By MICHELLE HERBISON
CANADIAN singer-songwriter Tim Chaisson feels a “duty” to carry on his family’s musical traditions, spanning six generations.
Growing up immersed in Celtic traditions at Prince Edward Island influenced Chaisson’s original music, blending pop, rock, country and folk elements.
“On Prince Edward Island, any night of the week you could stumble into a kitchen party with great traditional music and song or into a small hall with live music,” he told the Independent.
“The majority of my cousins – there are 55 on the Chaisson side – took to it well and remain some of PEI’s finest musicians. We get together just to jam and exchange tunes and songs.
“It was a pretty awesome atmosphere to grow up in.”
Chaisson said his grandfather loved his fiddle music so much he started the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, which was now going into its 37th year.
“My dad is a great piano and fiddle player and encouraged me and my brothers and sister to play. Music was everything to us growing up.”
Chaisson’s fourth album, The Other Side, his first to hit the national landscape, has gained him accolades in his home country, including an East Coast Music Award earlier this year.
He earned experience performing from a young age at ceilidhs, benefit concerts and churches before joining his brothers and cousins in Celtic rock band Kindle and touring through most of his high school years.
A “gradual transition” into songwriting stemmed from listening to everything from Stan Rogers and Alison Krauss to mainstream radio, he said.
“I kind of became obsessed with the songwriting process and listening to how different songwriters went about it. I think that’s why my writing style is a bit diverse.”
Chaisson said he would combine his original music with traditional eastern Canadian fiddle tunes at Portarlington’s National Celtic Festival frm 7 to 10 June.
“The music just seems to lift people’s spirits and you can’t go wrong with it – there’s a reason why it’s been around forever and still continues to be played in many shapes and forms.
“I believe it’s one of the oldest types of soul music.”
