The Slog
Plus: Friday Night Folk Line Up Announcement, I Appeared On My Own Podcast? and a Vacated Shapes Update
The Slog
One year ago, I was stressing over getting Vacated Shapes finished before my kids finished school for the summer. Long story short, I did not meet my goal. I thought I was busy back then, but flash forward to today, my time has been filled up shouting to the world about my labour of love.
I enjoy having the spotlight on my work and getting the opportunity to tell the universe about it whether it’s on blogs, newspapers or podcasts. The rest of it, the sheer mundanity of sending out countless emails to radio stations, music directors and DJ’s can be a bit of a slog at times. Songwriting has by and large taken a backseat to promotion. Whenever I take a break from songwriting, even if it’s planned, I feel a hum of anxiety in the back of my mind. I’ve grown confident enough in my abilities as a songwriter to know that I won’t lose those skills. What I’m afraid of is all of those potential songs that I could’ve written instead of focusing all my efforts on the more administrative tasks that those songs have birthed.
Friday Night Folk
It’s time to announce the lineup for the next edition of CKCU Presents Friday Night Folk! On July 10th Graven and Elizabeth Royall will be gracing the stage at Art House Cafe.
Having recorded and released albums and EP’s with renowned Canadian producer/engineer/music- makers Charles Austin, Jim Bryson and Joel Plaskett (or completely on his own), Graven’s lyricism always explores metaphysical yet relatable themes in a book like fashion. Whether solo, duo, trio or with his magical 5 man band, Matty’s performances are raw, entertaining and warm.
Elizabeth Royall is an Ottawa-based alternative/folk singer-songwriter with a sound rooted in the ‘70s and ‘90s.
In 2019, she took the stage at La Maison de la Culture, performing alongside French-Canadian artists such as Dany Bédar, Les 2 Frères, and La Chicane. Her accolades include being a semi-finalist in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition for her debut single “Leave Me,” winning SOCAN’s Young Canadian Songwriter Award in 2023 for her single “Numb,” and earning a 2025 Ottawa Capital Music Award nomination for Newcomer of the Year presented by OMIC and the National Arts Centre. Most recently, she performed at Ottawa Bluesfest and joined the 2025 cohort of SOCAN’s TD Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurship.
Her music blends the timeless sounds of Fleetwood Mac, Mazzy Star, Jeff Buckley, and The Cranberries, creating something that feels both nostalgic and new. Elizabeth is currently preparing to release new music in the coming months, offering songs that reflect the new chapter she’s stepping into as an artist.
I Appeared On My Own Podcast?
I invited my friend and fellow singer-songwriter James Leclaire to interview me on the Hard Folk podcast. We talked about my songwriting process, how I recorded Vacated Shapes, navigating social media, performing solo vs with a band, plus we took a bit of a dive into my family and how that affects my life as a songwriter.
Vacated Shapes Update
June 1st marked the um… first day that Vacated Shapes has been available for purchase on CD. Head over to my bandcamp page to order yours.
Or better yet, come to my album release show at Art House Cafe on Saturday June 20th and pick one up in person!
