08/01/2024
Janet Davies asks Elissa Lee and Spencer Hoyt about their favourite summer songs.
The Sweet Sounds of Summer
ELISSA LEE is a classical violinist who lives in Wellington. Her quartet, Ensemble Made in Canada, won a Juno for Classical Album of the Year for their album Mosaïque. Elissa is also the Co-founder and Executive Director of BIGLAKE Arts – a festival bringing exceptional musical experiences to audiences in Prince Edward County.
MEMORY
Summer 1997 was my first time in Europe. I had the honour of being one of the concertmasters of the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra and I travelled all over Europe for nearly three months. We rehearsed in a huge barn, lived in a castle and I bonded through music and parties with young musicians from all over the world. The first time I swam in the sea I was shocked that the water was salty! Somehow that fact had evaded my knowledge. It was embarrassing, but so memorable.
SONG – Sekundenglück (Seconds of Fortune) by Herbert Grönemeyer
I spend a lot of time working in Germany where Herbert Grönemeyer is a music industry legend, an inspiring artist who could rest on his laurels but just keeps on reaching and creating. Sekundenglück is a pop song, but what he’s saying is important, and it sounds like summer to me. It’s upbeat and positive and talks about fleeting moments of happiness that come out of nowhere. He’s reminding us how those precious moments can come unexpectedly and sometimes only last for seconds, so we must cherish them. It’s buoyant and boisterous and you hum along, even if you can’t understand the words. But in case that is a bit obscure, I chose a second song. Song to a Seagull by Joni Mitchell is very different but also makes me think of summer, especially if I’m away from home. In my mind it brings me to the vast, open view of Lake Ontario from Wellington, where I live. That endless view of water is beautiful and also a little lonely, gazing out at emptiness. But for me the most beautiful songs have a tinge of melancholy mixed in with happy vibes. I would definitely say I like a mix of emotions in music.
photograph by Geneviève Caron
SPENCER HOYT lives in Demorestville in Prince Edward County. He’s a DJ and produces music under the name goodcry. Why goodcry? “I want my music to evoke feelings. Music has transformative power, and a good cry is about emotional release, even if it’s from laughing hard!”
MEMORY
Our family goes camping every year to Presqu’ile; we just relax and enjoy being together. It makes me happy to see my young son run free in the woods, climb on rocks, then come back to the comfort of fire and family. I grew up in California and have happy memories of family camping. Now we’re making new memories.
SONG – I Am Free by Coco & Breezy
It’s a dance tune with a lot of affirmations in it. A great tune for the dance scene where nights can be very long. DJs are up there doing their thing for hours, and it’s different from live music, it takes you on a kind of journey, so they pace it with songs for the beginning and middle and end of the night. There are peaks and valleys in the energy on the dance floor, and this song has great rhythm and feeling. It’s perfect just before the final build of the night. It has peaceful moments that pull at your heartstrings. It feels like summer, because summer is about being with people, not just being cool, driving around alone with the top down. It’s about loving what you do with friends, being with people you care about. This song makes me think about all that.
I also considered Music to Heal To, by Elkka. It’s a straightforward dance song with a ton of energy and atmosphere. It’s energizing and allows you to connect with people. I love that non-verbal communication. I truly believe it helps to heal, and if we’re going to succeed in this human project, create a world we love and that’s healthy, we can’t just go inside ourselves and ignore others.
These are feel-good songs. Good summer songs.
https://watershedmagazine.com/features/sweet-sounds-of-summer/
