The Magic Of City Lights

by Sam Dizon

City lights have become iconic images especially in cities like Paris, New York and Tokyo to name a few. In some places they are an indication that the city is always awake and bustling, while in others the lights provide a calmness after a hectic day. This month's artist profile is inspired by Wolfmother's song, "City Lights." I have always been a city girl, so I thought it would be interesting to interview someone who would have a different perspective. Traeidein is a versatile musician from Prince Edward Island, Canada whose music is infused with emotion and wittiness in turns. In this profile we talk about music, Wolfmother's song and of course, the bright shiny lights.
 

Describe the kind of art you create.

I mostly dabble in music – writing, arranging and performing. I also enjoy writing poetry and prose.  I usually turn most of my poems into songs though, so it usually comes back to writing music and lyrics.

What is the hardest creative piece you have ever made?

I added vocals to a guitar piece entitled “Acoustic Demo #29” by Andyramone on HitRECord.  It took me a good three months to write the lyrics and melody for the vocals and then record it all.  I think it was difficult for me because I have so much respect for Andrew and his work on the site and I really wanted the lyrics and the vocal arrangement to reflect the emotion I felt within his piece.  I do like a challenge though. Its part of the reason I keep coming back to the HitRECord site – there are so many opportunities to push your creative boundaries.

Describe the work you are most proud of accomplishing

I have been asked over the past few years to record a few covers and arrangements for family and friends who have lost loved ones.  I would say, however, its more that I am honoured and humbled than proud to be asked to help people remember through music those who have passed on.  Five years ago, I didn’t have the ability or means to record anything, so I guess I am proud to have accomplished that. 

Which musical instrument do you prefer to play?

Depends on what I want to accomplish.  I play flute, piano, drums, uke and guitar. I like improvising on the flute.  Performance-wise, I think there’s always an instrument the best exemplifies your inner voice or personality, and I think the flute is that instrument for me.  When I am recording or arranging, I think voice is my favourite instrument.  I am pretty new to singing and lack confidence with it, but I really enjoy creating interesting melodies and harmonies through vocal arrangements. 

What method do you use to learn music?

I have been playing by ear since I was about seven years old.  I was classically trained in flute and piano, but I hated sight reading.  I have problems with my vision where sometimes when I sight-read, my eyes skip over lines of music. I am also just lazy about it.  When I first started flute lessons, I would ask my flute teacher to play through a piece or a section first, then I would just memorize it by ear.  When he found out what I was doing, he refused to play through anything for me until I played by sight-reading first, much to my dismay. 

What kind of music do you predominantly listen to?

Folk, Celtic, Jazz and Blues.  I was raised listening to Neil Young, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the like.  My family on my Mother’s side are from Scotland, hence the Celtic influences.  My playlists are in constant flux, but my current go-tos are Arcade Fire, Lisa Hannigan, Shakey Graves, Kelly Latimore, Ten Strings and a Goatskin and various artists from HitRECord.org. 

What was your first reaction to Wolfmother’s City Lights?

I could almost instantly hear the influence of “Rush”, especially in the vocals, and that sort of 70s rock feel overall. It’s a catchy tune.  Not exactly my style, but I still enjoyed it. 

  

Are there any lyrics that speak to you?

“The sun is in my eyes and I am here to find my new disguise”.  Yeah, that’s living in a city in a nutshell.  Which is why I don’t live in the city. 

Why do you think city lights are a popular visual? 

I think because they are a reflection of the chaotic pace of modern day life.  Everything is consumable at the speed of light in this constant flux of energy-exchange from person to person, location to location.  That, and they’re pretty to look at.

Are there any city lights that appeal to you?

Traffic lights.  Where I lived up until my late teens, we had a set of them that I could see out my bedroom window.  I found watching them change for a while would help soothe me to sleep. 

Do you prefer to live in the city or more rural areas?

I love visiting cities, but for the long-term, I like all things quiet, tranquil, and straight-forward.  I don’t like anonymity or disguise for the sake of fitting into a large crowd of people.  I like knowing exactly who I am. 

What is your favorite collaboration you have been a part of?  

I worked on a project in university called "Medium Blend". It was an art exhibition that combined single lines of poetry with visual art and music. Before the exhibition, we were given single lines of poetry and asked to create instrumental pieces to match the tone of the line. The visual artists were asked to do the same, but were not permitted to see the visual art and the visual art and the visual artists were not permitted to hear our audio until the night of the exhibition. It was really interesting to see the resulting contrasts between visual interpretations and audio interpretations of yje lines of poetry. I think my enjoyment of this experience helped fuel my interest in the process of remixing art through HitRECord.

What do you want to collaborate on in the future?

Anything and everything. I am planning on creating an EP with a friend of mine from HitRECord. I am super excited about that.

 

Follow more of Traeidein's work HERE

When you hear Traeidein's music you can hear how much she enjoys making music. I had the pleasure of watching and hearing her work on playing "How Far I'll Go" from the Moana soundtrack on ukulele, in order to accompany the voices of two sisters. They had requested her help because they wanted to perform the song together. She had a very short time to work on it, but she and her friend were able to come up with enough for them to sing it. Even afterwards, Traeidein continued to work on making a better version for them. When she is improvising or playing by ear it is clear that she is doing it for the love of making music or working hard to help someone else convey a certain feeling. I look forward to hearing her EP when it is released!

While music provides an auditory experience, lights provide a visual. When I think of city lights, I often think of returning home on a night flight. I am from Toronto and I feel that city lights are what greet people returning home or welcome visitors with excitement. Instead of a lighthouse as a beacon, I see the lights of a skyscraper, an apartment, a condo and a sports venue coming together to capture attention. Similarly, music utilizes sound to appeal to us, telling us stories and stirring our emotions.There's something kind of magical in hearing live acoustic music with the night city sounds as a backdrop. Perhaps that is why some musicians choose to perform or busk at night with the city lights to keep them company.