In this episode, singer-songwriter, Devin Cuddy shares:
The joy of finding a working upright piano in the front room of The Cameron House, and how his relationship with the legendary building was born.
How playing solo piano on stage lit a fire within him, and it was then that he discovered what he wanted to dedicate his life to.
How even though a new wave comes through The Cameron House these days, there’s enough of the old guard that still lingers there; this historic connection to the early Cameron is vital to his journey as a musician.
How Louis Armstrong and the imagery around New Orleans were enormous musical influences.
How studying the history of jazz lead him to New Orleans’s piano music.
How his relationship with jazz slowly but steadily crept into aspects of his songwriting.
How Hank Williams’ Jambalaya (On the Bayou) is a great example of musical style. It’s a straight country song, but if you play it like Fats Domino it sounds like New Orlean’s piano music.
How performing across a country as large and diverse as Canada has shaped him, and how as a country our respect for the arts seems to help us punch above our musical weight.
In regards to studying music, the deal his parents made with him was that if he could find an adult that had in retrospect regretted taking piano as a kid, then he could quit. Yet, to this day he still hasn’t found anyone.
What it’s like playing on stage with Blue Rodeo, but then coming home to play bare bones venues and everything in between.
The honour and privilege of preforming “Rain Down on Me” with Blue Rodeo.
His songwriting process and starting to learn the art of collaboration.
How he came to write the song “Radio“.
The significance of performing his song “My Son’s A Queer”.
How seeing something through the eyes of somebody else is what he has always enjoyed in songwriting.
How there is always somebody from Canada that is number one in the music industry. And how there’s a great mystery around that.
How growing up with famous parents resulted in there never being bland people around the house.
Links from episode 014
Devin’s Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Devin performing Blue Rodeo’s Rain Down on Me
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Thanks to Eddie Z at (((e))) audio for engineering, production and theme music. Logo and graphics by Rachael Muir at Blever Branding Co. Photography by Sebastian Gahan. Thanks to Oscar & Ed Blog Boutique for PR & production services.
