Built of four of the strongest musical voices in Montreal’s thriving, internationally recognized scene, Ladies of The Canyon’s sound is as varied, true and passionate as its members. Their music is a complex soundscape that is part sweet folk pop, part soulful complaint, and, for good measure, more than a little bit country. Their fresh take on folk/pop music is one that melts the borders of so many genres by virtue of the different background of the musicians. “They look good, they sound good, they are good.” – Kate and Anna McGarrigle, The McGarrigle Sisters Montreal’s Ladies of the Canyon is an all-female quartet consisting of Senja Sargeant, Maïa Davies, Jasmine Bleile and Anna Ruddick. The four women met while playing their local bar circuit, and the eccentric new friends would soon meet on a weekly basis to drink wine and make music. These deliriously fun “meetings” soon became the jam sessions where they wrote the majority of the songs featured on their upcoming debut album, produced by David Kakon. A young producer with notably fresh ideas, Kakon’s credits include Elsiane, Jaffe, Café del Mar and Cirque Du Soleil, and his synergy with the lively LOTC girls has bred a timeless, roots-influenced sound that is addictive and moving. “It’s their cosmic bond,” says Kakon, “ Their uniquely blended voices make you fall in love with the unnamable thing they are. Making this record has been a very special process for me.” Just over a year after transforming their “girls night out” into a full-force musical project, Ladies of the Canyon have already played all over Canada and were invited to play a showcase at the 2007 Canadian Music Week (CMW). Most recently, the Ladies got the opportunity to work with industry legend George Massenburg, whose engineering and producing credits run from Billy Joel, Madeleine Peyroux, James Taylor, Randy Newman, Lyle Lovett and Aaron Neville to The Dixie Chicks and Linda Ronstadt – among others. Massenburg produced a live session for the quartet (augmented by electric guitar, mandolin, banjo and dobro), bringing his seasoned knowledge of Nashville style playing to the quirky pop/country ensemble’s style. The unique experience, recorded at McGill University’s famous MMR studio (home to the MSO), was captured in a short documentary film (clips available at www.lotcmusic.com). Though they are only now putting the finishing touches on their debut album, their live presence has already attracted attention both from the media and from their growing fan base; the Montreal Mirror has not only featured them in their reader’s poll as one of the city’s favorite bands, but will also profile them in its upcoming “Noisemakers 2008.” They have built a fan base on the tried and true principles of rock ‘n roll: write meaningful songs with hooks, play honestly, and don’t be afraid to be your outrageous self. People are responding, and everyone seems to agree: this collaboration is here to flourish. It is the unexpected pastiche of Bleile’s jazzy, decadently luscious voice, Davies’ soft and sweet soul or belt-it-out country twang, Sargeant’s authentic bluesy vocal precision and Ruddick’s delivery of percussive, jazz influenced riffs that create the Ladies’s musical serendipity. Enjoy. “…The female four piece band emphasizes song-writing and harmonies (…), which means you’ll have ample opportunities to hear their voices soar. Their songs, especially “In The Riverbed,” form a wonderful bridge between the folk and soul genres.” – Mike Warner, The Torontoist