To categorize Ginger St. James’ music is like trying to stop a freight train in the dead of night. Her latest album features Honky Tonk, Rockabilly, Country-Blues. Rock ‘N Roll. You name it, Ginger’s got it covered. Call it what you want, it’s just downright damn good!
Ken Wallis interviewed Ginger St. James for the Radio Show BluesSource Canada. The following are excerpts from that interview, edited and amended for brevity and clarity.
Ken Wallis
Ginger Saint James has a new release out. The album is entitled, Told Ya, and joining us is Ginger Saint James. Great seeing you, Ginger.
Ginger St. James
Good to see you too.
Ken Wallis
So let's start off with a little bit of background information. What got you interested in being a music performer in the first place?
Ginger St. James
It all started at my Nanny and Grandad's house. My nanny would order VHS or music and things from what I believe was Time magazine or something like that. She was always bringing in musicals because she liked them, and I'd watch them. I think that had a big deal on me. My granddad always had 8 tracks and he would put them on, but the 8 tracks would be big band music. I'm not sure if this was to encourage me to be creative or to kind of get me out of the way [LAUGH] There was a spare room at their apartment and my granddad had a nice stereo system and he'd set up on microphone for me, and I would talk into that microphone so that that was my start.
And then I always wrote poetry. My grade six substitute music teacher threw the book out and brought in Beatles and Led Zeppelin for us to listen to. He actually lived across the street and so I ended up writing some songs and recording with him. Then I did Drum and Bugle Corps. All these things were helping me to develop what has now become me; being a singer-songwriter and performing music, although it took a while for me to realize what kind of avenue I would take. I could be a stage performer. I've done that. Actress, I've done that. But music is really where it's at. You can still tell stories and put on a good show.
Ken Wallis
So what's your favorite part of music singing or playing guitar?
Ginger St. James
I love doing both. I really love playing guitar a lot. It's something I've always enjoyed. I have always sang and not that that's not enjoyable but guitar is more enjoyable. For instance, in Lowdown Lonesome Blues there's this really high note. And I had a really hard time being able to get up there because I pretty much didn't talk to anybody for two years like everybody else. So my range kind of felt a little bit defeated. When I can accomplish something new in my voice technique or even my guitar playing, that totally adds to the fun and it adds to the fear as well, which is a driving force personally.
Ken Wallis
The album is entitled. Told Ya, where does that come from?
Ginger St. James
Well someone kind of mentioned it to me. We had another album title in mind. However, just before I was about to name the record, I googled it to make sure nobody else had taken it, but somebody did take it. So we just said, why don't you just say Told Ya? And that's absolutely something I’d say. It could be to prove a point. It could be like anybody who said I couldn't do it. I can. I just told ya. I told you any record was coming. I told you I can sing Blues. I told you I can sing Country. I told you I can honky tonk. Ah, I told you I had to make a comeback. I wasn't gone for too long, but that's kind of like I told you. I've always been a I can do it myself kind of person. But at the end of the day, I can just be like Told Ya.
Ken Wallis
And how would you describe the music on this album for someone that hasn't heard it yet?
Ginger St. James
It's honky tonky fun. And with some influences with jazz, some soul music. I mean, it's everything. It's everything that I love and it's all smashed together with a band that the players all have their own musical tastes. So it's very flavored with hints of honky-tonk. There's slide guitar and there there's pedal steel. There's organ, there's piano. I say it's just country blues and rock'n'roll with some other genres. Anybody who's listened to my stuff before, they'll be familiar with the sounds that we have. And anybody who hasn't listened before, I hope we can turn you on to these sounds that I feel everybody can enjoy.
Ken Wallis
And who else plays on the album with you?
Ginger St. James
So, Cleave Anderson, he's on drums and percussion. He's amazing. I've known him for many, many years. He’s played with many musicians, and I guess part of his fame is that he was the first drummer for Blue Rodeo. He's a powerhouse. He came in and totally changed the vibe. And Chris Altman, he's on bass. He’s on piano. He's on organ. He's a country-soul guy from Australia. And of course, SnowHeel Slim. He’s been in the band since day one and he helped with producing and he's on guitar. He just kind of brought things together. It's a family affair, really.
Ken Wallis
And how do you go about writing the songs.
Ginger St. James
A lot of the time, they just pour out of me. I purge songs. I can frantically write a song, and it feels like sometimes it's just coming through me. It's just my brain dictating. It’s like I’m taking notes in court. My brain just kind of goes and throws it up. Like I just purged the songs.
Ken Wallis
What comes first? The lyrics or the music?
Ginger St. James
Sometimes the lyrics. For the most part, it's the lyrics. I have a lot of lines hanging around. One liners are a big thing. If I get hit with an idea, I'll try to finish that first before I put music to it. I rarely write a song on the guitar, but I hear everything. I hear the bass line, I hear the rhythm. I hear the licks. It could just be a riff. So I can't just sit down and say I'm going to write a song.
Ken Wallis
And you have a CD-release party coming up soon.
Ginger St. James
I do. I'm really excited that the album release show is March 22nd at the Mule Spinner which is located at the Cotton Factory in Hamilton. It's an awesome spot and it's going to be exciting. It's brand-new tunes from the album. We've partnered up with Studio G, which is located in Hamilton. They’re a dance studio and they're choreographing a line dance to one of my tunes. So doors are at 7:00 and if come by at 7:30, you can join in for the pop-up line dancing lesson. It's really going to be fun. I’m stoked. It’s been a long time since I've done anything like this.
Ken Wallis
And where can fans get ahold of your album outside of the live cd release party?
Ginger St. James
They can Google Ginger Saint James at Bandcamp. It will be available on my website, which is gingersaint-james.com Or you can go to Busted Flat Records
Ken Wallis
Well, I certainly encourage our audience to always buy the album to support the artists and I hope you have a sold-out. show for your cd release party.
Ginger St. James
It's gonna be a humdinger.
