Stevie Salas was one of the hosts at the Aboriginal Music Awards last year. He’s a charming guy. It became a running joke after various women accepted their awards he would have a comment that ended with “are hot”. Like “country singers are hot”. After I received the best folk album award, he said “crying is hot”. Yup, I cried. What can I say? It was an emotional album, the songs, the making of, the dedication… but later I groaned at being the crying girl. I’m over it now, or at least okay with being the heart-on-the-sleeve one in the crowd, and soon I will be meeting Stevie again - this time, hopefully, sans tears!

Mr. Salas is host of the APTN show “Arbor Live” and I’ve been selected to be on their upcoming season! I’m pleased as punch. You can check out the show at www.myspace.com/arborlive

I’m greatly looking forward to being on the show and will keep you posted on taping/airing. Woot!

(as sent to the mailing list:)

hello friends*

something for you Canadians… remember last november when i was part of the Aboriginal Music Awards? when i got to perform at the skydome and received the “best folk album” award? of course you do!  well, they’re finally airing the event on CityTV!

the one hour special of the highlights from the night includes my performance  of “the declaration of spring” along with performances by Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tanya Tagaq, Crystyal Shawanda, Stevie Salas and more…

on CityTV stations Canada wide, 8pm Friday June 19th.

here’s a promo.

enjoy!

christa

One Foot Tapping Records is pleased to announce the online release of Christa Couture’s new music video!

“‘Nothing’s Changed’ is a song about failing my personal growth homework” says Couture of the second single from her album “The Wedding Singer and The Undertaker”. When meeting with Vancouver director and animator Belinda Fung, who created the music video for the song, Couture gave her just that bit of insight and handed over all creative control. “I love working with visual artists, animators, filmmakers. Giving a song of mine to someone and allowing them to take whatever direction they are inspired to is, in turn, very inspiring to me”.

What Fung created is a layered and charming, yet bittersweet animated story that is set in a retro video game world. Starting at “Game Over”, the character runs the game in reverse, retracing her steps, losing experience and repairing the broken heart that led to her demise - ultimately finding herself back at the beginning.

Watch the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m-nkAxquus

“The Wedding Singer and The Undertaker”
- won best folk album at the 2008 Aboriginal Music Awards
- hit the top 10 on CBC Radio 3 in August 2008
…and you can get the cd at CDBaby, or download it from iTunes and Zunior!

tap tap.

(as sent to the Christa Couture mailing list Feb/3/09):

As this is my first missive of 2009, I must begin with a heartfelt exclamation of Happy New Year! What’s left of it anyway. And as for this note, it shall be brief, thus:

1) Gigs: Performance at the Chan Centre
2) Do you tweet?
3) the CAMAS in case I didn’t tell you already
4) In conclusion

1) Gigs. There’s just the one coming up - I’m taking time off from les gigs for the next wee while. I hope to be at some summer festivals and will let you know when we’re closer to those sunnier days! But for now, I’ve this one fantastic show coming up:

Sunday February 15th, 8pm
The Chan Centre for Performing Arts
at UBC, Vancouver (BC people, have you been to this place? It’s outstanding. Most recently I saw Ani DiFranco there, and before that a solo performance by Philip Glass. It’s SUCH a beautiful room and I’m ecstatic to be making music in it).Tickets $16-22 from Ticketmaster.  604.280.3311 or  http://www.ticketmaster.ca

I’ll be joined by 5 piece version of my band (huzzah!) and we’re opening up for Lynn Manning’s incredible one man show “Weights”.  The night is presented by Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, KicksART Festival and The Chan Centre for Performing Arts.

2) are you on Twitter? If so, you can now follow me and I you! http://twitter.com/christacouture

3) In November, I was honoured to receive BEST FOLK ACOUSTIC ALBUM from the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. It was a fantastic event. The gala, at which I performed (as did Tanya Tagaq (swoon!) and Buffy Sainte Marie (double swoon!) ) will be broadcast on CityTV sometime this year. I’ll keep you posted.

4) Though I haven’t been on stage often this past couple months, they have been a busy time. A winter hibernation time of writing new material and dreaming up new projects. I hope these months have kept you cosy too and I hope also to see/hear/read you all soon.

Christa

www.christacouture.com
www.onefoottaping.com
www.tinyurl.com/christaonfacebook
www.myspace.com/christacouture

www.twitter.com/christacouture

phew!

Woohoo!

Nominated in both Best Female Artist and Best Folk Acoustic Album at this years Aboriginal Music Awards, I came home with an impressive shiny award for the latter.

