Roger Marin, who used to play in Fred Eaglesmith’s band, has not only come into his own as a songwriter, but changes musical directions almost as often as Eaglesmith himself does.
He was in Lethbridge, April 3 to play for all of five people at the Slice with his lead guitarist Mike Tuyp, but will be back again, this Friday, April 22 with respected Texan songwriter Mark Jungers.
But Marin made the most of this Western Canada swing last week, by recording an entire album of his duo at Ghostwood Studios
“We got to Lethbridge and we recorded 18 songs in about four hours. Just me and Mike playing acoustically,” Marin enthused adding the finished product will be released in the near future as “The Ghostwood Sessions.”
“We always like to have something to bring on tour that represents what we’re doing on stage,” he continued, noting the material they recorded includes songs from his past three CDs, particularly older material.
“ I wrote the last CD with the band in mind. But I also like to just play the songs acoustically and stripped down like they were when I wrote them,” he said.
“It sounds really good,” he added, noting he had been planning a project like this with Ghostwood Records for a while and is pleased it finally came together.
He is also glad to be bringing respected Minnesota born, Austin based songwriter Mark Jungers back up to Canada. It will be his first show in Lethbridge.
He considers bringing them to Canada a way to pay it forward for helping him gain inroads in Texas.
“Texas has a lot of great songwriters. Guys like Mark Jungers, Hayes Carll and Adam Carroll are such incredible songwriters. They have been so helpful helping me break into Texas, so I started this whole relationship with these guys,” Marin enthused adding he has been using his connection to bring other great Canadian songwriters like Gordie Tentrees and Scott Nolan down south.
“It’s been really cool. It’s one of the thing I like to do other than just playing music,” he continued.
“You see different cultures and see all of these people. That’s what it is all about,” he said.
“I always like to do something different,” he continued adding he doesn’t know what direction his next CD or original material will take.
“I have studio time booked in the summer. So for the Ghostwood Sessions, I didn’t want to have to write new music for two albums,” he said adding he didn’t know if it will be with the band or all acoustic.
“I’m thinking I’ve always wanted to do something with a string quartet. Whenever I get into a studio, I never like to plan too much though I have some of the songs,” he said.
“I’d also like to go to Nashville and record with some of my favourite players there,” he continued.
The Lethbridge show is Friday, April 22 at 9 p.m. at the Slice with Mark Jungers and Rob Ursel.