New collection highlights B.C. artist’s “genre-fluid” approach in blending folk, jazz, and classic pop
Deanna Knight releases her long-awaited second solo album Every Little Spark via deannaknight.ca and Bandcamp. Its 10 songs are a testament to Knight’s longevity within the Canadian music scene, as well as her belief in music’s healing power.
Over the course of a career now into its third decade, the Ontario-born vocalist and songwriter has developed a sound she calls “genre-fluid,” encompassing folk, jazz and classic pop, with lyrics that empower listeners through messages of hope and spiritual awakening.
Now based in B.C., Knight recorded Every Little Spark in part at Garth Richardson’s studio near her home on the Sunshine Coast, as well as at Toronto’s Union Sound where she rekindled a longtime friendship with multi-instrumentalist/producer Les Cooper (Jill Barber, The Good Lovelies), and enlisted an all-star cast consisting of keyboardist Simon Kendall (Doug & the Slugs), bassist George Koller (Holy Cole, Shuffle Demons), drummer Davide DiRenzo (JackSoul, Cassandra Wilson) and Grammy/Juno-nominated arranger/multi-instrumentalist Drew Jurecka.
Although much time has passed since Knight’s debut solo album, Shadow Of A Star, she’s been extremely busy in between. Along with being a proud mother and top-rated B&B owner, she’s also been a familiar face on B.C. stages with her Deanna Knight Tree-O, and other musical projects such as her popular Gypsy-swing ensemble Deanna Knight & the Hot Club Of Mars, and the Grateful Dead tribute GD/BC, which carries on the spirit of Knight’s early work as co-founder of the popular ‘90s Canadian jam band the Fat Cats.
She describes her journey to this point as one of understanding how to use her voice in the most uplifting way possible, a notion embedded within songs like “Free To Be Me”—which also gave birth to the album’s title—and “My Own Creation,” inspired by her own personal mantra. Other standout tracks are the heart-wrenching “Carry Me Home” and “How Do We Love,” which Knight has always imagined as a James Bond theme song, now fully realized with a lush string arrangement and cinematic vibe. It’s all part of the new musical tapestry she has developed over the past few years.
“I did some serious soul-searching after leaving The Fat Cats. I had a strong sense that I was given a voice that moves people for a reason,” Knight says. “I wrote and journaled and addressed my own healing until positive and empowering songs started to surface. There are plenty of sad, broken-hearted songs in the world. I want to lift, inspire and spread love, so I’ve kept at it until I was able to clearly see the purpose of this gift.”
Deanna Knight’s Every Little Spark is now her gift to all of us—a guide to help nurture the unique spark inside each of us and a powerful call to action for humanity, urging us to rise up with our hearts and focus on healing, kindness and compassion. An album that reaffirms music’s place at the centre of all good things life has to offer.