Photo by Ben at Badabing Records
every week, we’re here to remind you of the local artists we love and think you oughta know.
Cool as a cucumber with a mysterious fire that burns within, Canadian born Dana Gavanski released her debut album Yesterday is Gone back in March. A collection of songs that flow between mellow folk and whimsical psych rock rooted in Gavanski’s rich and deep vocal. Now nearly just five months later she’s back with more. On her new EP Wind Songs, due out Friday, August 14th, Gavanski covers five songs from a few favorite musicians.
The first track listeners heard is a seductively burning cover of King Crimson’s “I Talk to the Wind”, a song Gavanski would cover often on tour, followed by her sweeping rendition of “At Last I Am Free”. Originally a song by 70’s disco band Chic, Gavanski cites Robert Wyatt’s approach to his 1982 cover as a big inspiration for her. Another track is a breezy cover of Tim Hardin’s 1966 song “Never Too Far”. “Everyone’s doing these cover EPs… they’re a good way to keep working, but work on something that’s a little detached from you… it’s a good exercise to stand back a bit and explore sounds,” Dana explains.
As for inspirations behind the title Wind Songs, some are more obvious than others. Not only do most songs directly address the wind or weather of some kind, Gavanski does note that using the wind as a metaphor or imagery in her music is something she does often. Lastly, and my personal favorite, Dana recounts a certain tour memory: “I had [my] tour in November. I was really excited [because I got] to choose all these crazy things on my rider, cause I had never headlined a tour and so i’m like, “I just want the finest cheeses” [she laughs]. Ended up eating a lot of cheese and developing IBS. So “I Talk to the Wind” became a fart joke among the band.”
Coming from a film production background, with a father in the industry, music was more of a reluctant passion at times for Gavanski. She recounts trying to persuade herself to upload her first EP to bandcamp. Once she did, she was eventually contacted by Trev Elkin who writes Gold Flake Paint in the UK. Asking about Gavanski’s label, Elkin connected her with James Smith over at Fox Food Records. After releasing another EP and having a “stroke of luck”, she received an email from Full Time Hobby, an independent record label based in the UK. “I had the lowest self-esteem, didn’t expect anything but wanted everything,” Dana recalls.
Now living in quarantine, like many creatives, dealing with the structureless-ness of it all has been challenging. To focus, keep healthy, be kind to your mind. She’s picked up the bass and hopes to keep honing her craft. The extra time has had benefits as she works on yet another album, rehearsing and pursuing some side projects. Like many others, she finds herself “wistfully looking forward to a world of gigs.”
Wind Songs will be available on all streaming platforms this Friday, August 7th. You can stream her March debut album Yesterday is Gone via Spotify.