After several delays, Powell River singer/songwriter Lukah Bouchard has released his debut album. While working on it last summer with bandmate Ben Wayne Kyle, Bouchard said he hoped to have the album ready as early as Diversity Festival in August.
Over a year in the making, the album entitled 5 Days a Week is finally complete. The first gig featuring its seven tracks took place Friday, February 17, at the White Whale in Courtenay.
Bouchard said two challenges needed to be overcome in order to finish the album. The first resulted from his first crack at producing; when it came to technical processes and mixing, Bouchard said he did not really know what he was doing.
The second challenge, despite the outpouring of local support he has received, involved some insecurities.
“It was crippling self-doubt, again and again,” said Bouchard. “You become so familiar with the songs, then step away and think they’re good, then you come back and have another listen and there are all these glaring things maybe you didn’t pick up before, or maybe just annoy you at the moment.”
As far as the recording process and mixing is concerned, Bouchard credited Kyle with most of the work.
“It was an amazing learning experience,” said Kyle. “All of the songs evolved since a year ago.”
Bouchard said when he started to record the songs they were a good mix, but that changed over the course of the year.
“You write a lot more songs, perform a lot and you’re kind of close to other songs,” he said. “So you feel like you’ve grown and written better songs and you kind of feel that since it’s taken so long, it’s a little outdated. After all, we’re just happy to get it out there.”
Bouchard, who said he is very happy with the finished product, is performing three live shows on Vancouver Island: the Courtenay gig, Nanaimo on Thursday, February 23, and at Logan’s Pub in Victoria on Friday, February 24.
Bouchard’s band is comprised of local musicians Kyle (vocals/guitar), Adam Robertson (drums) and Matt Emig (violin). The foursome has yet to secure a venue or date for a Powell River album-release performance.
Emig joined the project near its completion; his violin added a definite and welcome distinction to its indie sound, said Bouchard.
“It was a privilege to be invited in at the last minute, three-quarters into the project,” said Emig. “These guys have a strong music game going on and I was happy to add a little bit of strength to whatever they were doing.”
Emig also brings some road experience, having toured extensively for Celtic music, but he said there is a freshness when he’s with Bouchard and the band’s other members.
“I don’t know if I’m a calming influence, but I feel good,” he said. “I’m excited.”
For the Vancouver Island performances, Bouchard is venturing out of his Powell River comfort zone and, before leaving for Courtenay, he said he was very nervous, but happy to finally get the record out there.
Kyle, who has played with Bouchard from the beginning of the project, said he was feeling fine about the shows.
“It’ll be good. It’s always a good time playing with these guys,” said Kyle. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a bad show. It always seems to work.”
