Toronto raised, Nashville based country/ soul musician Lindi Ortega has been busy “road dogging it” in support of her fourth CD “Faded Gloryville,” which already has some impressive legs.
Not only has Ortega been featured in well known publications like Rolling Stone, but the CD also earned her her second CCMA award for best country album and is getting play on the Outlaw country station on Sirius FM.
“I can’t even think of my next project yet. I’ve been living out of a suitcase and living in hotel rooms with four guys. That’s going to be my life for the next eight months,” she said of her most recent tour, which brings her to the Geomatic Attic, Sept. 29.
She started the most recent tour with Dean Brody and Paul Brandt in Seattle and has a couple of B.C dates before to visiting Lethbridge with her band.
“I did a song with Dean a few years ago and he’s a great guy. I haven’t had a chance to sit down with Paul Brandt yet, but he seems like a cool dude,” she said
“I have a couple more dates with them, then go out on my own headlining tour,” she said.
In Lethbridge, Ortega will be sharing the stage with Winnipeg soul/ pop band Chic Gamine.
“I’m sure I’ve rolled through Lethbridge before, but I don’t think I’ve ever played there. So I’m very much looking forward to it,” she said.
“I’ve got a really great four piece band with me. So what you’ll be seeing is a group of musicians having the time of their lives up on stage,” she said, adding the new album is just making its way into her set, so it is too early to tell which songs are becoming crowd favourites.
She has been pleasantly surprised by the initial response to the CD.
“
I wasn’t sure what feedback I’d get because I used three different
producers. I thought it might have done me a disservice, but actually
it’s done the opposite,” she enthused adding the Rolling Stone coverage has been a pleasant surprise.
“I guess it was the right place at the right time,” she said.
The same is true of her Canadian Country Music Award.
“ I wasn’t expecting that at all,” she said.
The Sirius XM Outlaw country station has been playing that song along with “ Run Amuck” from the new CD, which she also never expected.
“I always like to have a couple of fun, lighter songs on a CD especially on a CD that explores some darker issues like ‘Faded Gloryville does.’ So I’m glad they are supporting it,” she said.
The new Cd not only features gritty outlaw country style music but also a lot of very soulful moments including a cover of pre-disco era 1967 Bee Gees hit “To Love Somebody.”
“I’ve been listening to a lot of soul and I’m always very much influenced by what I listen to,” she said adding she instantly fell in love when she heard Nina Simone’s cover of “ To Love Somebody.”
“ I loved that song. I knew she loves to do covers and thought that might be one, so I looked it up and found it was a Bee Gees song and I loved it too,” she said.
Another soulful number is “Someday Soon,” which is not the Ian Tyson song of the same name.
“ I was having a coffee break with producer John-Paul White of the Civil Wars and we were talking and we were talking about soul music and melodramatic films, so we went back to the studio and co-wrote that one,” she said.
Ortega has called Nashville her home since 2011, but she isn’t sure she’ll stay.
“It’s been good. When I moved there it was an inspiration thing. It’s changed a lot in the three- and-a-half years I’ve been there. When I moved there I liked it because it was a big city with a small town feel. It’s not that way now. It’s bigger. There are condos being built and cranes everywhere and lots of building all the time,” she said.
“ I never thought it was going to be permanent. I might even move back to Canada,” she said agreeing because she spends so much time touring she doesn't get to spend a lot of time there.
“ I don’t really think I’ve got the full Nashville experience yet,” she said.
Lindi Ortega and Chic Gamine play the Geomatic Attic, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $42.50.
