Combining harmonic wind and acoustic instruments, Newfoundland Pop Folk due Quote the Raven have created their own sound complemented by their effortless syncing of styles and personalities, all while staying true to their East Coast background. The talented pair of Jordan Coaker and Kirsten Rodden-Clarke bring together meaningful lyrics and emotion over a mellow beat to relay a message of celebrating companionship and the bond between friends. They are currently on a on a major 23 city Canadian tour from Newfoundland to Ontario for their debut album, Golden Hour. I caught up with them prior to their April 15th stop in Kitchener. They will be playing at the Registry Theatre and you can get your tickets here.
Photo credits: Chris Ledrew
Did you both always want to be musicians?
Neither of us had planned to be professional musicians originally. I had aspirations of wanting to be a WWE wrestler or a psychologist but was convinced to join the school cabaret and everything changed from there. Kirsten was always interested in performing but didn’t work up the confidence to try until she was in high school as well. We met in the local choir, and after singing a duet together, decided to form a duo.
Do you have any memorable tour stories so far?
We got presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity on our first Golden Hour tour playing for the Canadian Consulate in Trinidad and Tobago. We hadn’t travelled outside of Canada before, so it was amazing to have an experience like that. We met so many talented musicians while we were there, and got to collaborate with Orange Sky during the event for the Consulate.
Do you have plans to work on any new music while you're on the road?
We’re constantly scribbling down song ideas on the road, but this tour is a little bit different as we get to perform a couple of shows with our friends Jessica Pearson and the East Wind! We’re planning on doing some writing with them as well.
Your next show after Kitchener is in Toronto and you've got a day in between shows. Is there anything you're looking forward to checking out in Waterloo Region?
We’ve planned a lot of shows in a short amount of time, so we really like to keep things chill on our days off. We’ll probably sleep in, take a little drive around town, and then try and find the best sushi place for lunch!! Then we’ll try to prep ourselves for hitting the 401. Being from Newfoundland, we never see traffic like that so it can be a little intimidating.
Besides playing in Kitchener, what's your dream gig?
We love the thought of performing all over Canada! Just trying to get further and further. As for a dream gig, we’d love to perform with some of our idols like Joy Williams or the Milk Carton Kids.
What's the best music related advice you've ever received?
The worse thing anyone will ever tell you is no, so don’t be afraid to ask for things.
Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?
Never give up! It’s such a long haul to be successful. If you love it, keep trying. It’s a little cliché, but it’s the best advice. We know so many artists who are unbelievably talented, but they give up before they’ve really started. It’s hard but keep going.
What do you want audiences to take away from your shows?
We hope that audiences get to know us a little better. It’s about the music, but it’s also the connection with people! We love travelling around hearing the stories of others while we get to tell ours.
Quote the Raven’s new single “Golden Hour” is available on all streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Google Music, Amazon, Soundcloud and more.
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