Liam Docherty – Five Questions With

BC Musician Liam Docherty Releases New Album + Video For 2nd Single

BC musician Liam Docherty has released his new album Gemini Rising out now on all digital streaming platforms.

Along with the album release, Liam is also premiering the lyric video for his second single “Life On The West Coast.” The track is a devastating social critique of the inequity of life in Vancouver in 2023, as seen through the eyes of a 15-year musician. Some people experience Vancouver as “one of the most livable cities in the world” a place of natural beauty, opportunity, and wealth (‘Cool sea breeze and the sun in the sky’), while others experience suffering and a struggle to survive (‘You can trust me, I’ll leave you to die’).

“‘Life On The West Coast’ tells a story about four fictional characters from different socio-economic backgrounds as they navigate life in Vancouver in 2023,” says Liam. “It addresses and reflects back common themes regularly represented in the media of wealth inequality, unaffordable housing, and the toxic drug crisis in the 2020s. The song asks the listener, ‘How does Vancouver look through YOUR eyes?’ And it finishes with ‘we’re all just trying to find our way, searching for a brighter day’—a plea for compassion and recognition of the lives being led by others.” 

Watch the lyric video for “Life on the West Coast” below and learn more about Liam via our Five Questions With segment.

Care to introduce yourself to our readers? 

My name is Liam Docherty. I’m an official partner of Taylor Guitars and have been playing publicly since the age of 7. I just released my 2nd album – Gemini Rising  – on June 30th and will be playing at the Vancouver Island MusicFest on July 15th and 16th. I released my debut album Modern. Magic. Melody. in 2020, which led to a nomination for New Act of The Year at the Maple Blues Awards, and at 13 years of age, I became the youngest person in the history of the awards to be nominated.    

Tell us a bit about your most recent release. 

The new album Gemini Rising has 12 original songs written and performed, by me, at the age of 15. The album pinballs between genres and features a 70s-inspired guitar epic, folk songs with pop sensibilities, a melodic funk tune, mournful acoustic ballads, and Texas blues-inspired grooves. I wrote and performed the songs and played all electric and acoustic guitars on this album. The album title, and the theme of the title track, is derived from my study of Greek Mythology, specifically, the myth of the Gemini star constellation which was adapted to reflect the central themes of love, longing, loss, separation, pain, sacrifice, and redemption that touch each and every one of our lives. The other songs on the album feature sharp social critiques and observations, and also some good times fun.  

Where do you tend to pull inspiration from when writing? 

Anything I see or interact with can result in a song or song idea if I notice something I find interesting. It could be an exchange between two people, themes in novels or poems I read, or situations or circumstances others find themselves in that they relay to me. I keep a notebook of interesting ideas or word combinations I like.  

I mentioned the inspiration for Gemini Rising earlier, I have a song on the album called ‘Picked Flowers’ which has Kendra Dantes on vocals. That song came about from an idea I had about the impermanence of life. On one level, it’s a story of a boy and a girl-friends picking flowers in the summer, and by the last verse, she’s no longer here. On another level, I’m equating picked flowers with people. In the same way, flowers are picked (taken from the ground – their source of life) and put into a vase to look pretty for a while yet are decaying, I’m likening human souls being plucked from the heavens and put into the human vessel which is getting older and getting old in much the same way. The upbeat tempo and flighty feel to the song is diametrically opposed to the underlying theme.  

Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about? 

Yes, I’m playing at Vancouver Island MusicFest where I’ll be doing a main concert and a series of workshops and sessions. I have my main concert with the band at 11:15 am on Saturday, July 15th, then later that day I’ll be at the Saturday Crossroads “Swapping Licks, Talking Guitar” with Jack Semple, Michael Dunn, and Brad Stivers. I’ll be talking Texas Blues, Acoustic Blues, and Jazz Blues fusion.   

On Sunday, July 16th, I’ll be “All Blues” at the Sunday Grierson with Lindsay Beaver and Brad Stivers, Blues and Gold, JD Crosstown, and Angelique Francis. I’ll be doing some Skip James, Big Bill Broonzy, and whatever else fits the mood.  After that on Sunday, I’ll be doing a song circle at the Sunday Barn with Scott Cook, JD Crosstown, Jenna Hicken, STORRY, and Barbra Lica.   

What’s your goal for 2023 

I’ll be doing a tour in Q4 2023 and will be doing the prep work to organize a European tour in 2024. I’ll also keep writing songs and learning.  I’m always learning. 

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