Alberta-born Métis singer-songwriter Cynthia Hamar is no stranger to the Canadian music scene. With three studio albums under her belt and many kilometres on the road - including a tour across Canada by train (through VIA Rail’s on Board program) - Hamar can execute timeless songs that stand up with the sound of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tom Waits, and Feist. Hamar returns to the spotlight with a devastatingly haunting and introspective single “Shaken” (released June 24, 2022 via Neon Moon Records) from her much anticipated upcoming fourth album Joint & Marrow. Accompanied by an atmospheric and earthy roots arrangement, layered under the warmth of Hamar’s rich and highly emotive vocals.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Cynthia Hamar, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Nice to chat with you too Kamil. I’d say that music got into me through osmosis, growing up in the home that I did. My dad and 4 older siblings all played guitar and sang; we didn’t have television so the entertainment was always homegrown. My sister taught me basic guitar chords and watching her write inspired me to try myself. From a young age I remember making up little songs and recording them into my little cassette player.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
My husband and I own a ranch by the town where we both grew up. We have cattle and horses so we do some sorting and penning. I also have a garden that I really enjoy in the summer. In the winter I like to paint, usually with acrylics. We also owned a CrossFit gym for 11 years so fitness is something I really enjoy as well.
Your latest song is 'Shaken'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
Shaken is a song that I have been working on for a few years. It began as a message to myself as I was dealing with a falling out with someone really close to me. I had recognized the experience was causing me to close off to other people around me. It's interesting how quickly unforgiveness can turn to bitterness and begin to poison our other relationships and faith in humanity really. I began the work of forgiving so that I could be healthy emotionally. As I finally had some success letting go of that, the next season of life brought a new challenge. Our children left home one after another. We had 3 in 3 years so they left as quickly as they came. This shook my identity in ways I hadn't expected as I had spent my entire adult life being a parent. This was followed by an even harder season in our marriage. This was when the chorus really began to take shape; “ the wind was blowing and the earth was shaken, my bones were bending and my heart was aching”. This paralleded covid and I realized that the message was very relatable on so many levels. We all struggle and knowing we are not alone often gives us the courage to overcome.
When you are working through problems in your work, who do you talk to?
I think it depends on what the problems are. If it's technical I definitely have friends and colleagues to go to. If it's emotional I journal, pray and read a lot and sometimes seek counselling. My husband and I have been through so much together and try to be that safe place for one another when we can.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
Purposefully trying to learn from those with more experience. After my last album, I felt a bit of a slump artistically. Life was so busy with work and our farm that I decided to make a huge change and go to Grant MacEwan University (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) for recording and production. This was the most drastic thing I could think of to force myself to grow and develop as an artist. Up to that point I had always played by ear with minimal theory background. I found that really made it difficult in the studio and always wished I had more knowledge. I am so happy that I made that decision. I always want to be intentional about growing and developing no matter how old I am.
Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.
I love writing, recording and performing. My least favorite is writing charts and organizing a band! School has helped me with this so much but it is still a skill I am working on and would rather not if I could manage it- the chart writing part anyways. The business side is a struggle for me as well as I am more of an introvert. Having a team for this project has been amazing. I'm so thankful for Neon Moon Records.
Can you write what was your best performance in your career? How do you remember it?
I feel like my best performance was fairly recent actually. I had won a songwriting competition for the school's label Bent River Records who held a showcase in April 2022 and invited me to play. My band ended up being all faculty from the school- super solid- and the venue was the Triffo Theater which is a beautiful soft-seat venue in Allard Hall. The night felt like a dream, the band was tight, the lighting and sound were perfect and I felt so caught up in the tunes and had an amazing time. I wish they could all be like that!
Do you have a mentor or coach?
As I mentioned before, the business side for me is a bit daunting. I feel like my business coach right now would be Jessica Marsh from Neon Moon Records. I worked with her before Neon Moon began and I really appreciate her knowledge, patience and ability to see what needs work. As for technically, I have one more year at GMac and my teachers have been amazing mentors to me.
Who is your favourite musician?
A couple female musicians I am in complete awe of are; Feist and Madison Cunningham. They are both so authentic, solid and creative; everything I strive to be in my own way.
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?
I see myself achieving more recognition within the industry through this project; thanks to my team! I plan to tour more and release more consistent work. I also would like to set up my own studio out at our farm and begin producing more as soon as I have completed my degree - one more year to go.