[dropcap]C[/dropcap]rissi Cochrane’s soft jazz tunes speak to the soul. With a light and soulful voice, strong instrumentals and meaningful lyrics, her songs are soothing and lovely.
Inspired by Billie Holiday, Elliott Smith, Amy Winehouse, Stan Getz, Erykah Badu, Sam Cooke and Lauryn Hill, Cochrane grew up in small town Nova Scotia and traveled to Halifax on weekends to perform — soon relocating there — before eventually relocating to Windsor.
- Photo by Kevin Kavanaugh
Crissi Cochrane
In the last nine years, Cochrane said her music has evolved “from acoustic pop/punk, to darling folk/pop, plus a stint in an indie rock band, to the soul-inspired sounds of (2014 album) “Little Sway.”
“Little Sway’ sounds like Halifax meets Detroit — made with musical foundations modeled after Canadian singer-songwriters, but fortified with the spirit of American soul, jazz, and R&B,” Cochrane said of her album.
Cochrane said she doesn’t have a specific composition method. Sometimes a song comes to her quickly, while other pieces take a little more time.
“It’s a flexible process and everything is useful,” Cochrane said. “I find inspiration in music, literature, art, and the lives of people around the world. Songwriters have an incredible opportunity to share feelings and ideas with the world, to mend and change people, over and over. That is what inspires me the most.”
From “Little Sway,” single “Sleep in the Wild” is catchy and fun, described by Cochrane as “a date-night song that is also a sort of lament that going out dancing is becoming antiquated,” with the theme of the video drawing from the romantic swing years, with “all those young people dancing, as if for their lives.”
“The album has opened a lot of doors for me and been a tremendously uplifting effort overall, but I’m still excited to try and outdo myself on recording as soon as I can,” she said.
Since her musical beginning, Cochrane has been utilizing social media to get the word out about her sound, and help grow her fan base.
She said positive feedback from listeners exhilarates her.
“I love hearing from fans online — it can be unnerving to publish your work on the internet and have it be visible around the world, but the experience is ultimately inspiring,” Cochrane said. “I am deeply grateful for everyone who takes the time to write kind words to me, and I save all the best comments for days when I need courage.”
Recently, Cochrane put on a Billie Holiday tribute on April 24 at Vermouth in Windsor, in celebration of the 100th birthday of Lady Day.
She plans to continue touring in Eastern Canada, and someday bring her performance to the United States.
“(With my music) I hope to impart a good feeling, whether it be simple pleasure or a deeper consolation,” Cochrane said. “I’m very sensitive to the emotions in music, and so I avoid obvious melancholy, and give every sad song a silver lining. Artists who are thoughtful and privileged should have a goal to lift burdens and this is my attempt. I also hope to inspire innovation in musical expression and bravery in the pursuit of passions.”
To keep up with Crissi Cochrane’s music, visit her website, like her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.
