after a good performance was captured). Using an upright acoustic piano, it was difficult to completely isolate vocals but we did a pretty good job (blankets to the rescue). A bit of overdubbing was done separately on this song including mandolin (played by Fats Kaplin) and additional guitars (Steve Dawson). Backing vocals were recorded by Beverley Mahood in Port Carling ON and sent in. The mix was done by Al Rowe in Toronto. At my live shows as I’ve debuted this song it’s really got a great response from the audiences. I’ve also seen a wonderful response to my posts about it on social media including the lyric video on Youtube. It seems to really strike a chord.
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
Thinking back, a Canadian artist that caught my ear early on was Joni Mitchell. I remember hearing “A Case of You” and thinking how utterly insane the song was in terms of how much she said in such a short tune. Also in and around 1993, I can remember ‘Crash Test Dummies’ album ‘God Shuffled His Feet’ playing on repeat. Their song ‘Afternoons and Coffee Spoons’ was mesmerizing for me (and that voice!). Gowan was another stand out.
A recent Canadian artist that’s stood out for me is Dave Gunning. I’m a sucker for a story song and he’s really excellent. Lots of maritime themes sift through his tunes. Another is Colter Wall from Saskatchewan – he sings cowboy country that’s also really story driven, chronicling prairie life.
What’s an album that you have in your collection that would surprise people?
The 1959 Columbia recording of Leonard Bernstein conducting and performing on piano, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. It gives me the feels. Every. Single. Time.
What are your plans for Spring and Summer?
Spring is now! I’m in the throes of planning summer touring including my 7-show concert series that will officially launch my new album. I’m performing 7 shows in/at grain elevators in Saskatchewan in a nod to the prairie themes on the album. It’s difficult enough planning shows in venues – getting them to all line up, working out the logistics and the promotions. It’s MUCH trickier planning shows at grain elevators, trust me. Who knew?! lol (apparently I didn’t). I’ve got some festivals lined up and a whole raft of bookings continue to come in as the new record is closer to coming out. In the fall I’m touring England again and that’s already taking up a lot of planning time. It’s great to be busy with this though – I’m excited for the coming months.
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