The rich complexity of life is the emotional focus of the much-anticipated new album from one of Canada’s most accomplished and harmonious trios – Good Lovelies.
The songs on We Will Never Be the Same, crafted by the Juno Award-winning ensemble of Kerri Ough, Sue Passmore and Caroline Marie Brooks, are as compelling as the engaging vocal harmonies for which the group has been known for the last 17 years as they mine the complex feelings experienced by women who have come to ponder some of the big questions of life.
This new album is both a return to a more elemental, acoustic-based musical platform reaching back to the early days of the Good Lovelies, as well as an immersive emotional experience crafted by three seasoned songwriters who bring their own real-life stories in all their dynamism and messy complexity to the fore.
We Will Never Be the Same is the group’s fifth full-length studio album adding to a widely acclaimed catalogue of recordings that also includes two beloved Christmas releases. It adds to their already popular concert repertoire as they return to tread the boards in venues throughout North America, the U.K., Europe, Australia, and beyond.
It is a testament not only to their artistry, but also their humanity, and is an album that will continue to endear this beloved group to fans of all ages.
GOOD LOVELIES ARE:
Caroline Brooks: Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Kerri Ough: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Keyboard
Susan Passmore: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Percussion, Keyboard
TOURING BAND MEMBERS:
Steve Zsirai: Bass
Mark Mariash: Drums
Robbie Grunwald: Keyboards
Christine Bougie: Lap Steel, Electric Guitar
KERRI OUGH
CAROLINE BROOKS
SUE PASSMORE
FAQ
How did you meet?
Sue and Kerri first met in a grade 2/3 split class many moons ago. It wasn’t until Sue’s final year of high school where they really started to spend a lot of time together. They were in the same choir (La Jeunesse) for many years, and discovered a mutual love for songwriting and performing. Kerri accompanied Sue on some gigs in her hometown, and a big crowning performance moment for them was when they performed Alanis Morissette’s song “Uninvited” during an assembly honouring retiring teachers.
Sue and Caroline met in 2002, through a mutual friend Yvonne Howard (it occurred to us that this band wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Yvonne introducing these two women years ago.) Caroline and Sue celebrated New Year’s Eve 2001/02 together, and travelled to Virginia Beach a few months later, sealing their bond as friends for life. Years later, Sue would open for Caroline and her sister’s band, The Brooks Sisters’, CD release show.
Kerri and Caroline met through Sue a couple of years before the Good Lovelies began. A little known fact about our band: In Febraury 2004, we did our first show together – not as Good Lovelies, but as three separate acts. Kerri, new to Toronto, opened the show and played a solo set. Caroline and Katherine (The Brooks Sisters) played next, performing songs from their debut album Carport Sessions, and Sue Passmore and her band closed the show with songs from her album 87 Miles. Eventually, December 2006 rolled around and the three of us happily set up another show as soloists, where we would back each other up on our solo material. That fateful night was the night the Good Lovelies were born. December 15, 2006 – our birthday.
How long have you been playing your instruments?
Caroline has been playing the guitar since she was six years old. When our band began she taught herself how to play mandolin, banjo and is now delving deeper into the world of the electric guitar and pedal boards.
Kerri has been playing the piano since she was six years old. When our band began she taught herself to play the guitar, banjo and electric bass. She is now also bringing an omnichord on stage with her.
Sue started on piano, taking lessons through high school, and picked up the guitar and percussion during her university years. When our band started she taught herself how to play bass and expanded on her percussion kit over time.
Where are you from?
We are from Ontario, Canada
Where do you live?
We all live in Ontario, Canada
How do you decide who plays what on what songs?
Usually, the person who brought the song to the table chooses the instrument they will play and we work out together what instruments will best suit a live performance of that particular song. We often have guest players on our albums, so it’s always a fun challenge to take the bigger album sound and distill it into a three, four or five-piece set up for our live performances.
How do you share writing credits?
We are an equal opportunity band and share everything 33.3%. (the other 0.1% goes to the person who brought the song to the band.)
How did you choose your band name?
Oh, how we wish this was a more exciting answer like, “The Horribly Awfuls” was already taken, but in fact, The Good Lovelies was the name Sue chose to present our first show on December 15th, 2006 not knowing at the time that she had named our band…forever.
Did you go to university for music?
Sue went to York University for a degree in Fine Arts.
Kerri went to Western Universtiy for a degree in Music.
Caroline went to the University of Toronto for a degree in Environmental Studies.
What were your day jobs before you decided to pursue music full-time?
Sue worked at the Printing House doing graphic design and short run printing.
Kerri worked for the Government of Ontario, in the Communications Branch of the Ministry of Health Promotion.
Caroline worked for the University of Toronto in recruitment and admissions.
Is this your full time job?
It sure is! Touring, recording, writing, practising music, and running the Good Lovelies business is our full-time job.
Do you write your songs together?
Typically each of brings a near-completed song to the table and presents it to the band. Then together, we work out any lyrics or melodies that need work, and work on whatever harmonies haven’t been already chosen. Sometimes a song comes to the table finished and all we have to do is learn it for stage. Sometimes the songs take waaaaayyyy longer to work through. The creative process is different for each of us, but it’s not a Good Lovelies song until we’ve all had our fingers in it.
How do you figure out your harmonies?
In the same way we choose the instruments we play, we work our harmonies out together, just by singing through a bunch of options in a room together. We don’t want all the songs to have the same harmonic structure so we play around with many different harmony techniques until we are satisfied with the final product.