“Couture impressed with her solo acoustic guitar performance” wrote ChartAttack, but I was backed by the most fabulous house band (thank you Raven et all!) which included Cris Derksen. Who is amazing. And cree also : ) She accompanied, solo, the mind-blowing Tanya Tagaq, who I watched, amazed, from the wings. I’m going to steal Cris for my next gig in February at the Chan Centre…

I must correct the intro I received though - though I was given an Arapaho name as a child, I am not, in fact, Arapaho. I’m part Cree! A small detail, but one to be clarified : )

The awards were divided into two nights - the first of which is where/when I received the Best Folk Album award. The second night, at which I performed, will be televised in the new year on CityTV. I will surely let you all know of the time and date as soon as I myself am aware!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

c

TORONTO, Nov. 11 /CNW/ - The legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie, roots rockers Eagle and Hawk and country star Crystal Shawanda are just a few of the top names confirmed to perform at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards gala, taking place Friday, November 28th at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

With five nods each Eagle and Hawk and Crystal Shawanda lead the nominations for the 10th annual awards show, which celebrates the best in Canadian Aboriginal music. Buffy Sainte-Marie will receive the Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Music special honour during the live event.

Hosted by Aboriginal actors Don Kelly and Renae Morriseau, additional performers slated to perform during the three-hour CAMA extravaganza include multiple nominees Tanya Tagaq (3), Fara Palmer (3), Christa Couture (2), Jace Martin (2), and Leanne Goose (2), as well as single nominees Stevie Salas, Darren Lavallee, Northern Cree and 7th Generation. West coast Aboriginal dance group the Eagle Song Dancers will also perform as part of the event’s tribute to the traditions and symbolism of the western coastal Aboriginal people.

Tickets for the 2008 CAMAs are on sale now through Ticketmaster, by phone or online at ticketmaster.ca. Reserved floor seats are $35 in advance ($40 at the door) and general admission seats are $20. Tickets may also be purchased day of show at the box office located at Gate 7 at the Rogers Centre. Visit www.canab.com for more information.

…written by Nat Jay about the “writers in the sky” at this years Vancouver Folk Fest - which was Christa Couture, Nat Jay, Cameron Latimer and Cory Woodward.

read it here

i love performing solo, i do. it doesn’t matter what mistakes i make, and what set lists i don’t… BUT, it can also get so lonely! SO, i dreamed a little something up so that i would get to do my thing, have others play with me, AND also get to sit back and listen to music i love. thus, the EAST VAN BOX SET tour.

i asked my friends (the gorgeous) sara ciantar - who played accordion on my album Fell Out of Oz, is a singer-songwriter herself, and a member of a couple of Vancouver’s best bands - and (the adorable) aaron joyce - who joins me frequently on guitar, played a handful of instruments on The Wedding Singer and The Undertaker, including arranging all the strings and horn parts, and has 5 diverse and incredible projects of his own rocking Vancouver - if they’d be up for a good old fashioned “in the round” tour. they said yet. and we’ve been having a blast rehearsing. and now comes the time to share the fruits of our labour!

this month we’re doing a handful of shows on the island, and one in merritt. next month we’ll be heading into the interior of BC. here’s a quick list of the dates, if you’re in the area, come!

Thursday Oct 2 DUNCAN, BC Duncan Garage Showroom

Friday Oct 3 VICTORIA, BC The Solstice Cafe

Saturday Oct 4 COURTENAY, BC Joe’s Garage

Sunday Oct 5 UCLUELET, BC Wild Heather Books

Friday Oct 10 MERRITT, BC Iron Mountain Music

beep beep,

christa

technically there are a few days left in summer, but doesn’t it feel like it’s already ended? sigh. maybe i’m just feeling preemptively nostalgic… i had a great summer! the new album hit the top 10 on CBC Radio 3 (thanks CBC! thanks to everyone who requests the tunes!) and then i took august OFF. no gigs, no press, no facebook updates : ) instead, nick and i got married! yup, we made it “official”. we had a great big wedding tht was incredible fun and two weeks of holiday on salt spring and vancouver islands. i’m in LOVE with the former and have been fantasizing since we left about our return…

but now, with september, it’s back to work. i’m putting together a wee october and november BC tour and already working on another cross canada tour for the new year. onwards!

two things:

1) i made a wee video with photos from my summer fun - reminisce with me at HERE.

2) i’ve got two great gigs in Vancouver this month. one solo performance, and one with the full band. see gig listings for deets!

if you’re in vancouver for my gigs, then i also greatly encourage you to check out c.r. avery at the Rio Theatre on september 19th! he’s performing with a string quartet and  it’s going to be incredible.

…in these days i miss the autumn colours of my prairies… autumn vancouver is signaled only by grey(er) skies, (more) rain and coll air. but stoically it remains green. i want reds! yellows! oranges! i want cracking dry leaves under my feet! should you live in a climate that offers you a proper fall, please spin in some leaves for me!

drift by my window,

christa

i LOVE radio 3 (see “collecting CBCs” below : ) so it’s terribly exciting and humbling that “The Wedding Singer and The Undertaker” has been mixing with such wonderful company in their top 30 the past few weeks. and now, it’s hit number 10! you can help spread the word to more ears by requesting SAD STORY OVER at http://radio3.cbc.ca/

and then if you don’t already, listen to the station stream all day long and you will discover all your new favourite bands.

c.