Vernon based folk/ indie pop musician Eryn Kleyh aka October Poppy makes her second visit to Lethbridge in about as many months when she plays Megan Rourke’s masquerade party at the Slice, Nov. 16.
“When I was playing Vancouver last week, people were asking me what they high points and low points and the high point was Lethbridge and getting to share the stage with three kick ass women (Kimberley MacGregor and Jenny Allen at the Owl Acoustic lounge, Sept. 15). It was my first time playing out of province anywhere as October Poppy. But I spent a few years living in Calgary, so I’m no stranger to Alberta,” she said from Vernon, taking a break from her day job as a silversmith. She will spend the winter making silver jewelry, working at the local ’80s and ’90s radio station the Beach and working on a new EP, including the first single “Howl.”
“I wrote Howl when I was driving down to Colorado to visit my best friend. I was driving home all alone and thinking about a major life change, so when I got back, I moved from Vancouver to Vernon,” she said, adding she moved back home with her parents and younger sister.
“The best thing is, everyone in my family is musical as well. My younger sister plays violin and piano and sings as well. So when we sing together, it’s the closest I can come to singing harmonies with myself,” she said.
She is also playing Red Deer on Nov. 15.
“I’ve got my winter tires on, but I’ll think I’ll take the winter off and hunker down and build things and work on the Ep, which will come out in early 2019,” she said, adding the music is inspired by experiencing life changes, personal growth and heart break.
“I was dating a guy and broke up with him three times in one year, so there is a lot about heartbreak and a lot of things people will relate to,” she said.
“I’ve had a lot of personal struggles, but out of that comes a lot of personal triumph,” she said, adding she is looking forward to playing a masquerade party.
“I love to dress up. I play dark, moody music, so my costume will reflect that,” she said.
While she brought banjo player/ violinist Megan May with her last time, she will be playing on her own for this show.
She will be bringing her band She Hangs Brightly to the Slice on Dec. 8 as well.
