Zena inspired by Xena
Yukon musician Lara Lewis has just put out a new “half” album, Zena.
According to Lewis, some folks in the industry call them EPs. The latest offering from Lewis consists of five songs she wrote as part of the Record Production Month challenge. She calls her style Indie pop, and the songs all have a good groove and ear-wormy melodies but no thrashy guitars.
Lewis says she likes upbeat music from artists like Lizzo, Kaiser Chiefs and Wet Leg, adding she wouldn’t say they were influences, necessarily, but their songs are definitely in her listening world.
The new album also takes inspiration from a classic TV show called Xena: Warrior Princess and Zena is a riff on that, says Lewis, adding the name mirrors her own battles, particularly the one she is going through now with brain cancer. Lewis says her sister, Loyola, did the cover art for the album and it was originally a design she did on a bowl their mom made.
Lewis recorded in Whitehorse with musician/producer Jordy Walker, with some funding to help her get the project rolling. “I received a Performing Musician Grant from the Department of Economic Development,” she says. “There are a limited number of studios you can use with that, and I like Jordy. I think he is one of the most-creative engineers/producers in town.”
Lewis says her last album, Lov Lavatic, was also produced by Walker.
Joining Lewis on the EP are musicians Shannon Gladwin on bass, Lonnie Powell on drums, and Jordy Walker on guitar. When she recorded the demos at home, Lewis says she had limited instrument choices, so the drums were all canned (pre-recorded), the bass lines were played on her Roland X7 keyboard; and she added different patch sounds from that keyboard, such as accordion, harmonica and mellotron.
Lewis says she had about eight songs when she walked into Walker’s studio, adding there were three tracks she definitely wanted to record, then chose the other two after she was there. She ended up picking the tracks that she thought needed the least amount of tinkering, she says. Lewis adds she sometimes gets tired of the sound of “real” piano and feels the piano sometimes doesn’t stand up well to other instruments, like electric guitar. In the end, she went with the Rhodes piano sound and the old-time feel of the mellotron on the song “Lazarus,” which also happens to be her favourite song on the album.
The five-song EP is available now on popular streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, Pandora, and Deezer. and Lewis adds there’s currently no plans for a physical release. “Who listens to CDs anymore?”
Lewis will be out of the territory at the start of the new year but says a show is likely in the Yukon, in March or April.
Reflecting on her new EP, Lewis says it’s perfect music for weekend work plans or adventures away from home. “The best time to listen to this album is on a Sunday afternoon when you are doing housework. Or in your car on a roadtrip.”
She adds, the music won’t be for everyone because everybody has different tastes in music.
“I don’t expect my 86-year-old mother to love these songs,” Lewis says. “But I will burn a disc for her anyway. She’s the only one who gets a physical copy. Lucky you, Ma!”
