It was a bit of luck and a bit of confidence that lead to the creation of Fortunate Ones. The Newfoundland-based folk-pop duo began almost by chance, and it has turned into a new project for singers Andrew James O’Brien and Catherine Allan.
The duo got together in 2010, when O’Brien was playing with Allan’s brother in a band. She began to sing at a break in rehearsal, and O’Brien immediately decided that they needed to sing together.
“I thought her voice was absolutely amazing. We were rehearsing, her brother and I, for an album release show a friend of ours was putting on, and I said to her that if she could learn a few songs by tomorrow night she wouldn’t have to pay cover to get in.”
That was the first time the duo sang together, but they began as a duo in 2013. O’Brien says that the collaboration was a natural one.
“We just kind of clicked right away musically, and our voices seemed to blend almost effortlessly. We were meant to be together in that way.”
The group put out their first album in 2015, and the process of recording helped them define their sound, says O’Brien. He credits recording with Daniel Ledwell with getting the band focused on defining their sound.
“At that time we were still pretty green in terms of the direction we wanted to go in. The production quality and the instrumentation we explored on the album had a lot to do with Dan’s influence. It translated to our live show where it is today. With every record you want to try to grow, and that is certainly us. Because we were so new at the time, there was nothing to do but grow.”
The next release from the group will be a Christmas EP called “All Will Be Well,” something that came from the duo’s shared love of Christmas music. O’Brien admits that they’re the kind of people that start playing Christmas music the moment they see a snowflake, so recording Christmas music was something that was inevitable for the duo.
“For both of us, it harkens back to times when our families were younger and the memories of Christmas are always so great. The music is so meaningful to us in a lot of ways, especially in that nostalgic remembrance.”
Nostalgic can describe much of their work, from the largely autobiographical first album to the upcoming Christmas release, and O’Brien admits that they’re happy that they have good memories to build from.
“I think looking back is important in a way, it’s always important to know where you’ve come from.”
The Saskatchewan tour is getting the band off the beaten path, and visiting a wide range of towns across the province. O’Brien is excited to get to places where he’s never been before, describing it as one of the joys of being a touring musician.
“I can’t imagine, if I wasn’t doing this, visiting the places that we have over the past few years. It’s really an honor to come and play for new audiences, it’s always a unique pleasure to know there’s an interest in what you’re creating all over the country and beyond.”
Meeting new people and new audiences is what O’Brien wants to do, and he hopes that their music can connect with the crowd.
“The most important thing that we do is try to make a connection with the people that we play for.”
Fortunate Ones will be in Yorkton on October 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Anne Portnuff Theatre as part of the Yorkton Arts Council’s Stars for Saskatchewan series. More information can be found at www.fortunateones.ca.
