It has been a few years since Brandon born, Nelson, B.C. based musician Cam Penner been to Lethbridge and release new music.
He returns to Southern Alberta, June 2 at Twin Butte Store and Tuesday, June 4 for a special show at the Slice with his partner in music, Jon Wood. He is supporting his new Cd “At War With Reason,” which is a big departure from his folk roots.
“This CD is really different,” said Penner, who spent 19 years living in Calgary, then moved to the Kootenays, just outside of Nelson about eight years ago.
“I built a studio just outside of Nelson and work at the homeless shelter, he said, adding that has been occupying most of his time in between multiple tours overseas.
“I was touring non-stop for five or six years and decided to a take a year off to spend time with my family and settled into my studio and started recording whatever I felt like,” he said, adding he started experimenting with different sounds and textures, which lead to the different sound.
An upcoming tour of the United Kingdom inspired him to release his experiments on the new CD.
“I listen to a lot of different music like hip hop, indie rock and alternative rock and I started to really enjoy being back in the studio and just making beats,” he said, noting he didn’t miss it during his time off, but regained his love for music while recording the CD.
“ People there have a lot of very inspiring stories,” he said.
He noted the new CD is resonating with a variety of people.
“I have a variety of people at my shows including people in their 60s and younger people,” he said.
“It sounds good. it’s wonderful and intriguing. It seems to make people feel something,” he said.
“ I just wanted to make whatever music I wanted to make. It feels relevant and it has a pulse,” he said.
“ It’s definitely a different sound than the folk and roots music I started out playing,” he said.
“I definitely felt more confident and not as worried about what people would think about it,” he continued.
He will be playing with frequent collaborator Jon Wood.
“ He’s super talented. he can play anything. So he’s my go to guy,” he said.
“I’m really excited about it. We both have synthesizers and pedals and samplers,” he said.
“ So come out on a Tuesday at the Owl. I love Alberta. We don’t play there enough,” he said.
“You will be wowed and you will be moved,” Penner promised.
