Catherine MacLellan Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 9th 2010 3:52PM by Alexandra Richmond
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Imagine the voice of an angel, swathed in the red plaid and dark denim of a lumberjack. Imagine being a songwriting legacy, and losing a father. Imagine the soul of the gardener who lives in wintry Canada. This is singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Pretty mellow, original singer-songwriter in the folk and country realm.

You're a solo artist; how did you get started?

As a kid, watching my dad [the late Canadian singer-songwriter Gene MacLellan]. He taught me some chords when I was 10 or 11. At age 13, I started writing songs.

What are your musical influences?

My dad was a big influence. Neil Young. Old-timey country bands, lots of gospel songs. Old blues.

What's your biggest vice?

I can be a lazy person -- I wouldn't call myself slothful, but I like to do as little as possible, stay at home.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Definitely a raincoat. That is not a euphemism for anything -- I mean a raincoat. Other than that, a couple of good books, a journal to write in, my guitar and some clothes.

Who was your first celeb crush?

My very first? Maybe Supergirl, the cartoon heroine. I remember she was a character in a Superman movie. She was just this really awesome woman who could do all these awesome things. I admired her.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Black Sabbath. I really love Black Sabbath. That and Kiss. I really have to learn a Kiss song. I like 'Strutter' a lot.

Beatles or Stones? Neil Young or Celine Dion?

Tough choice. Right now I'm on a Stones kick, but at some point in my life I would have said, "Beatles," which is probably obvious. Of course, Neil Young [laughs]. Does anyone answer, "Celine Dion"?

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

I went on tour with guys that had do an article for their hometown paper, and after every show it was like a hunt to go to this place or that for the article. It wasn't fun at all.

How has your album been received in the States since its release in June 2009?

Really well; there are little pockets of appreciation. I'd like to visit the places where it's getting some fans, mostly on the West Coast and New Mexico

Will your SXSW shows be with a band, or solo?

I'm bringing my guitar player.

Could you name a few contemporary Canadian artists the US could benefit from being introduced to? Like, your unsung native musical peers?

Yeah, sure! There's a spoken-word artist, Tanya Davis. Julie Doiron, an indie songwriter who has given me a lot of inspiration. Old Man Luddecke are anthemic storytellers with banjos.

Can you riff with me on other Canadian imports? Like, a sentence on the Canadian import, if you're pro or con, and why they aren't (yet) huge in the US? The first is poutine.

That hasn't caught on? That may be good for the US. It's not really healthy for people. It is really delicious, though.

What about the metric system?

I learned the metric system in school, but I still think of weight in pounds and height in feet. I think it's relative. The metric system is a good system, but whatever set of measurements you know is what matters.

How about the fact that the Canadian government subsidizes artists, like yourself?

I think that is what keeps me going. We have heavier taxes, but the funding really allows me to do what I do. You guys have more private funding of artists. It's not really a battle, but it can be a struggle. If you're lucky enough to get funding, it makes such a difference ... without it, I don't think I'd be able to do what I'm doing.

I ask all SXSW comers this one: If you are a taco fan, which tortilla would you prefer? Flour or corn?

Oh, I think corn. Flour tortillas are tasty, but I'm trying to avoid wheat these days.

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