Emerald Junction announces debut album
Prince Edward Island-based country-folk duo Emerald Junction is launching its debut album, “Kickin’ It”.
“Nine months after we went into the studio, the ‘baby’ has arrived,” said Emerald Junction’s Anne Quinn, “and we couldn’t be happier.
Five of the 10 tracks are original compositions, and the other five are covers of songs originally performed by various artists – Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner; Loretta Lynn; Highway 101; Lacy J. Dalton and The Rankin Family.
“There’s classic country and contemporary country, solos and duets, folk-pop songs and tunes that don’t fit easily into any category.”
Quinn’s musical partner, Ron Kelly, said they were fortunate to have an excellent crew from all across P.E.I. who contributed to this project, which was recorded at Dunk River Sound in Breadalbane and co-produced by Jon Rehder and Chris Gauthier.
Editing, engineering and mixing were done by Gauthier, before it was mastered by Don Chapman of DC Productions in Belfast and manufactured through Charlottetown’s Kaneshii Vinyl.
Photography was by Donna Matthews, with the painting of the Emerald Junction train station executed by Noella Shorgan. Ryan Hutchinson brought all the graphic elements together in his work on the CD packaging.
Plenty of local musicians contributed to the album, said Kelly
“Chris Gauthier’s amazing guitar work highlights many of the songs, and he even added some mandolin on one tune. The versatile Jon Rehder played guitar, bass, piano and harmonica at various times, while Matt Bridges very capably took care of percussion and drums for us. Keelin Wedge’s fiddle soars through a number of songs, and the incomparable Johnny Ross added just the right touch of honky tonk piano to one track.”
Emerald Junction’s next appearance is Sunday evening at the Sturgeon ceilidh in St. Paul’s Church Hall in Sturgeon and again at the same location on Dec. 2, for the special Sturgeon Christmas Ceilidh. On Dec. 24, they’ll join other performers for the midnight mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Fort Augustus.
Both Quinn and Kelly come from musical families, including mothers who were musicians in eastern P.E.I. at various times.
Phyllis (Bridges) Quinn Cheverie was a vocalist with Wildwood Country, while the late Doreen (Grant) Kelly played piano in community halls near her family home.
“We really appreciated the encouragement and musical examples that our mothers provided, so we decided to dedicate ‘Kickin’ It’ to them,” the duo said. “This album is really a reflection of their love of music and how they passed that down to us.”
The CD is available for purchase directly from Emerald Junction at info@emeraldjunction.net or emeraldjunction@eastlink.ca.In addition, “Kickin’ It” can be ordered through CD Baby, where it is also currently available as a digital download.