Today our Spotlight – Jackson Hollow. We got the chance to have a chat with Mike from this talent group to talk about the journey of the band and their recent release Look Who’s Talking Now. Hailing from BC this bluegrass band brings the party with them everywhere they go so make sure to check out the convo below!
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Would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hey Hidden Beats! It’s Mike Sanyshyn, co-founder of Canadian bluegrass band Jackson Hollow thank you and your followers for having us!
How did you get into music?
In my case, I’m a third-generation fiddler and was very fortunate to come from a musical family. My father and grandfather both played the fiddle, and I grew up listening to them play music at family gatherings and started violin lessons at age 8!
How was the group formed?
In 2015, Tianna Lefebvre and I casually got together with friends to play some bluegrass music and it soon became apparent that we had something special. We started performing live locally and ended up In the studio cutting an EP titled “Jackson Hollow Live off the Floor” which was intended as a promo sampler CD.
We are proud to say that we have two other amazing band members on board – Eric Reed on guitar, banjo, and dobro, and Charlie Frie on upright bass and high vocals. They are not only exceptional at their craft, but equally well-rounded individuals who make our unit what it is today!
Now to the reason we are all here, your latest single! “Look Who’s Talking Now.” Tell us the about the process on that? What inspired the lyrics?
We found the song recorded on a demo that was pitched to us and It stood out not only as a great song lyrically but the music had a classic country element to it.
How did it feel to release your third single? Have the nerves calmed down since your first?
We still are excited to hear Jackson Hollow on the radio! It’s amazing to us that we are being supported by radio and streaming on a worldwide platform.
This single was completely our choice and Mountain Fever Records gave us the opportunity to choose whatever song we wanted. It seemed like the perfect time to release a ballad and “Look Who’s Talking Now” was co-written by Jerry Salley, who we admired not only as a songwriter but also as an artist. The song has 156k views on YouTube which is a pleasant surprise.
How do those first three singles set the foundation for yourselves as a group and set the tone for your upcoming album?
We feel that the songs are progressing and will build as we release more music. Ultimately, the album will be a true representation of who we are and where we want to be musically speaking.
Speaking of the upcoming album, any hints you want to give us? Little previews?
What I can say is that there are more great songs with a few more twists coming! We tried to be as diverse as possible to showcase as many sides to our artistry as possible.
You were signed recently and working with your label on this album. Have any of you been signed before? What is that experience like?
Yes, we were signed on June 15/2021 to Mountain Fever Records which is based in Willis, Virginia! They are a bluegrass label that specializes in this genre and opened the doors to radio for us. The experience has been great and we appreciate the support of this company in helping to get our music out to the world.
I have to hear more about your promotional pictures. Had to bring all the instruments under an overpass. How did the results come out to your vision?
The picture you’re referring to was quite a spectacle trying to make that work We chose the photo shoot under the overpass where the concrete pillars mixed with tall grass created an interesting background.
Tianna and our photographer and good friend Leanne Kinsmen scouted the area in advance and thought it would be a great and unique location. We had to haul our gear through the tall grass and use a step ladder of about 4 ft to gain access to the ledge of the column. What made it more challenging was passing our instruments up safely and balancing on a small ledge while the wind was blowing like mad that day. Needless to say, we made it without any issues!
Who chose the group name and what does it stand for?
Tianna and her mom, Irma, looked at a wide range of names and came up with the winning combination. Our name really suits the style of music we play and we always get compliments on it!
For your genre of music, Bluegrass what is the scene up in BC like?
The bluegrass scene in BC is close-knit and active. The Pacific Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association has had us as a featured act at one of their concert series a few years ago and there are a number of festivals and music camps in our province. On June 18 and 19th, we’re heading to perform at Cowichan Bluegrass Festival on Vancouver Island.
The group has been performing at festivals since 2016. I bet you miss it. Excited to be getting back to live music?
We are so excited to get back to performing live! Our next gig will be in Haines Junction, Yukon, which is located outside of Whitehorse. It’s called the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival.
Thank you for joining us today, before you go would you want to give us a fun fact you have yet to share?
Our bassist Charlie Frie decided during the pandemic to make his upright bass more portable. So he literally sawed his instrument in half and custom-built his own foldable bass. The neck and strings come off and the parts can fit inside the cavity of the instrument, making it more compact for traveling. He’s our resident handyman when things go sideways!
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