The Once sail away

St. John’s folk trio the Once had a busy winter. They impressed audiences with their beautiful harmonies and blends of traditional Newfoundland instruments, performing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the Paralympics, the Folk Alliance conference in Memphis, and the East Coast Music Awards in Sydney, Nova Scotia, arriving home just in time for the 2010 Juno Awards.

Phil Churchill, Geraldine Hollett, and Andrew Dale found some time to relax and have a chat with the Muse about being a 21st-century folk band from Newfoundland.

The Muse: Where does the name for the band come from?

Phil Churchill: We were suggesting a bunch of different names, just firing out different ideas, then we started flipping through the Dictionary of Newfoundland English and we came across “the once.” I read the definition: “in a minute,” and then the penny dropped; we all use that expression. It sounded good, and it was something that’s very rooted in this place.

TM: It’s a tough gig selling CDs these days, so performance obviously has to be pretty crucial to a band. What makes a performance by the Once?

Andrew Dale: Often after a lot of our shows, we’ll buy a bunch of our own CDs, just to get the ball rolling (laughs). People tend to comment on how we come across as honest and genuine; it seems like there’s nothing put on there, which we’re delighted [to hear] but don’t really read it that way, because that’s the way we are.

We get up on stage, and the only difference from us sitting around talking to you is that we happen to be holding instruments.

TM: Younger musicians are redefining Newfoundland music. Do you agree?

AD: Tom Power of CBC’s Deep Roots made a really good observation that the traditional music of Newfoundland and Labrador, as far as the interest goes, never really went away; it’s always been here.

I think it’s more of the public interest that tends to go in waves. Fortunately, there’s a big wave that’s happening now, and there are a lot of incredibly talented younger people that are taking up the conch.

Geraldine Hollett: I disagree! I do think that there is more talent around right now. I don’t know what it is, but it feels more spectacular.

TM: What does it mean to you for the Junos to come back to St. John’s?

PC: The Junos mean something in most of the Western, English-speaking world, so if you’re involved in it then there’s that sense of pride that maybe we’re known too. I don’t mean we as in the Once, I mean we as in this province. The Junos are here, and we have people from here playing at the Junos in their own hometown.

AD: I think that’s one of the coolest things this time around. When the Junos happened here last time, people were blown away and surprised by how rich the scene was, how diverse it was, and how good the artists were here. But this time around, I think they know that.

TM: What do you tell a kid who loves to play accordion but is discouraged by Top 40 radio?

GH: Always be true to what you want to play.

AD: Change the radio station. If that kid wants to learn how to play the accordion, then that kid already likes the accordion. Don’t get discouraged by the Top 40 stuff; seek out the people who are playing the music that you’re developing an interest in, and the people who will support and encourage and nurture that interest.

Still, every genre has its pros and cons. You don’t have to hate another type of music in order to enjoy a certain type of music.

The Once will be performing at the Delta on April 14 as part of Ruckus on the Edge. They will also be playing at the Martini Bar on April 16 as part of JunoFest, and will be doing a provincial Arts and Culture Centre tour in the fall. More information is available at www.theonce.ca.

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