“Settle in for the ride – it’s gonna get moody.”
With that playful warning, singer/songwriter Deni Gauthier introduces his ambitious new collection of songs and stories, Passenger.
Self-produced in Gauthier’s St. Thomas, Ontario Studio, Passenger is a concept album that weaves Deni’s musings on life, love, and relationships together with stories about characters dealing with change, both positive and negative.
“You live and die a passenger,” Deni explains. “But you can live such a cool and meaningful life. That’s what this record is about.”
Deni is known for his lush but understated songwriting and singing style. He makes effective use of his looping station, as well as ambient guitar noises that add texture to his often haunting melodies. Like his other CDs, Passenger is an ode to beauty and restraint, with insightful lyrics drawn from real experience.
“I wrote these songs with an old campfire guitar, walking up and down the street watching my kids last summer,” he says. “Lyrically, they’re definitely the strongest songs I’ve written.”
Deni’s previous full-length CDs include Quiet Town (2014), i (am) hope (2012), and Man About Town (2011). His songs have been played frequently on CBC Radio 1, and singles including Into the West and All I Really Want have reached top-10 status on radio stations across Canada. He has been nominated for many awards, including several prestigious Jack Richardson Music Awards in the Contemporary Singer/Songwriter category. He tours often, and has shared with the stage with artists including Jason Collett, Ron James, Linda McRae, Irish Maythen The 77s, Craig Cardiff, Kerosene Halo, and many others.